UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 2, 2021

 

 

Organon & Co.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40235  

46-4838035

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

30 Hudson Street, Floor 33, Jersey City, NJ   07302
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (551) 430-6900

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of

Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on which Registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   OGN   NYSE

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

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Separation and Distribution

On June 2, 2021, Organon & Co. (“Organon”) and Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Merck agreed to spin-off its women’s health, biosimilars and established brands into Organon, a new, publicly traded company (the “Separation”).

In connection with the Separation, Merck distributed (the “Distribution”) on June 2, 2021, on a pro rata basis, to holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of Merck, par value $0.50 per share (the “Merck Common Stock”) on May 17, 2021 (the “Record Date”), all of the outstanding shares of Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Organon (the “Common Stock”). Each Merck shareholder was entitled to receive one-tenth of a share of the Common Stock for each share of Merck Common Stock held on the Record Date.

The Separation and Distribution Agreement contains provisions that, among other things, relate to (i) assets, liabilities and contracts to be transferred, assumed and assigned to each of Organon and Merck as part of the Separation, (ii) cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Organon business with Organon and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Merck’s remaining business with Merck, (iii) procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters, (iv) the allocation among Organon and Merck of rights and obligations under existing insurance policies with respect to occurrences prior to completion of the Distribution, as well as the right to proceeds and the obligation to incur certain deductibles under certain insurance policies, and (v) procedures governing Organon’s and Merck’s obligations and allocations of liabilities with respect to ongoing litigation matters that may implicate each of Merck’s business and Organon’s business.

Tax Matters Agreement

In connection with the Separation and the Distribution, on June 2, 2021, Organon and Merck entered into a tax matters agreement (the “Tax Matters Agreement”), which allocates responsibility for all U.S. federal income, state and foreign income, franchise, capital gain, withholding and similar taxes, as well as all non-income taxes. The Tax Matters Agreement also provides for cooperation between Merck and Organon with respect to tax matters, the exchange of information and the retention of records that may affect the tax liabilities of the parties to the Tax Matters Agreement. Merck generally is responsible for any income taxes reportable on an originally filed consolidated, combined or unitary return that includes Merck or any of its subsidiaries (and Organon and/or any of our subsidiaries) for any periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Distribution. Organon generally is responsible for any income taxes that are reportable on originally filed returns that include only Organon and/or any of its subsidiaries, for all tax periods. Additionally, as a general matter, Merck is responsible for certain income and non-income taxes imposed as the direct result of the Separation or of an internal separation transaction. Organon is responsible for certain taxes that exclusively relate to Organon’s business and for taxes resulting from any breach of certain representations or covenants that Organon made in the Tax Matters Agreement.

The Tax Matters Agreement imposes restrictions on Organon and its subsidiaries during the two-year period following the distribution. The restrictions are intended to prevent the distribution and certain related transactions from failing to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. During such period, Organon and its subsidiaries generally are prohibited from, among other things, entering into transactions in which all or a portion of the shares of Organon common stock would be acquired or all or a portion of certain assets of Organon and its subsidiaries would be acquired. Organon and its subsidiaries also are prohibited, during such period, from merging or consolidating with any other person, issuing equity securities beyond certain thresholds, and repurchasing Organon stock other than in certain open-market transactions.

Employee Matters Agreement

On June 2, 2021, Organon and Merck have also entered into an employee matters agreement that allocates assets, liabilities and responsibilities relating to employee compensation and benefit plans and programs and other related matters in connection with the Separation (the “Employee Matters Agreement”). A summary of the Employee Matters Agreement can be found in the Information Statement forming a part of Organon’s registration statement on Form 10 attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Information Statement”), in the section entitled “Agreements with Merck- Employee Matters Agreement”. Such description is incorporated herein by reference.

Transition Services Agreements

On June 2, 2021, Merck and Organon entered into transition services agreements pursuant to which (i) Merck and certain of its affiliates will provide Organon and certain of its affiliates, on an interim, transitional basis, various services and (ii) Organon and certain of its affiliates will provide Merck and certain of its affiliates, on an interim, transitional basis, various services. The services to be provided by Merck will include, among others, information technology, human resources, finance, quality, regulatory, supply chain management, promotional services, distribution services and certain other services, and will generally be provided on a cost or, where applicable, a cost-plus basis. The services generally will commence on the date of the Separation (the “Separation Date”) and generally will terminate within 25 months following the Separation Date. Organon will have the right to request the early termination of any or all


services generally with advance notice. The services to be provided by Organon will include quality, regulatory, supply chain management, promotional services, distribution services and certain other services and will generally be provided on a cost or, where applicable, a cost-plus basis. The provision of services under the agreement generally will commence on the Separation Date and terminate within 25 months following the Separation. Merck will have the right to request the early termination of any or all services generally with advance notice.

Additional Information

The descriptions of the foregoing agreements are intended to provide a general description only, are subject to the detailed terms and conditions of, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of, those agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.1, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The information set forth in Item 2.03 is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Item 2.01. Completion of the Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Merck completed the Separation on June 2, 2021, through the distribution to all holders of outstanding shares of Merck Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date. For each share of Merck Common Stock held, such holder received one tenth of one share of Common Stock, and holders received cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock they otherwise would have been entitled to receive in connection with the Distribution.

Organon is now a standalone publicly traded company, and on June 3, 2021 regular-way trading of the Common Stock commenced on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “OGN.”

As described in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Basis of Presentation of Our Financial Information,” Organon’s Retained Products Segment is being retained by Merck. For pro forma financial information reflecting the disposition of the Retained Products Segment, see Item 9.01(b), which is incorporated herein by reference.

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

Bond Assumption

In April 2021, Organon Finance 1 LLC (“Organon Finance 1”), issued €1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028, $2.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 and $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior unsecured notes due 2031 (collectively, the “notes”). As part of the Separation, on June 2, 2021, Organon and a wholly-owned Dutch subsidiary of Organon (the “Dutch Co-Issuer”) assumed the obligations under the notes as co-issuers, Organon Finance 1 was released as an obligor under the notes, and certain subsidairies of Organon (the “Guarantors”) agreed to guarantee the notes. Each series of notes was issued pursuant to an indenture dated April 22, 2021, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7 and incorporated herein by reference. Organon and the Dutch Co-Issuer assumed the obligations under the notes pursuant to a first supplemental indenture to the relevant indenture, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.8, 10.9 and 10.10 and incorporated herein by reference, and the Guarantors agreed to guarantee the notes pursuant to a second supplemental indenture to the relevant indenture, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.11, 10.12 and 10.13 and incorporated herein by reference.

Credit Agreement

On June 2, 2021, Organon enter into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Senior Credit Agreement”), providing for:

 

   

a Term Loan B Facility (“Term Loan B Facility”), consisting of (i) a U.S. dollar denominated senior secured “tranche B” term loan in the amount of $3,000 million, and (ii) a Euro denominated senior secured “tranche B” term loan in the amount of €750 million, in each case with a seven-year term that matures in 2028; and

 

   

a Revolving Credit Facility (“Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan B Facility, the “Senior Credit Facilities”), in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,000 million, with a five-year term that matures in 2026.

Borrowings made under the Senior Credit Agreement to initially bear interest, in the case of

 

   

revolving loans under the Revolving Credit Facility (i) in U.S. Dollars, at 2.00% in excess of an Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“Adjusted LIBOR”) (subject to a floor of 0.00%) or 1.00% in excess of an alternate base rate, at our option and (ii) in Euros, at 2.00% in excess of an adjusted Euro Interbank Offer Rate (“Adjusted EURIBOR”); and


   

term loans under the Term Loan B Facility (i) denominated in U.S. Dollars, at 3.00% in excess of Adjusted LIBOR (subject to a floor of 0.50%) or 2.00% in excess of ABR, at our option and (ii) denominated in Euros, at 3.00% in excess of Adjusted EURIBOR (subject to a floor of 0.00%).

The interest rate on revolving loans under the Revolving Credit Facility is subject to a step-down based on meeting a leverage ratio target. A commitment fee applies to the unused portion of the revolving facility, initially equal to 0.50% and subject to a step-down to 0.375% based on meeting a leverage ratio target.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary financial covenants, including a total leverage ratio covenant, which measures the ratio of (i) consolidated total debt to (ii) consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and subject to other adjustments, must meet certain defined limits which are tested on a quarterly basis in accordance with the terms of the Senior Credit Facilities. In addition, the Senior Credit Agreement will contain covenants that will limit, among other things, Organon’s ability to prepay, redeem or repurchase its subordinated and junior lien debt, incur additional debt, make acquisitions, merge with other entities, pay dividends or distributions, redeem or repurchase equity interests, and create or become subject to liens.

This description of the Credit Agreement is subject to the detailed terms and conditions of, and are qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of, the agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.14 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

On May 28, 2021, Organon approved and adopted its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which became effective on June 1, 2021, and its Amended and Restated Bylaws, which became effective upon the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation becoming effective. A description of the material terms of each can be found in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Description of Our Capital Stock.” Such section is incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions of the foregoing are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of Organon’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in Item 2.03 is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Composition of the Board

In connection with the Separation and appointment of the New Directors (as defined below), Caroline Litchfield resigned from the Board of Directors of Organon (the “Board”), effective May 31, 2021, and each of Jon Filderman and Rita Karachun, who served as Class I and Class II directors respectively, resigned from the Board, effective June 2, 2021.

Effective June 2, 2021, the Board appointed the following twelve directors (in addition to Ms. Shalini Sharp who continues to serve as a director of Organon): Kevin Ali, who also serves as Organon’s Chief Executive Officer, Carrie S. Cox, who was also appoitned to serve as the Chairman of the Board, Robert A. Essner, R. Alan Ezekowitz, Ma. Fatima D. Francisco, Helene D. Gayle, Rochelle B. Lazarus, Deborah R. Leone, Martha E. McGarry, Phillip Ozuah, Cynthia M. Patton and Grace Puma Whiteford (together, the “New Directors”). In addition to Ms. Sharp who has already been assigned to serve as a Class III director, the New Directors have been assigned to the three classes (with “classes” having the meaning contemplated by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below)) to serve until such time as provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Specifically:

 

   

Mr. Essner and Mss. Lazarus, Patton and Puma will serve as Class I directors;


   

Ms. Cox, Dr. Ezekowitz, Dr. Gayle and Ms. Leone will serve as Class II directors; and

 

   

In addition to Ms. Sharp, Mr. Ali, Mss. Francisco and McGarry, and Dr. Ozuah will serve as Class III directors.

In connection with their joining the Board, in addition to Ms. Sharp who has already been appointed as a member and the chair of the Audit Committee, the New Directors have been appointed to the Audit, Talent and Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Committees of the Board (the “Committees”). The currrent composition of the Committees is as follows:

 

   

the Audit Committee consists of Dr. Ezekowitz and Mss. Leone, Patton and Sharp, with Ms. Sharp serving as the chair of the Audit Committee.

 

   

the Talent Committee consists of Mss. Cox, Francisco, McGarry and Puma, with Ms. Cox serving as chair of the Talent Committee; and

 

   

the ESG Committee consists of Ms. Cox, Mr. Essner, Dr. Gayle, Ms. Lazarus and Dr. Ozuah, with Mr. Essner serving as chair of the ESG Committee.

There are no arrangements or understandings between any director and any other persons pursuant to which any director was selected as a director. Other than with respect to Ms. Cox as disclosed in, and incorporated herein by reference from, the “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” section of the Information Statement, there are no transactions in which any director has a direct or indirect material interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Each of the non-executive directors will receive compensation for service as Organon’s non-executive directors under the terms of Organon’s non-executive director compensation program, which is summarized in the section of the Information Statement entitled “Director Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Each director has also entered into a standard indemnification agreement with Organon, a form of which was approved by the Board on May 28, 2021 and which provides for the standard indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law consistent with Organon’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”).

Appointment of Officers

Effective June 2, 2021, the individuals listed below have been confirmed and/or appointed, as applicable, as executive officers for Organon:

 

   

Kevin Ali, Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Matthew Walsh, Chief Financial Officer and, for purposes of Section 16 and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Principal Accounting Officer;

 

   

Kathryn DiMarco, Corporate Controller;

 

   

Aaron Falcione, Chief Human Resources Officer;

 

   

Susanne Fiedler, Chief Commercial Officer;

 

   

Sandra Milligan, Head of Research & Development;

 

   

Joseph T. Morrissey, Jr., Head of Manufacturing;

 

   

Vittorio Nisita, Head of Global Business Services;

 

   

Geralyn S. Ritter, Head of External Affairs and ESG and Corporate Secretary;

 

   

Rachel Stahler, Chief Information Officer; and


   

Deborah H. Telman, General Counsel.

Biographical information for the executive officers and the relevant compensation information can be found in the Information Statement in the sections entitled “Management—Executive Officers and Directors Following the Distribution” and “Executive Compensation”, respectively. Such descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding conversion of equity awards in connection with the Separation and any other potential “related person transactions” under Item 404 of Regulation S-K with respect to our executive officers is disclosed and incorporated by reference from the “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” section of the Information Statement. Additional information regarding compensatory plans in which our executive officers participate is summarized below.

Each executive has also entered into a standard indemnification agreement with Organon, a form of which was approved by the Board on May 28, 2021 and which provides for the standard indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law consistent with the Amended and Restated Bylaws.

Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan

Organon has adopted the Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan (the “Equity Plan”), which became effective as of the Distribution. A summary of the Equity Plan can be found in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Executive Compensation—2021 Incentive Stock Plan.” Such description is incorporated herein by reference.

Organon & Co. Annual Incentive Plan

Effective June 2, 2021, Organon has adopted the Organon & Co. Annual Incentive Plan (the “AIP”). The AIP provides for annual bonus payments to eligible employees of Organon who are otherwise not currently eligible for an award under Organon’s sales incentive plan or any other similar special cash-based incentive plan maintained by Organon. Individual awards under the AIP, if any, are to be determined by the Talent Committee of Organon’s Board (the “Committee”) or its delegate, in its sole, non-reviewable discretion and are payable in cash, or in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock, after the close of the plan year for which the award is made, but by no later than March 15 of the calendar year after the close of the plan year.

Organon & Co. Executive Change in Control Severance Program

Effective June 2, 2021, Organon has adopted the Organon & Co. Executive Change in Control Severance Program (the “CIC Severance Plan”). A summary of the CIC Severance Plan can be found in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Executive Compensation—Executive Severance Programs.” Such description is incorporated herein by reference.

Organon & Co. Executive Severance Program

Effective June 2, 2021, Organon has adopted the Organon & Co. Executive Severance Program (the “Executive Severance Program”). A summary of the Executive Severance Program can be found in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Executive Compensation—Executive Severance Programs.” Such description is incorporated herein by reference.

Additional Information

The descriptions of the foregoing indemnification and compensation agreements are intended to provide a general description only, are subject to the detailed terms and conditions of, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of, those agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.15, 10.16, 10.17, 10.18 and 10.19 each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

The information set forth in Item 3.03 is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrants Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

In connection with the Separation, the Board adopted Organon’s Code of Conduct, which is applicable to all employees, officers and directors of Organon and a copy of which is available on Organon’s website at www.organon.com. The information on Organon’s website does not constitute part of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is not incorporated by reference herein.


Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On June 3, 2021, Organon issued a press release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference. The information in this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(b) Pro forma financial information

The information found in the Information Statement in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information” is incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 2.1

   Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. and Organon & Co.

Exhibit 3.1

   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Organon & Co.

Exhibit 3.2

   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Organon & Co.

Exhibit 10.1

   Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. and Organon & Co.

Exhibit 10.2

   Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. and Organon & Co.

Exhibit 10.3

   Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. and Organon & Co.

Exhibit 10.4

   Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. and Organon & Co.

Exhibit 10.5

   Indenture, dated as of April  22, 2021, among Organon Finance 1 LLC, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, and Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch, as principal paying agent, transfer agent and registrar, with respect to 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Exhibit 10.6

   Indenture, dated as of April  22, 2021, among Organon Finance 1 LLC, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, with respect to 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Exhibit 10.7

   Indenture, dated as of April  22, 2021, among Organon Finance 1 LLC, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031

Exhibit 10.8

   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., Organon Finance 1 LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, with respect to 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Exhibit 10.9

   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., Organon Finance 1 LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, with respect to 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Exhibit 10.10

   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., Organon Finance 1 LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031

Exhibit 10.11

   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June  2, 2021, among Organon LLC, Organon Global Inc., Organon Trade LLC, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, Organon USA LLC, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, with respect to 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Exhibit 10.12

   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June  2, 2021, among Organon LLC, Organon Global Inc., Organon Trade LLC, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, Organon USA LLC, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent, with respect to 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028


Exhibit 10.13

   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June  2, 2021, among Organon LLC, Organon Global Inc., Organon Trade LLC, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, Organon USA LLC, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, with respect to 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031

Exhibit 10.14

   Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, by and among Organon  & Co., Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and the L/C Issuers and Lenders party thereto

Exhibit 10.15

   Form of indemnification agreement

Exhibit 10.16

   Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan

Exhibit 10.17

   Organon & Co. Annual Incentive Plan

Exhibit 10.18

   Organon & Co. Executive Change in Control Severance Program

Exhibit 10.19

   Organon & Co. Executive Severance Program

Exhibit 99.1

   Information Statement, filed by Organon & Co. (File No.  001-40235), as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 10, dated April 29, 2021

Exhibit 99.2

   Press Release, dated June 3, 2021


SIGNATURES

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

 

    Organon & Co.
Date: June 3, 2021     By:  

/s/ Matthew Walsh

      Name: Matthew Walsh
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

MERCK & CO., INC.

AND

ORGANON & CO.

DATED AS OF JUNE 2, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      2  

ARTICLE II THE SEPARATION

     15  

Section 2.01

  Governance and Listing of Organon      15  

Section 2.02

  The Separation      16  

Section 2.03

  IOM and Deferred Markets      17  

Section 2.04

  Delayed Transfers of Organon Assets and Organon Liabilities      18  

Section 2.05

  Delayed Transfers of Merck Assets and Merck Liabilities      20  

Section 2.06

  Transaction Documents      21  

Section 2.07

  Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties      22  

Section 2.08

  Financing Arrangements; Organon Repayment; Use of Proceeds      23  

Section 2.09

  Termination of Agreements      23  

Section 2.10

  Settlement of Accounts between Merck and Organon      24  

Section 2.11

  Novation of Liabilities; Release of Guarantees      25  

Section 2.12

  Mixed Contracts; Mixed AR/AP      28  

Section 2.13

  Quarterly Adjustments in Certain Markets      29  

Section 2.14

  Further Assurances      30  

ARTICLE III THE DISTRIBUTION

     31  

Section 3.01

  Actions Prior to the Distribution      31  

Section 3.02

  The Distribution      32  

Section 3.03

  Fractional Shares; Unclaimed Shares      32  

Section 3.04

  Sole Discretion of Merck      33  

Section 3.05

  Conditions to the Distribution      33  

ARTICLE IV MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

     35  

Section 4.01

  Releases      35  

Section 4.02

  Indemnification by Organon      37  

Section 4.03

  Indemnification by Merck      38  

Section 4.04

  Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts      38  

Section 4.05

  Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims      39  

Section 4.06

  Additional Matters      41  

Section 4.07

  Right of Contribution      43  

Section 4.08

  Covenant Not to Sue      43  

Section 4.09

  Remedies Not Cumulative      43  

Section 4.10

  Survival of Indemnities      43  

Section 4.11

  Party Responsible for Indemnity Payment      44  

ARTICLE V CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

     44  

Section 5.01

  No Right to Use Regulatory Information      44  

Section 5.02

  Directors and Officers Insurance; Fiduciary Liability Insurance      44  

Section 5.03

  Certain Other Insurance Matters      45  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 5.04

  Procedures Related to Certain Proceedings      47  

Section 5.05

  Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes      48  

Section 5.06

  Post-Effective Time Conduct      48  

Section 5.07

  Use of Retained Names and Marks      49  

ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; SECURITY

     49  

Section 6.01

  Agreement for Exchange of Information; Archives      49  

Section 6.02

  Ownership of Information      50  

Section 6.03

  Stored Records      50  

Section 6.04

  Limitations of Liability      51  

Section 6.05

  Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information      51  

Section 6.06

  Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation      52  

Section 6.07

  Privileged Matters      52  

Section 6.08

  Confidentiality      55  

Section 6.09

  Protective Arrangements      56  

Section 6.10

  Equitable Relief with respect to Disclosure of Confidential Information      56  

Section 6.11

  Security.      57  

ARTICLE VII TRANSITION MANAGEMENT OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES; GOVERNANCE

     57  

Section 7.01

  Transition Management Office Team      57  

Section 7.02

  Transition Management Office Lead      58  

ARTICLE VIII DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     58  

Section 8.01

  Disputes      58  

Section 8.02

  Negotiation and Mediation      58  

Section 8.03

  Arbitration      58  

Section 8.04

  Interim Relief      59  

Section 8.05

  Remedies      60  

Section 8.06

  Expenses      60  

Section 8.07

  Continuation of Services and Commitments      60  

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION

     60  

Section 9.01

  Termination      60  

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     60  

Section 10.01

  Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power; Facsimile or Electronic Signatures      60  

Section 10.02

  Governing Law      62  

Section 10.03

  Assignability      63  

Section 10.04

  Third Party Beneficiaries      63  

Section 10.05

  Notices      63  

Section 10.06

  Severability      64  

Section 10.07

  Force Majeure      64  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 10.08

  No Set Off      64  

Section 10.09

  Responsibility for Expenses      64  

Section 10.10

  Headings      65  

Section 10.11

  Survival of Covenants      65  

Section 10.12

  Subsidiaries and Employees      65  

Section 10.13

  Waivers      65  

Section 10.14

  Amendments      65  

Section 10.15

  Interpretation      65  

Section 10.16

  Public Announcements      66  

Section 10.17

  Specific Performance      66  

Section 10.18

  Mutual Drafting      66  

 

Exhibits   
Exhibit A    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Organon
Exhibit B    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Organon
Exhibit C    Plan of Reorganization
Schedules
Schedule 1.01: Global Transaction Structure
Schedule 1.01(a): IP License Agreements
Schedule 1.01(b): Merck Assets
Schedule 1.01(c): Merck Proceedings
Schedule 1.01(d): Organon Assets – Exceptions to Pro Forma Balance Sheet
Schedule 1.01(e): Organon Assets – Exceptions to Information
Schedule 1.01(f): Organon Assets – Real Property Interests

Schedule 1.01(g): Organon Assets – Other Assets

Schedule 1.01(h): Organon Contracts – Exceptions to Organon Contracts
Schedule 1.01(i): Organon Intellectual Property – Trademarks
Schedule 1.01(j): Organon Intellectual Property – Patents
Schedule 1.01(k): Organon Intellectual Property – Internet Domain Names

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Schedule 1.01(l): Organon Liabilities – Exceptions to Pro Forma Balance Sheet
Schedule 1.01(m): Organon Liabilities – Organon Proceedings
Schedule 1.01(n): Organon Liabilities – Other Organon Liabilities
Schedule 1.01(o): Organon Products
Schedule 1.01(p): Transaction Documents
Schedule 1.01(q): Transferred Entities
Schedule 2.03: Deferred Markets
Schedule 2.09(b)(ii): Termination of Merck-Organon Agreements – Exceptions
Schedule 2.10: Exceptions to Settlement of Intercompany Payables and Receivables Between Merck and Organon
Schedule 2.11(c): Release of Guarantees
Schedule 2.13: Quarterly Adjustments
Schedule 5.04: Shared Existing Proceedings
Schedule 10.01(b)(i): Entire Agreement
Schedule 10.09(a): Exceptions to Pre-Distribution Costs and Expenses
Schedule 10.09(b): Exceptions to Post-Distribution Costs and Expenses

 

 

iv


SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of June 2, 2021, is by and between Merck & Co., Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Merck”), and Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (“Organon”) (each a “Party” and together, the “Parties”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merck has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of Merck to: (i) separate the Organon Business (as defined herein) from the Merck Business (as defined herein) (the “Separation”); and (ii) in connection with the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of Merck, par value $0.50 per share (the “Merck Common Shares”), on the Record Date (as defined herein) of all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Organon (the “Organon Common Stock”) (the “Distribution”);

WHEREAS, the Distribution is motivated by the reasons for the separation described in the Registration Statement;

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merck intends for the Separation to be effected in accordance with, among other transactions, the transactions set forth in Schedule 1.01;

WHEREAS, the Distribution will be preceded by, among other things, (a) the Separation, pursuant to which, among other things, Merck will contribute the Organon Business assets to Organon prior to the Distribution (the “Contribution”), (b) the entry by Organon and its Affiliates into the Financing Arrangements, and the (c) Closing Date Repayment;

WHEREAS, for United States federal and state income tax purposes, it is intended that (i) the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) the Distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355(a) of the Code (in each case, qualifying for such treatment under the corresponding provisions of state law);

WHEREAS, this Agreement, together with certain Transaction Documents entered into between the Parties and other documents implementing the Contribution and Distribution, is intended to be implemented pursuant to a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.368-2(g), as set forth in the Plan of Reorganization (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, each of Merck and Organon has determined that it is necessary and advisable to set forth the principal transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution and to describe other agreements that shall govern certain other matters prior to and following the Separation and the Distribution.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement (as defined herein), the Parties hereby agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions. Reference is made to Section 10.15 regarding the interpretation of certain words and phrases used in this Agreement. In addition, for the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

Affiliate” (including, with a correlative meaning, “affiliated”) means, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or otherwise. The Parties agree that for purposes of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, neither Organon nor any of the Organon Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries, and neither Merck nor any of the Merck Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries.

Agent” means Equiniti Trust Company, or such other trust company or bank duly appointed to act as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the Organon Common Stock in connection with the Distribution.

Agreement” means this Separation and Distribution Agreement and each of the Schedules and Exhibits hereto.

Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the assets, rights, interests, claims and properties of all kinds, real and personal, tangible, intangible and contingent, wherever located (including in the possession of suppliers, distributors, other Third Parties or elsewhere), of such Person, including rights and benefits pursuant to any contract, license, permit, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, agreement, concession, franchise, instrument, undertaking, commitment, understanding or other arrangement and any rights or benefits pursuant to any Proceeding.

Business Entity” means any corporation, general or limited partnership, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, limited liability entity or other entity.

Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Organon, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Certificate of Incorporation” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Organon, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Closing Date Repayment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(b).

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2


Confidential Information” means all confidential information and data relating to a Party (including information regarding such Party’s and its Affiliates’ business, employees, development plans, programs, documentation, techniques, trade secrets, systems, and know-how) disclosed or provided by or on behalf of such Party to the other Party pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement or any Transaction Document. “Confidential Information” does not include any information or data: (i) rightfully previously known by a Party hereto, or acquired from a Third Party without a continuing restriction on use (for clarity, excluding any such information or data possessed by Merck (or its Affiliate) prior to the Separation and assigned to Organon as part of the Separation, which shall be considered Confidential Information of Organon for purposes of this clause (i), as applicable); (ii) which is or becomes publicly known without breach of this Agreement; or (iii) which is independently developed without violating any obligations under this Agreement and without reference to the Confidential Information of the other Party. Any combination of features or disclosures shall not be deemed to fall within the foregoing exclusions merely because individual features are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party unless the combination itself and principle of operation are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party.

Consents” means any consents, waivers or approvals from, or notification requirements to, any Third Parties.

Contribution” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(b).

Conveyance and Assumption Instruments” means, collectively, such deeds, bills of sale, asset transfer agreements, business transfer agreements, demerger plans, deeds or agreements, endorsements, assignments, assumptions (including Liability assumption agreements), leases, subleases, affidavits and other instruments of sale, conveyance, contribution, distribution, lease, transfer and assignment between Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee of Merck, on the one hand, and Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary, on the other hand, as may be necessary or advisable under the Laws of the relevant jurisdictions to effect the Separation.

CPR” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02.

Custodial Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03(a).

Data Sharing Agreement” means the Data Sharing Agreement to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Deferred Market” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

Deferred Market Agreement” means the agreements set forth on Schedule 1.01(p) with respect to the Deferred Markets that have been or are being entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Deferred Organon Local Business” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

 

3


Delayed Merck Asset” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).

Delayed Merck Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).

Delayed Organon Asset” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Delayed Organon Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date” means the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the board of directors of Merck in its sole discretion.

Distribution Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(c).

Effective Time” means immediately prior to the Distribution on the Distribution Date, which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be after such time that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

Employee Matters Agreement” means the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Employment Tax” means withholding, payroll, social security, workers compensation, unemployment, disability and any similar tax imposed by any Tax Authority, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to the foregoing imposed on any taxpayer or consolidated, combined or unitary group of taxpayers.

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Financing Arrangements” means the financing arrangements and agreements to be entered into prior to the Effective Time pursuant to which Organon and its subsidiaries will issue, assume or guarantee secured and unsecured notes, and enter into and borrow under, or guarantee, secured credit facilities.

Force Majeure” means, with respect to a Party, any changes in Law, acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, pandemics, governmental shutdowns, war, riots, insurrections or earthquakes.

Governmental Authority” means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial or local court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority, including the NYSE and any similar self-regulatory body under applicable securities Laws.

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).

 

4


Indemnitee” means an Organon Indemnitee or a Merck Indemnitee, as appropriate.

Indemnity Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).

Information” means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including studies, reports, records, books, subledgers, instruments, surveys, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, marketing plans, customer names, Privileged Information, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data, including cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product data and literature, artwork, design, and quality records and reports; provided that “Information” does not include Intellectual Property.

Information Statement” means the information statement forming a part of the Registration Statement as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Effective Time.

Insurance Proceeds” means, with respect to any insured party, those monies, net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof, which are: (i) received by an insured from an insurance carrier or its estate; or (ii) paid by an insurance carrier or its estate on behalf of the insured.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property, whether registered or unregistered, of every kind and description throughout the world, including all United States and non-United States: (i) Trademarks; (ii) Patents; (iii) copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, excluding Know-How (“Copyrights”); (iv) rights in software; (v) trade secrets, and all other confidential or proprietary information, know-how, clinical data, non-clinical data, pre-clinical data, in-vitro data, inventions, processes, formulae and methodologies, excluding Patents (collectively, “Know-How”); (vi) all applications and registrations for the foregoing; and (vii) all rights and remedies against past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or other violation thereof.

IOM Market” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

Interim Operating Agreement” means the agreements with respect to the IOM Markets set forth on Schedule 1.01(p) that have been or are being entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

IP License Agreements” means the license agreements listed on Schedule 1.01(a) that have been or are being entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

JDA” means the Common Interest and Joint Defense Agreement between the Parties entered into in connection with the Separation.

 

5


Law” means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any Tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, Consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Liabilities” means all debts, liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, response actions, losses, damages (whether compensatory, punitive, consequential, incidental, treble or other), fines, penalties and sanctions, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, joint, several or individual, asserted or unasserted, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, including those arising under or in connection with any Law or other pronouncements of Governmental Authorities having the effect of Law, Proceeding, threatened Proceeding, order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or any award of any arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, guarantee, commitment or undertaking, whether sought to be imposed by a Governmental Authority, private party, or Party, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, or otherwise, and including any costs, expenses, interest, attorneys’ fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, expert and consulting fees and costs related thereto or to the investigation or defense thereof.

Local Closing” means, as applicable, (i) with respect to a Deferred Market, the later of the consummation of the separation of any Deferred Organon Local Business in a Deferred Market and the transfer of the shares of the relevant Deferred Market entity to Organon or any Organon Subsidiary and (ii) with respect to an IOM Market, the termination of the operation by Merck of those covered activities of the Organon Business in the relevant IOM Market pursuant to the relevant Interim Operating Agreement.

Local Closing Date” means, for each Deferred Market or IOM Market, the date of the applicable Local Closing.

Marketing Authorization” means all approvals from the relevant Governmental Authority necessary to market and sell a product in any country or group of countries.

Merck” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Merck Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).

Merck Assets” means all Assets of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time, other than the Organon Assets. For the avoidance of doubt, the Merck Assets include those Assets described on Schedule 1.01(b).

Merck Business” means all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or its Subsidiaries, other than the Organon Business.

Merck Common Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

6


Merck Indemnitees” means (i) Merck and each Merck Subsidiary; (ii) each of the respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents of the entities described in (i) above, in each case in their respective capacities as such; and (iii) each of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.

Merck Liabilities” means (i) the Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time) of the Merck Business, Merck or the Merck Subsidiaries and, prior to the Effective Time, the Organon Business, Organon or the Organon Subsidiaries, in each case that are not Organon Liabilities, Liabilities indemnifiable by Organon pursuant to Section 4.02 or Tax-related Liabilities that shall be governed under the Tax Matters Agreement; and (ii) each of the ongoing Proceedings and obligations set forth on Schedule 1.01(c) (the “Merck Proceedings”) and the portion of each Shared Existing Proceeding allocable to Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries.

Merck Licensed Names” means “Licensed Name Companies” and “Licensed Corporate Trademarks” as each term is defined in the Interim Corporate Trademark License Agreement (Merck to Organon) between the Parties.

Merck Products” means all products of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time, other than the Organon Products.

Merck Subsidiary” means any Business Entity that is a Subsidiary of Merck prior to, at or after the Effective Time (other than Organon or an Organon Subsidiary).

Mixed Contract” means any contract or agreement to which either Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries and one or more Third Parties are a party as of immediately prior to the Effective Time that inures to the benefit or burden of both the Merck Business and the Organon Business, but in any case excluding those contracts or agreements that are intended (as determined by Merck in its sole discretion) to solely be used for the benefit or burden of the Merck Business following the Separation (including, for example, employment agreements with continuing employees of the Merck Business and enterprise-wide contracts for the benefit of Merck and its Subsidiaries prior to the Separation that do not relate specifically to the Organon Business).

Non-Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(b).

Non-Custodial Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03(a).

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

OFAC” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

Organon” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Organon Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).

Organon Assets” means the following Assets:

 

7


  (i)

all of the assets and issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of each Organon Subsidiary, including each Transferred Entity;

 

  (ii)

subject to the exceptions described on Schedule 1.01(d), the Assets of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries included or reflected on the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet or any notes or subledgers thereto, and any such Assets as of the Effective Time that would have been included on such Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet or any notes or subledgers thereto had such Assets existed on the date thereof, it being understood that (x) the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet and the notes and subledgers thereto shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Assets that are included in the definition of Organon Assets pursuant to this clause (ii); and (y) the amounts set forth on the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum or maximum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of Organon Assets pursuant to this clause (ii);

 

  (iii)

the Assets expressly allocated to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary (including any Transferred Entity) pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document;

 

  (iv)

all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time to the Organon Products, including all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time to all reports and analyses, product and marketing registrations and applications (which shall include all United States Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory drug approvals and licenses specifically related to, and all related applications and other information submitted for the purposes of or prepared in connection with obtaining an approval for, an Organon Product) to the extent specifically related to the Organon Products, except as may otherwise be expressly set forth on Schedule 1.01(o); provided that, if the Assets to be transferred pursuant to this paragraph conflict with or expand the transfer of Organon Intellectual Property pursuant to clause (vi) of this definition, then clause (vi) and the definition of Organon Intellectual Property shall prevail;

 

  (v)

all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time under the Organon Contracts; provided that if there is deemed to be any inconsistency between this clause (v) and Section 2.12(a), then Section 2.12(a) shall control;

 

  (vi)

all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time to any Organon Intellectual Property;

 

  (vii)

except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 1.01(e), all other rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of their Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with respect to Information to the extent specifically related to the Organon Assets, the Organon Liabilities, the Organon Business or the Transferred Entities and, subject to the provisions of the applicable Transaction Documents; provided that, if the Information to be transferred pursuant to this paragraph conflicts with or expands the transfer of Organon Intellectual Property pursuant to clause (vi) of this definition, then clause (vi) and the definition of Organon Intellectual Property shall prevail;

 

8


  (viii)

without limiting the rights of any Party in any Transaction Document (including a sublease), all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time to the facilities and other real property, including owned and leased real property to be occupied by Organon following the Effective Date pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including the facilities listed on Schedule 1.01(f) (the “Organon Facilities”);

 

  (ix)

subject to the provisions of any applicable sublease, all tangible equipment (including information technology, equipment and machinery), infrastructure, wires, supplies and other tangible property that is owned by, leased to or licensed to Merck or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time located at any Organon Facility listed on Schedule 1.01(f) under the heading “Conveyed Manufacturing Sites” or that are otherwise specifically related to the Organon Business;

 

  (x)

the Assets of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time on Schedule 1.01(g); and

 

  (xi)

any and all other Assets that were inadvertently omitted or assigned that, had the Parties given specific consideration to such Assets as of the date of this Agreement, would have otherwise been classified as Organon Assets based on the principles set forth in this definition of Organon Assets; provided, that no Asset shall be an Organon Asset solely as a result of this clause (xi) unless the Parties mutually agree in writing on the inclusion of such Asset after the date of this Agreement.

Organon Business” means (i) the business of developing, commercializing, distributing and selling the Organon Products in the Territory, (ii) the manufacturing of the Organon Products and (iii) the co-manufacturing activities and all ancillary and related operations occurring at the Organon Facilities.

Organon Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Organon Contracts” means the following contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which either Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or its Assets is bound, whether or not in writing, in each case, prior to the Effective Time, except to the extent otherwise described in Schedule 1.01(h):

 

  (i)

any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding specifically related to the Organon Business;

 

  (ii)

any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding or portion thereof that is an Organon Liability;

 

9


  (iii)

any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar agreements with any employee or consultant of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary; and

 

  (iv)

any other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding or portion thereof that is otherwise expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document to be assigned to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary; provided, however, that (A) such contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings or portions thereof that are contemplated to be retained by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall not be Organon Contracts; (B) such contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings or portions thereof that relate to debt instruments, insurance arrangements, or employee benefit plans or programs shall be Organon Contracts only to the extent expressly provided for under the terms of this Agreement or any Transaction Document; and (C) the rights and obligations of Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents shall not be Organon Contracts.

Organon Indemnitees” means (i) Organon and each Organon Subsidiary; (ii) each of the respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents of the entities described in (i) above, in each case in their respective capacities as such; and (iii) each of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.

Organon Intellectual Property” means (i) the Intellectual Property transferred to Organon and its Affiliates pursuant to the Conveyance and Assumption Instruments; (ii) the Trademarks listed on Schedule 1.01(i); (iii) the Patents listed on Schedule 1.01(j); (iv) Copyrights specifically related to the Organon Business; (v) primary internet domain names listed on Schedule 1.01(k), along with associated country internet domains and extensions; (vi) Know-How specifically related to the Organon Business; and (vii) other Intellectual Property specifically related to the Organon Business; provided that in no event shall any Intellectual Property that is licensed to Organon or any of its Affiliates pursuant to an IP License Agreement be included in the definition of Organon Intellectual Property.

Organon Liabilities” means all of the following Liabilities of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries:

 

  (i)

subject to the exceptions described on Schedule 1.01(l), the Liabilities of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries included or reflected on the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet or any notes or subledgers thereto, and any such Liabilities as of the Effective Time that would have been included on such Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet or any notes or subledgers thereto had such Liabilities existed on the date thereof, it being understood that (x) the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet and the notes and subledgers thereto shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Liabilities that are included in the definition of Organon Liabilities pursuant to this clause (i); and (y) the amounts set forth on the Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum or maximum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of Organon Liabilities pursuant to this clause (i);

 

10


  (ii)

except as otherwise set forth herein, all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to, on or after the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from the Organon Business or an Organon Asset;

 

  (iii)

all Liabilities for claims made by Third Parties, or the directors, officers, employees, agents of Merck, Organon or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates against either Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Organon Business or the Organon Assets;

 

  (iv)

all Liabilities expressly allocated to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, and the obligations of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary under such agreements, excluding Tax-related Liabilities that shall be governed under the Tax Matters Agreement;

 

  (v)

all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from (A) the Financing Arrangements, (B) any other indebtedness of Organon or any Organon Subsidiary (whether incurred prior to, on or after the Effective Time) or (C) guarantees and obligations of the obligor under letters of credit issued in connection with the Organon Business;

 

  (vi)

all Liabilities assumed by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary from a Third Party after the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities initially arose or accrued before the Effective Time);

 

  (vii)

except as expressly set forth in another Transaction Document, all Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from the operation or conduct of any business conducted by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary at any time after the Effective Time;

 

  (viii)

except as expressly set forth in another Transaction Document, any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Organon Asset, whether arising before, on or after the Effective Time;

 

  (ix)

except as expressly set forth in another Transaction Document, any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Organon Business or the manufacture, marketing, co-branding, co-promotion, promotion, distribution or sale of Organon Products, in each case, whether arising before, on or after the Effective Time by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

11


  (x)

all Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Registration Statement, the Information Statement (other than the matters described Section 4.03(e)) or any other form, statement, schedule or other material filed with or furnished to (A) the Commission, (B) any other Governmental Authority or (C) holders of any securities of Organon or any Organon Subsidiary in connection with the registration, sale or distribution of securities or disclosure related thereto (including periodic disclosure obligations);

 

  (xi)

each of the ongoing Proceedings primarily related to the Organon Business, including the matters set forth on Schedule 1.01(m) (the “Organon Proceedings”), and the portion of each Shared Existing Proceeding allocable to Organon and the Transferred Entities;

 

  (xii)

subject to clause (xi) of this definition and any additional Liabilities or limitations related to Proceedings set forth on Schedule 5.04, the Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from Proceedings to the extent such Proceedings relate to, arise out of, or result from the Organon Business, the Organon Assets, or the other Organon Liabilities; and

 

  (xiii)

all other Liabilities set forth on Schedule 1.01(n).

Organon Products” means the products set forth on Schedule 1.01(o).

Organon Pro Forma Balance Sheet” means the pro forma combined balance sheet of Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries, including any notes or subledgers thereto, as of December 31, 2020, as presented in the Information Statement.

Organon Subsidiary” means any Business Entity that is a Subsidiary of Organon at or after the Effective Time (other than Merck or a Merck Subsidiary), including the Transferred Entities.

Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Patents” means: (i) all national, regional and international patents and patent applications, including provisional patent applications, whether pending, enforced, abandoned or expired; (ii) all patent applications filed either from the patents, patent applications or provisional applications in clause (i) or from an application claiming priority from any of these, including divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, converted provisionals, and continued prosecution applications; (iii) all patents that have issued or in the future issue from the foregoing patent applications specified in clauses (i) and (ii), including utility models, petty patents, design patents and certificates of invention; and (iv) all patent term extensions or restorations by existing or future extension or restoration mechanisms, including any supplementary protection certificates and the like, as well as any revalidations, reissues, re-examinations, oppositions and the like of the foregoing patents or patent applications specified in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).

Person” means any (i) individual, (ii) Business Entity or (iii) Governmental Authority, and including any successor or permitted assignee, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing.

 

12


Pharmacovigilance Agreements” means the Pharmacovigilance Agreement for Merck Products and the Pharmacovigilance Agreement for Organon Products to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Plan of Reorganization” means the Plan of Reorganization, attached as Exhibit C, entered into by Merck and Organon in connection with the Contribution and the Distribution.

Privileged Information” means any information, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including any communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), as to which a Party or its respective Subsidiaries would be entitled to assert or have asserted a privilege, including the attorney-client and attorney work product privileges and any other rights, privileges, immunities or protections that may apply in any applicable jurisdiction.

Proceeding” means any past, present or future suit, countersuit, action, alternative dispute resolution process, claim, counterclaim, demand, hearing, inquiry, investigation or proceeding before a judicial, quasi-judicial, tribunal, arbitration or mediation body, or by or before a Governmental Authority, in each case involving Merck, a Merck Subsidiary, a Merck Indemnitee (but only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of a Merck Indemnitee), Organon, an Organon Subsidiary, or an Organon Indemnitee (but only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of an Organon Indemnitee), in each case other than any such matter solely between Merck or any Merck Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Organon or any Organon Subsidiaries, on the other hand, arising with respect to a controversy, dispute or claim under this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

Record Date” means the close of business on the date to be determined by the Merck board of directors as the record date for determining holders of Merck Common Shares entitled to participate in the Distribution.

Record Holders” means the holders of record of Merck Common Shares as of the Record Date.

Records Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03(a).

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form 10 filed under the Exchange Act on May 7, 2021, pursuant to which the Organon Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution has been registered, together with all amendments and supplements thereto.

Regulatory Agreements” means the Regulatory Agreement for Organon Products and the Regulatory Agreement for Merck Products to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.08(a).

Retained Names and Marks” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

 

13


Sanctioned Country Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

Security Interest” means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

Security Regulations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(a).

Separation” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Shared Existing Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(b).

STAIRS Plan” means the plan, as mutually agreed by Organon and Merck (or their respective Affiliates, as applicable), that details the transfer of Marketing Authorizations, the name change of the holder of the Marketing Authorizations, site name changes, legal entity name and address changes, and artwork changes in connection with the Separation.

Stored Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03(a).

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Business Entity of which such Person: (i) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Business Entity; (B) the total combined equity interests; or (C) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership; or (ii) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

Systems” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11(a).

Tangible Information” means Information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

Tax” means: (i) any income, net income, gross income, gross receipts, profits, capital stock, franchise, property, ad valorem, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease, transfer, import, export, customs duties, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or other similar tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature of or in lieu of any tax) imposed by any Tax Authority, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to the foregoing imposed on any taxpayer or consolidated, combined or unitary group of taxpayers, and including any liability of either Party and its respective Affiliates for payment of any amounts described in the foregoing as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person; and (ii) any Employment Tax.

Tax Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such Governmental Authority or subdivision.

Tax Matters Agreement” means the Tax Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

14


Territory” means all countries of the world, and their respective territories and possessions, but excluding Venezuela.

Third Party” means any Person other than the Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(a).

TMO Lead” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).

TMO Team” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.

Trademarks” means all trademarks, trade names, brand names, domain names, service marks, trade dress, logos and all other source indicators, including all goodwill associated therewith and all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith.

Transaction Documents” means all agreements entered into by the Parties or their Subsidiaries (but as to which no Third Party is a party) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the agreements set forth on Schedule 1.01(p), which shall include, without limitation, the Conveyance and Assumption Instruments, the Data Sharing Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the IP License Agreements, the Manufacturing Governance Agreement, the Pharmacovigilance Agreements, the Regulatory Agreements, the Tax Matters Agreement and the Transition Services Agreements.

Transferred Entities” means the entities set forth on Schedule 1.01(q) (including such entities as they may subsequently renamed, and including such entities’ successors and assigns).

Transition Services Agreements” means the Merck to Organon Transition Services Agreement and the Organon to Merck Transition Services Agreement to be entered into by and between Merck and Organon or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

THE SEPARATION

Section 2.01 Governance and Listing of Organon.

(a) Adoption of Organons Charter and Bylaws. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Merck and Organon shall take all necessary actions so that, as of the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Organon.

(b) Organon’s Directors and Officers. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Merck and Organon shall take all necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time: (i) the directors and executive officers of Organon shall be those set forth in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders prior to the Effective Time, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties; and (ii) Organon shall have such other officers as Organon shall appoint, in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

 

15


(c) NYSE Listing. Organon shall prepare and file, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have approved prior to the Effective Time, an application for the listing of the Organon Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution and the shares of Organon Common Stock to be reserved for issuance pursuant to any director or employee benefit plan or arrangement on the NYSE (and such other stock exchanges as may be necessary or desirable), subject to official notice of distribution.

Section 2.02 The Separation. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Separation is intended to result in Organon owning the Organon Assets and assuming the Organon Liabilities as set forth below in this Article II and in the applicable Transaction Documents. Subject to Sections 2.03, 2.04 and 2.05, on or prior to the Distribution Date, in accordance with the plan of Separation for Organon:

(a) Transfer and Assignment of Organon Assets. Merck shall, and shall cause the applicable Merck Subsidiaries to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiaries, and Organon or such Organon Subsidiaries shall accept from Merck and the applicable Merck Subsidiaries, all of Merck’s and such Merck Subsidiaries’ respective direct or indirect rights, title and interest in and to all of the Organon Assets, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in the Transferred Entities, which shall result in Organon owning directly or indirectly all of the Transferred Entities (it being understood that if an Organon Asset shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such Organon Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered for all purposes hereunder as a result of the transfer of all or substantially all of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary).

(b) Acceptance and Assumption of Organon Liabilities. Organon and the applicable Organon Subsidiaries shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the Organon Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, without regard for the manner in which or circumstances under which such Organon Liabilities arose or against whom they are asserted. Organon and the applicable Organon Subsidiaries shall be responsible for all Organon Liabilities, regardless of when or where such Organon Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to, at or after the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such Organon Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such Organon Liabilities arising out of claims made by Merck’s or Organon’s respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or by Representatives of Merck or Organon or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates against either Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) or whether asserted or determined prior to the Effective Time, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives. The assumption by Organon and the applicable Organon Subsidiaries of the Organon Liabilities is in partial consideration for the Organon Assets being transferred to them in connection with the Separation.

 

16


(c) Transfer and Assignment of Merck Assets. Merck and Organon shall cause Organon and any Business Entity that shall be an Organon Subsidiary after the Effective Time to contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Merck or a Business Entity designated by Merck that shall be a Merck Subsidiary after the Effective Time all of Organon’s and such Organon Subsidiary’s respective direct or indirect rights, title and interest in and to all Merck Assets held by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary.

(d) Acceptance and Assumption of Merck Liabilities. Merck and the applicable Merck Subsidiaries shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill, all of the Merck Liabilities held by Organon or any Business Entity that shall be an Organon Subsidiary after the Effective Time, and Merck and the applicable Merck Subsidiaries shall be responsible for all of such Merck Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, without regard for the manner in which or circumstances under which such Merck Liabilities arose or against whom they are asserted. Merck and the applicable Merck Subsidiaries shall be responsible for all Merck Liabilities, regardless of when or where such Merck Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to, at or after the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such Merck Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such Merck Liabilities arising out of claims made by Merck’s or Organon’s respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or by Representatives of Merck or Organon or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates) or whether asserted or determined prior to the Effective Time, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives.

Section 2.03 IOM and Deferred Markets.

(a) Deferral of Certain Transfers of Organon Assets and Organon Liabilities. The Parties acknowledge that due to the requirements of applicable Laws, the need to obtain certain Consents from Governmental Authorities or for other business reasons, the Parties have agreed to defer until after the Effective Time the transfer of legal title to all or a portion of the Organon Assets and the assumption of all or a portion of the Organon Liabilities from Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee in (i) each of the jurisdictions listed on Schedule 2.03(a)(i), where Merck is continuing to operate certain activities of the Organon Business pursuant to an Interim Operating Agreement (each, an “IOM Market”), and (ii) each of the jurisdictions listed on Schedule 2.03(a)(ii), where Merck is continuing to operate the Organon Business pursuant to a Deferred Market Agreement (each, a “Deferred Market” and the Organon Assets and Organon Liabilities in such Deferred Markets and the IOM Markets, the “Deferred Organon Local Businesses”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Deferred Organon Local Business shall continue to constitute Organon Assets or Organon Liabilities, as applicable, for all other purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Treatment of Deferred Organon Local Businesses. In each case, from and after the Effective Time, and until such time as the applicable Deferred Organon Local Business has been transferred to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee for the relevant IOM Market or Deferred Market subject and pursuant to the terms of the applicable Interim Operating Agreement or Deferred Market Agreement, (i) the Deferred Organon Local Business shall be held and operated by Merck or, where applicable, by a Merck Subsidiary or designee, in

 

17


trust on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee; (ii) Merck (or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee) shall pay, perform and discharge fully when due and payable the Liabilities of the Deferred Organon Local Business on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee pursuant to the terms of the applicable Interim Operating Agreement or Deferred Market Agreement; and (iii) insofar as reasonably practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable Law and subject to the terms of any Transaction Document related to such Deferred Organon Local Business, Merck (or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee) shall take such other actions as may reasonably be requested by Organon, including sales price determination, supply chain planning and order fulfillment, so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Deferred Organon Local Business, including expenses, use, risk of loss, profits and losses, potential for gain and control over such Deferred Organon Local Business, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee. Except as otherwise provided in a relevant Transaction Document for such IOM Market or Deferred Market, the Parties agree that (A) Merck (or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee) shall remit to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee the amounts due in connection with the performance of each Deferred Organon Local Business; and (B) Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall reimburse Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee for all payments made in connection with the performance of each Deferred Organon Local Business and the discharge of any Liabilities in connection therewith.

Section 2.04 Delayed Transfers of Organon Assets and Organon Liabilities.

(a) Delayed Organon Transfers. Subject to Section 2.03, if and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee of any Organon Assets or the assumption by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee of any Organon Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law or requires a Consent that has not been obtained as of or prior to the Effective Time or the Local Closing Date, as applicable, then, unless the Parties shall otherwise mutually agree, the transfer or assignment to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee of such Organon Assets or the assumption by Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee of such Organon Liabilities shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Consent is obtained (any such Organon Asset, a “Delayed Organon Asset” and any such Organon Liability, a “Delayed Organon Liability”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Delayed Organon Assets or Delayed Organon Liabilities shall continue to constitute Organon Assets or Organon Liabilities, respectively, for all other purposes of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, regardless of when such Delayed Organon Assets or Delayed Organon Liabilities are assumed by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 2.12 for Mixed Contracts, any Organon Contract requiring a Consent by a third party that, following the Distribution Date, does not provide its Consent shall be deemed a Delayed Organon Asset.

(b) Treatment of Delayed Organon Assets and Delayed Organon Liabilities. Subject to Section 2.03, from and after the Effective Time, and until such time as the applicable Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability has been transferred to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee, (i) the Delayed Organon Assets shall be held by Merck

 

18


or, where applicable, by a Merck Subsidiary or designee, in trust on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee; (ii) Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee shall pay, perform and discharge fully when due and payable the Delayed Organon Liabilities on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee; and (iii) insofar as reasonably practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee shall take such other actions as may reasonably be requested by Organon so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed Organon Assets and Delayed Organon Liabilities, including expenses, use, risk of loss, profits and losses, potential for gain and control over such Delayed Organon Assets and Delayed Organon Liabilities, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee. The Parties agree that (A) Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee shall remit to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee the amounts due in connection with the performance of each Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability; and (B) Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall reimburse Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee for all payments made in connection with the performance or discharge, as applicable, of each Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability.

(c) Transfer of Delayed Organon Assets and Delayed Organon Liabilities. Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee shall use its commercially reasonable efforts (at Organon’s cost and expense) to obtain any required Consent for the transfer of any Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability. When and as the Parties agree, from time to time, subject to Section 2.03 and provided that, as of such agreed-upon time (i) the necessary Consents for the applicable Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability shall have been obtained; and (ii) the assumption by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee of the applicable Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability is not at such time a violation of applicable Law (or, in the case of a Deferred Organon Local Business, if later, upon the Local Closing):

(A) Merck shall, and shall cause each Merck Subsidiary to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Organon or such Organon Subsidiaries or designees as Organon may determine, and Organon shall, and shall cause such Organon Subsidiaries or designees to, accept from Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries all of Merck’s and the Merck Subsidiaries’ respective rights, title and interest in and to such Delayed Organon Assets; and

(B) Organon shall, and shall cause such Organon Subsidiaries or designees as Organon may determine to, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill such Delayed Organon Liabilities, in accordance with their terms.

This Section 2.04(c) shall apply mutatis mutandis to each Local Closing of a Deferred Organon Local Business.

 

19


(d) Sanctioned Countries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that any transfer or assignment from Merck or a Merck Subsidiary to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary of any patents or trademarks from Cuba, Iran or North Korea that would otherwise comprise Organon Assets (to the extent any such assets exist as of the Effective Date, “Sanctioned Country Assets”), and any grant of any licensing rights from Merck or a Merck Subsidiary to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary to Sanctioned Country Assets (which would, for purposes of licensing rights only, include any patents or trademarks from Syria), require and is subject to prior authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). When and as the Parties agree, Organon shall have the right to request that Merck or its Affiliate use commercially reasonable efforts to submit to OFAC a request for authorization to assign and transfer and/or to grant a license to the relevant Sanctioned Country Assets, as appropriate, at Organon’s cost and expense.

(e) Venezuelan Assets. The Parties recognize that no commercial activities relating to Organon Products are being conducted in Venezuela as of the Effective Time nor have been for the three (3)-year period prior thereto. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the IP License Agreements, the Parties acknowledge that any transfer or assignment from Merck or a Merck Subsidiary to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary of any patents or trademarks from Venezuela that would otherwise comprise Organon Assets, and any grant of any licensing rights from Merck or a Merck Subsidiary to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary to such assets, requires and is subject to prior authorization from OFAC. As a result, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, no rights, assets or liabilities in Venezuela are being transferred pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise. In the event that conditions in Venezuela change, allowing for the resumption of commercial activities in Venezuela, Organon shall have the right to request that Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary use commercially reasonable efforts to apply for appropriate licenses to permit the transfer or license of any such assets in Venezuela to Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee, at Organon’s cost and expense.

Section 2.05 Delayed Transfers of Merck Assets and Merck Liabilities.

(a) Delayed Merck Transfers. If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee of any Merck Assets or the assumption by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee of any Merck Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law or require a Consent that has not been obtained as of or prior to the Effective Time or the Local Closing Date, as applicable, then, unless the Parties shall otherwise mutually agree, the transfer or assignment to Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary or designee of such Merck Assets or the assumption by Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary or designee of such Merck Liabilities shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Consent is obtained (any such Merck Asset, a “Delayed Merck Asset” and any such Merck Liability, a “Delayed Merck Liability”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Delayed Merck Assets or Delayed Merck Liabilities shall continue to constitute Merck Assets or Merck Liabilities, respectively, for all other purposes of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, regardless of when such Delayed Merck Assets or Delayed Merck Liabilities are assumed by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee.

 

20


(b) Treatment of Delayed Merck Assets and Delayed Merck Liabilities. Except as otherwise provided herein or in any Transaction Document, from and after the Effective Time, and until such time as the applicable Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability has been transferred to Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary or designee, (i) the Delayed Merck Assets shall be held by Organon or, where applicable, by an Organon Subsidiary or designee, in trust on behalf of and for the benefit of Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee; (ii) Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall pay, perform and discharge fully when due and payable the Delayed Merck Liabilities on behalf of and for the benefit of Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee; and (iii) insofar as reasonably practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall take such other actions as may reasonably be requested by Merck so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed Merck Assets and Delayed Merck Liabilities, including expenses, use, risk of loss, profits and losses, potential for gain and control over such Delayed Merck Assets and Delayed Merck Liabilities, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee. The Parties agree that (A) Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall remit to Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee the amounts due in connection with the performance of each Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability; and (B) Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee shall reimburse Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee for all payments made in connection with the performance or discharge, as applicable, of each Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability.

(c) Transfer of Delayed Merck Assets and Delayed Merck Liabilities. Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee shall use its commercially reasonable efforts (at Merck’s cost and expense) to obtain any required Consent for the transfer of any Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability. When and as the Parties agree and provided that, as of such agreed-upon time (i) the necessary Consents for each Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability shall have been obtained; and (ii) the assumption by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee of each Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability is not at such time a violation of applicable Law:

(A) Organon shall, and shall cause each Organon Subsidiary to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Merck or such Merck Subsidiaries or designees as Merck may determine, and Merck shall, and shall cause such Merck Subsidiaries or designees to, accept from Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries all of Organon’s and the Organon Subsidiaries’ respective rights, title and interest in and to such Delayed Merck Assets; and

(B) Merck shall, and shall cause such Merck Subsidiaries or designees as Merck may determine to, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill such Delayed Merck Liabilities, in accordance with their terms.

Section 2.06 Transaction Documents. Prior to the Effective Time, the Parties shall execute and deliver, or where applicable shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, the Transaction Documents, provided, however, that if this Article II calls for a Transaction Document to be executed and delivered on or as of a later time, it shall be executed and delivered on or as of such later time.

 

21


Section 2.07 Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties.

(a) EACH OF MERCK (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH OF THE MERCK SUBSIDIARIES) AND ORGANON (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH OF THE ORGANON SUBSIDIARIES) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, NO PERSON (INCLUDING ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR OTHERWISE), IS: (X) REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING TO ANY OTHER PERSON IN ANY WAY AS TO (I) THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED, LICENSED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY; (II) ANY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH; (III) THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY; (IV) THE ABSENCE OR PRESENCE OF ANY DEFENSES TO OR RIGHT OF SETOFF AGAINST OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROCEEDING OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF EITHER PARTY; OR (V) THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENTS OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING OF SUCH CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENTS OR SUCH OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS; OR (Y) MAKING ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR GRANTING ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, OR EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE OR ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE VALIDITY OF ANY PATENTS OR THE NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED OR LICENSED ON AN “AS IS,” “WHERE IS” BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES OR LICENSEES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (A) ANY CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT MAY PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL SECURITY INTERESTS; AND (B) ANY NECESSARY CONSENTS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS, AGREEMENTS, SECURITY INTERESTS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.

(b) Each of Merck (on behalf of itself and each of the Merck Subsidiaries) and Organon (on behalf of itself and each of the Organon Subsidiaries) further understands and agrees that if the disclaimer of express or implied representations and warranties contained in Section 2.07(a) is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason under the Laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States or if, under the Laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, both Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries, on the other hand, are jointly or severally liable for any Organon Liability or any

 

22


Merck Liability, respectively, then, the Parties intend that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary under the Laws of such foreign jurisdictions, the provisions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents (including the disclaimer of all representations and warranties, allocation of Liabilities among the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, releases, indemnification and contribution of Liabilities) shall prevail for any and all purposes among the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries.

(c) Organon hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every Organon Subsidiary with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Organon Assets to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary.

(d) Merck hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every Merck Subsidiary with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any and all of the Merck Assets to Merck or a Merck Subsidiary.

Section 2.08 Financing Arrangements; Organon Repayment; Use of Proceeds.

(a) Financing Arrangements. Prior to the Effective Time, the Financing Arrangements shall have been consummated. Merck and Organon agree to take all necessary actions to assure the full release and discharge of Merck and each of the Merck Subsidiaries from all obligations thereunder as of no later than the Effective Time.

(b) Organon Repayment. Prior to the Effective Time, Organon shall repay certain intercompany loans outstanding to Merck or a Merck Subsidiary in an amount equal to the sum of $7,034,500,320 and €1,981,254,500 in connection with the Separation and the Distribution (together, the “Closing Date Repayment”).

(c) Preparation of Materials. Prior to the Effective Time, Merck and Organon shall cooperate in the preparation of all materials as may be necessary or advisable to execute the Financing Arrangements, including rating agency presentations necessary to obtain the requisite ratings needed to secure the financing under any of the Financing Arrangements.

Section 2.09 Termination of Agreements.

(a) Termination of Agreements Between Merck and Organon. Except as set forth in Section 2.09(b), the Parties agree that (i) all agreements, arrangements, commitments, courses of dealing or understandings, whether or not in writing, entered into prior to the Effective Time between or among Organon or an Organon Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, on the other hand, shall (except as set forth in clause (ii)) be terminated effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination); and (ii) all agreements, arrangements, commitments, courses of dealing or understandings, whether or not in writing, entered into prior to a Local Closing of a Deferred Organon Local Business between or among a Transferred Entity that shall be transferred to Organon or a Organon Subsidiary after the Effective Time as part of a Local Closing of a Deferred Organon Local Business, on the one hand, and Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, on the other hand, shall be terminated effective as of immediately prior to such Local Closing (including any

 

23


provision thereof which purports to survive termination); provided that the provisions of this Section 2.09(a) shall not terminate any rights or obligations (A) between Merck and any of the Merck Subsidiaries; or (B) between Organon and any of the Organon Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, no Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall have any Liability to any other Party or any of its Subsidiaries based upon, arising out of or resulting from any agreement, arrangement, commitment, course of dealing or understanding terminated in accordance with this Section 2.09(a), and any such Liability is hereby irrevocably canceled, released and waived effective as of the time of such termination.

(b) Exceptions. The provisions of Section 2.09(a) shall not apply to any of the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof): (i) this Agreement and the Transaction Documents; (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.09(b)(ii) or otherwise entered into between an Organon Subsidiary and Merck Subsidiary expressly in anticipation of the Separation; (iii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Third Party is a party; (iv) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, including any Mixed Contracts, to which any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of Merck or Organon, as the case may be, is a party (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests shall be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); and (v) intercompany trade and other current payables and receivables (excluding the current portion of intercompany debt and notes) that exist as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, in the case of any Deferred Organon Local Business, as of immediately prior to the Local Closing Date), as contemplated by Section 2.10(a). To the extent that the rights and obligations of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary under any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings not terminated under this Section 2.09 constitute Organon Assets or Organon Liabilities, they shall be assigned or assumed by Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 2.10 Settlement of Accounts between Merck and Organon.

(a) Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 2.10, Merck and Organon shall cause all intercompany debt and notes (i) as to which there are no Third Parties; and (ii) that are between Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Organon or an Organon Subsidiary, on the other hand, that exist as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, in the case of any Deferred Organon Local Business, as of immediately prior to the Local Closing Date), as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, as applicable, such Local Closing Date), to be settled, capitalized or cancelled so that such intercompany debt and notes are no longer between Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Organon or an Organon Subsidiary, on the other hand, in each case in the manner determined prior to the Effective Time (or, as applicable, such Local Closing Date) by duly authorized representatives of Merck and Organon. Intercompany trade and other payables and receivables that exist as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, in the case of any Deferred Organon Local Business, as of immediately prior to the Local Closing Date) will be settled (x) as may be determined by Merck prior to the Effective Time and (y) with respect to any such intercompany trade and other payables and receivables that survive the Effective Time, as may be mutually agreed by Merck and Organon.

 

24


(b) Merck and Organon each agrees to take, or cause their respective Subsidiaries to take, prior to the Effective Time (or, in the case of any Deferred Organon Local Business, as of prior to the Local Closing Date), all actions necessary to amend all Organon Contracts governing each bank and brokerage account owned by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary (collectively, the “Organon Accounts”), so that such Organon Accounts, if currently linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter “linked”) to any bank or brokerage account owned by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary (collectively, the “Merck Accounts”) are de-linked from the Merck Accounts effective at or prior to the Effective Time (or, as applicable, at or prior to the Local Closing Date).

(c) With respect to any outstanding checks issued by Merck, Organon, or any of their respective Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time (or, in the case of any Transferred Entity transferred as part of a Deferred Organon Local Business, prior to the Local Closing Date), such outstanding checks shall be honored following the Effective Time (or, as applicable, following the Local Closing Date) by the Person owning the account on which the check is drawn.

(d) As between Merck and Organon (and their respective Subsidiaries) all payments and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by either Party (or any of its Subsidiaries) in respect or satisfaction of a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or any of its Subsidiaries), shall be held by such Party in trust on behalf of and for the benefit of the Party entitled thereto and, as promptly as commercially practicable or as otherwise agreed between the Parties (including, in the case of any Deferred Organon Local Business, in accordance with Section 2.03), upon receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to pay over, to the other Party the amount of such payment or reimbursement in accordance with other Transaction Documents.

(e) The Parties agree that, prior to the Effective Time, Merck or any Merck Subsidiary may, unless and except as the Parties have agreed otherwise in writing, withdraw any and all cash or cash equivalents from the Organon Accounts for the benefit of Merck or any Merck Subsidiary and any such cash or cash equivalents so withdrawn shall be a Merck Asset notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein.

Section 2.11 Novation of Liabilities; Release of Guarantees.

(a) Novation of Organon Liabilities.

(i) Each of Merck and Organon, at the request of the other Party, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all Organon Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of Merck and each Merck Subsidiary that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, Organon and the designated Organon Subsidiaries shall be solely responsible for such Organon Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Transaction Documents, neither Merck nor Organon (nor any of their respective Subsidiaries) shall be obligated to contribute any capital, pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees to a Governmental Authority (which shall be payable by Organon) from whom such Consents, substitutions, approvals, amendments, terminations or releases are requested.

 

25


(ii) If Merck or Organon is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release, Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary shall continue to be bound by such arrangement and, unless not permitted by the terms thereof or by Law, Organon shall, pay, perform and discharge fully when due and payable all the obligations or other Liabilities of Merck or such Merck Subsidiary, as the case may be, that constitute Organon Liabilities thereunder from and after the Effective Time, on behalf of and for the benefit of Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee. Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary or designee shall reimburse Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or designee for all payments made in connection with the performance and discharge of any Organon Liabilities. Merck shall pay over, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to pay over, to Organon all money, rights and other consideration received by it or a Merck Subsidiary in respect of Organon’s performance of such Liabilities on behalf of and for the benefit of Merck or, where applicable, a Merck Subsidiary or designee (unless any such consideration is a Merck Asset). Subject to Section 2.03 with respect to the Local Closing of a Deferred Organon Local Business, if and when any such Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release shall be obtained or the obligations under such arrangements shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary shall promptly contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Organon or such Organon Subsidiaries or designees as Organon may determine, all of Merck’s and the Merck Subsidiaries’ respective rights, title and interest in and to such obligations, and Organon shall, and shall cause such Organon Subsidiaries or designees as Organon may determine to, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill such obligations, in accordance with their terms.

(b) Novation of Merck Liabilities.

(i) Each of Merck and Organon, at the request of the other Party, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all Merck Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of Organon and each Organon Subsidiary that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, Merck and the designated Merck Subsidiaries shall be solely responsible for such Merck Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Transaction Documents, neither Merck nor Organon (nor any of their respective Subsidiaries) shall be obligated to contribute any capital, pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees to a Governmental Authority (which shall be payable by Merck) from whom such Consents, substitutions, approvals, amendments, terminations or releases are requested.

(ii) If Merck or Organon is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release, Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary shall continue to be bound by such arrangement and, unless not permitted by the terms thereof or by Law, Merck shall, pay,

 

26


perform and discharge fully when due and payable all the obligations or other Liabilities of Organon or such Organon Subsidiary, as the case may be, that constitute Merck Liabilities thereunder from and after the Effective Time, on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee. Merck or the applicable Merck Subsidiary or designee shall reimburse Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or designee for all payments made in connection with the performance and discharge of any Merck Liabilities. Organon shall pay over, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to pay over, to Merck all money, rights and other consideration received by it or an Organon Subsidiary in respect of Merck’s performance of such Liabilities on behalf of and for the benefit of Organon or, where applicable, an Organon Subsidiary or designee (unless any such consideration is an Organon Asset). If and when any such Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release shall be obtained or the obligations under such arrangements shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Organon or the applicable Organon Subsidiary shall promptly contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Merck or such Merck Subsidiaries or designees as Merck may determine, all of Organon’s and the Organon Subsidiaries’ respective rights, title and interest in and to such obligations, and Merck shall, and shall cause such Merck Subsidiaries or designees as Merck may determine to, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill such obligations, in accordance with their terms.

(c) Release of Guarantees.

(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11(c)(i), each of Merck and Organon, at the request of the other Party, shall use commercially reasonable efforts, as soon as is reasonably practicable, to (A) have Organon or an Organon Subsidiary removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Merck Liability to the extent that such guarantees or obligations relate to Merck Liabilities, which shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Organon Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Merck Liability; and (B) have Merck or a Merck Subsidiary removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Organon Liability to the extent that such guarantees or obligations relate to Organon Liabilities, which shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Merck Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Organon Liability; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Transaction Documents and without limiting the requirements under Section 2.11(c)(ii), the use of commercially reasonable efforts under this Section 2.11(c)(i) shall not obligate either Merck or Organon (nor any of their respective Subsidiaries) to contribute any capital, pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees to a Governmental Authority (which shall be payable by the non-guarantor or non-obligor Party) from whom such Consents, substitutions, amendments, terminations or releases are requested.

 

27


(ii) To the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee or other obligation:

(A) of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, Organon shall execute a guarantee agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Merck Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Organon Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either with which Organon (1) would be reasonably unable to comply or (2) would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching; and

(B) of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary, Merck shall execute a guarantee agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Organon Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Merck Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either with which Merck (1) would be reasonably unable to comply or (2) would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching.

(iii) With respect to the continuing guarantees or obligations which the Parties have agreed, subject to this Section 2.11(c)(iii), will continue following the Effective Time, and with respect to which Merck or Organon is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required removal or release as set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.11(c), (A) the Party or its relevant Subsidiary that has assumed the Liability underlying such guarantee or obligation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the guarantor or obligator from incurring any continuing Liability in respect of such guarantee or obligation, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the guarantor or obligor against or from any Liability arising from or relating thereto (in accordance with the provisions of Article IV) and shall or shall cause one of its Subsidiaries to pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder on behalf of and for the benefit of such guarantor or obligor; and (B) each of Merck and Organon, on behalf of themselves and their respective Subsidiaries, agree not to renew or extend the term of, increase its obligations under, or transfer to a Third Party, any loan, guarantee, lease, contract or other obligation for which the other Party or such Party’s Subsidiaries is or may be liable unless the other Party consents in writing or unless all obligations of such other Party and the Subsidiaries of such other Party with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such other Party.

Section 2.12 Mixed Contracts; Mixed AR/AP.

(a) Mixed Contracts. Except as may otherwise be agreed by the Parties, in the case that any contract or agreement that is not transferred to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary at or prior to the Distribution Date inures to the benefit or burden of both the Merck Business and the Organon Business and, in Merck’s sole discretion, Organon demonstrates within 12 months following the Distribution Date that such contract or agreement is necessary to the Organon Business, then Merck shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such contract or agreement to be: (i) assigned in relevant part to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary if so assignable; (ii) appropriately amended, prior to, on or after the Effective Time (or, in the case of a contract that inures to the benefit or burden of both Merck or a Merck Subsidiary, on the one hand, and a Transferred Entity that shall be transferred to Organon or a Organon Subsidiary after the

 

28


Effective Time as part of a Local Closing of a Deferred Organon Local Business, on the other hand, on or after such Local Closing); or (iii) replaced or otherwise addressed with suitable arrangements, in each case so that each Party or their respective Subsidiaries shall be entitled to the rights and benefits and shall assume the related portion of any obligations, burdens and Liabilities inuring to their respective businesses; provided, however, that in no event shall Merck or its Subsidiaries be required to assign or amend any contract in its entirety or to assign a portion of any contract that is not assignable or cannot be amended by its terms (including any terms imposing Consents or conditions on an assignment where such Consents or conditions have not been obtained or fulfilled). If any such contract cannot be so partially assigned, or cannot be amended, or if such assignment or amendment would impair the benefit that the Parties thereto derive from such contract and such contract is not replaced or otherwise addressed with suitable arrangements, Merck and Organon shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, take such other reasonable and permissible actions to cause (at Organon’s cost and expense) the following for two years after the 12 months following the Distribution Date, or such other term as the Parties shall mutually agree: (A) the Assets associated with that portion of each such contract that relates to the Organon Business to be enjoyed by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary; (B) the Liabilities associated with that portion of each such contract that relates to the Organon Business to be borne by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary; (C) the Assets associated with that portion of each such contract that relates to the Merck Business to be enjoyed by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary; and (D) the Liabilities associated with that portion of each such contract that relates to the Merck Business to be borne by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary.

(b) Mixed AR/AP. Except as may otherwise be agreed by the Parties, the Parties shall not seek to assign any account receivable or account payable relating to both the Merck Business and the Organon Business and all Assets and Liabilities associated with such accounts receivable and accounts payable shall be retained by Merck.

(c) No Payments. Except for payments required in accordance with the performance of the applicable Mixed Contract, nothing in this Section 2.12 shall require either Party or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment (except to the extent advanced, assumed or agreed in advance to be reimbursed by the other Party or any of the other Party’s Subsidiaries), incur any obligation or grant any concession for the benefit of the other Party or any of the other Party’s Subsidiaries, in each case, in order to effect any transaction (other than the pass-through of benefits and burdens of the applicable portions of the Mixed Contracts in accordance with this Section 2.12).

Section 2.13 Quarterly Adjustments in Certain Markets. The Parties acknowledge that the payment of a quarterly adjustment for any calendar quarter is expected to align with the timing of actual cash collections by Merck and its Affiliates from customers of the Organon Business during such calendar quarter. Where the timing of actual cash collections by Merck and its Affiliates from customers of the Organon Business is different from the timing of cash transfers from Merck and its Affiliates to Organon and its Affiliates under the terms of any agreement set forth on Schedule 2.13, either Party may request an earlier payment or delay of a payment due under such agreement. Both Parties shall consider any such request in good faith, provided that such payment amounts are greater than five million dollars (USD $5 million) for any country.

 

29


Section 2.14 Further Assurances.

(a) Additional Actions. Except as set forth in Section 3.04 and Article IX, in addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each Party shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts, prior to and after the Effective Time to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, necessary or advisable under applicable Laws and agreements to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents as promptly as reasonably practicable (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the transfer of any Assets or Liabilities that are allocated to a Party hereunder and that have not yet been transferred); provided, however, that neither Merck nor Organon (nor any of their respective Subsidiaries) shall be obligated under this Section 2.14(a) to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees paid to a Governmental Authority.

(b) Cooperation. Without limiting the foregoing and except to the extent otherwise contemplated in connection with a Deferred Organon Local Business under Section 2.03, prior to and after the Effective Time, each Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the other Party without any further consideration to execute and deliver, or use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all Conveyance and Assumption Instruments and to make all filings with, and to obtain all Consents of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument (including any Consents), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the transfers of the Organon Assets and the Merck Assets and the assignment and assumption of the Organon Liabilities and the Merck Liabilities as contemplated by this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; provided, however, that neither Merck nor Organon (nor any of their respective Subsidiaries) shall be obligated under this Section 2.14(b) to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees paid to a Governmental Authority.

(c) Misallocations. Except to the extent otherwise contemplated in connection with a Deferred Organon Local Business under Section 2.03, a Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability under Section 2.04 or a Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability under Section 2.05, in the event that, at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive or otherwise possess, or become aware of a third party’s possession of, any Asset that is allocated to the other Party or any Subsidiary of such other Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the first Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly transfer, or cause its Subsidiary or instruct such third party to transfer, such Asset to the Party so entitled thereto or such Party’s Subsidiary or designee and such Party or such Party’s Subsidiary or designee shall accept such Asset; provided that, the terms of this Section 2.14(c) are not intended to limit or otherwise modify in any way the Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document. Except to the extent otherwise contemplated in connection with a Deferred Organon Local Business under Section 2.03, a Delayed Organon Asset or Delayed Organon Liability under

 

30


Section 2.04 or a Delayed Merck Asset or Delayed Merck Liability under Section 2.05, in the event that, at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive or otherwise assume any Liability that is allocated to the other Party or any Subsidiary of such other Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the first Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly transfer, or cause its Subsidiary to transfer, such Liability to the Party so entitled thereto or such Party’s Subsidiary or designee, and such Party or such Party’s Subsidiary or designee shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform such Liability; provided that, the terms of this Section 2.14(c) are not intended to limit or otherwise modify in any way the Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document. The Parties also agree that, if a Party or any of its Subsidiaries possesses any Asset or Liability that is allocated to the other Party or any Subsidiary of such other Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, such Asset or Liability shall nonetheless be treated as an Asset or Liability of the Party to which it is allocated.

ARTICLE III

THE DISTRIBUTION

Section 3.01 Actions Prior to the Distribution. Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties shall take, or cause to be taken, the following actions in connection with the Distribution:

(a) Notice to NYSE. Merck shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than 10 days’ advance notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act.

(b) Securities Law Matters. Organon shall file any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement as may be necessary or advisable in order to cause the Registration Statement to become and remain effective as required by the Commission or federal, state or other applicable securities Laws. Merck and Organon shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the Commission and causing to become effective registration statements or amendments thereof which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents. Merck and Organon shall take all such action as may be necessary or advisable under the securities or blue sky Laws of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any non-United States jurisdiction) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.

(c) Mailing of Information Statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Information Statement. Merck shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Exchange Act and the board of directors of Merck has approved the Distribution, cause the Information Statement or a notice of internet availability of the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.

(d) The Distribution Agent. Merck shall enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Agent or otherwise provide instructions to the Agent regarding the Distribution.

 

31


(e) Stock-Based Employee Benefit Plans. At or prior to the Effective Time, Merck and Organon shall take all actions as may be necessary to approve the stock-based employee benefit plans of Organon in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE.

(f) Satisfying Conditions to Distribution. Without limiting Section 3.04, Merck and Organon shall cooperate to cause the conditions to the Distribution set forth in this Article III to be satisfied and to effect the Distribution at the Effective Time.

Section 3.02 The Distribution. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein:

(a) Delivery of Organon Common Stock. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Merck shall deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Record Holders, book-entry transfer authorizations for such number of the outstanding shares of Organon Common Stock as is necessary to effect the Distribution.

(b) Effective Time of Distribution. The Distribution shall be effective at the Effective Time.

(c) Distribution of Shares and Cash. Merck shall instruct the Agent to distribute, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, to each Record Holder the following:

(i) one-tenth of a share of Organon Common Stock for each Merck Common Share held by such Record Holder as of the Record Date (the number of shares of Organon Common Stock received for each Merck Common Share held by such Record Holder as of the Record Date, the “Distribution Ratio”); and

(ii) cash, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares obtained in the manner provided in Section 3.03.

(d) Transfer Authorizations. Organon agrees to provide all book-entry transfer authorizations for shares of Organon Common Stock that Merck or the Agent shall require (after giving effect to Section 3.03) in order to effect the Distribution.

Section 3.03 Fractional Shares; Unclaimed Shares.

(a) No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no fractional shares of Organon Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the Distribution, and any such fractional share interests to which a Record Holder would otherwise be entitled shall not entitle such Record Holder to vote or to any other rights as a shareholder of Organon. In lieu of any such fractional shares, each Record Holder who, but for the provisions of this Section 3.03, would be entitled to receive a fractional share interest of Organon Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided. Merck shall instruct the Agent to determine the number of whole shares and fractional shares of Organon Common Stock allocable to each Record Holder, to aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares, to sell the whole shares obtained thereby in the open market at the then-prevailing prices on behalf of each Record Holder who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional share

 

32


interests and to distribute to each such Record Holder his, her or its ratable share of the total proceeds of such sale, after making appropriate deductions of the amounts required for United States federal income tax withholding purposes and after deducting any applicable transfer Taxes and the costs and expenses of such sale and distribution, including brokers fees and commissions. The sales of fractional shares shall occur as soon after the Effective Time as practicable as determined by the Agent. None of Merck, Organon or the Agent shall guarantee any minimum sale price for such fractional shares. Neither Merck nor Organon shall pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. The Agent shall have the sole discretion to select the broker-dealers through which to sell the aggregated fractional shares and to determine when, how and at what price to sell such shares. Neither the Agent nor the broker-dealers through which the aggregated fractional shares are sold shall be Affiliates of Merck or Organon.

(b) Beneficial Owners. Solely for purposes of computing fractional share interests pursuant to this Section 3.03, the beneficial owner of Merck Common Shares held of record in the name of a nominee in any nominee account shall be treated as the holder of record with respect to such shares.

(c) Unclaimed Stock or Cash. Any Organon Common Stock or cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to Organon Common Stock that remain unclaimed by any Record Holder 180 days after the Distribution Date shall be delivered to Organon, Organon shall hold such Organon Common Stock for the account of such Record Holder and the Parties agree that all obligations to provide such Organon Common Stock and cash, if any, in lieu of fractional share interests shall be obligations of Organon, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property Laws, and Merck shall have no Liability with respect thereto.

Section 3.04 Sole Discretion of Merck. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or in any Transaction Document, until the Effective Time, Merck shall have the sole discretion to determine whether to proceed with the Distribution and any and all terms of the Distribution, including the form, structure and terms of any transaction(s) or offering(s) to effect the Distribution and the timing of and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution. In addition, Merck may, in its sole discretion, determine the Distribution Date and may, at any time and from time to time until the Effective Time, modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of the Distribution or terminating this Agreement pursuant to Article IX.

Section 3.05 Conditions to the Distribution.

(a) The Conditions. In addition to Merck’s rights under Section 3.04, the Distribution shall not occur unless each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived by Merck, in whole or in part, in its sole discretion):

(i) the transfer of the Organon Assets (other than any Delayed Organon Asset and any Organon Assets deferred as part of a Deferred Organon Local Business) and Organon Liabilities (other than any Delayed Organon Liability and any Organon Liabilities deferred as part of a Deferred Organon Local Business) contemplated to be transferred from Merck to Organon on or prior to the Distribution Date shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.02;

 

33


(ii) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission; no stop-order shall be in effect with respect thereto; no Proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and the Information Statement or notice of internet availability of the Information Statement shall have been mailed to the Record Holders;

(iii) Merck or a Merck Subsidiary shall have received the proceeds from the Closing Date Repayment and shall be satisfied in its sole discretion that, as of the Effective Time, it shall have no further Liability whatsoever under the Financing Arrangements (including in connection with any guarantees provided by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary thereunder);

(iv) the actions and filings with regard to securities and blue sky Laws of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any foreign jurisdictions) described in Section 3.01 shall have been taken and, where applicable, shall have become effective or been accepted;

(v) the Organon Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance;

(vi) no order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Authority or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Distribution or any of the other transactions related thereto, including the Separation, contemplated by this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be in effect;

(vii) Merck shall have received an opinion from Baker & McKenzie LLP and Ernst & Young LLP that is in substance and form satisfactory to Merck in its sole discretion;

(viii) no events or developments shall have occurred or exist that, in the judgment of the board of directors of Merck, in its sole discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Transaction Document;

(ix) the Parties shall have executed and delivered or, where applicable, shall have caused their respective Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, the Transaction Documents that are contemplated by this Agreement to be executed and delivered on or prior to the Effective Time; and

(x) an independent appraisal firm acceptable to Merck shall have delivered one or more opinions to the board of directors of Merck confirming the solvency and financial viability of Merck and Organon after consummation of the Distribution, and such opinions shall be acceptable to Merck in form and substance in Merck’s sole discretion and such opinions shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded.

 

34


(b) Conditions for Benefit of Merck. The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Merck and not for the benefit of any other Person and shall not give rise to nor create any duty on the part of Merck or Merck’s board of directors to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit Merck’s right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in such Article IX. Any determination made by Merck prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in this Section 3.05 shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties hereto.

ARTICLE IV

MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

Section 4.01 Releases.

(a) Organon Release of Merck. Except as provided in Section 4.01(c) and in the provisos to this Section 4.01(a), effective as of the Effective Time, Organon does hereby, for itself, each of the Organon Subsidiaries, and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been directors, officers, agents or employees of Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge: (1) Merck, each Merck Subsidiary, and their respective successors and assigns; and (2) all Persons who prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, in each such case from:

(i) all Organon Liabilities; and

(ii) all Liabilities existing or arising: (A) in connection with the implementation of the Separation and the Distribution; or (B) from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Organon Business, the Organon Assets or the Organon Liabilities;

provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.01(a) shall release the Persons released in this Section 4.01(a) from: (x) any Liability (or right or obligation in respect thereof) expressly allocated to Merck or a Merck Subsidiary in this Agreement (including the indemnification obligations in Section 4.03 and the contribution obligations in Section 4.07), any Transaction Document or any other agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding to the extent expressly preserved by the express terms of this Agreement; (y) any Liability incurred in the ordinary course of business after the Effective Time; or (z) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than the Persons released in this Section 4.01(a), and, provided, further, that nothing in this Section 4.01(a) shall relieve any Person released in this Section 4.01(a) who, after the Effective Time, is a director, officer or employee of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary and is no longer a director, officer or employee of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary from Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from his or her service as a director, officer or employee of Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries after the Effective Time.

 

35


(b) Merck Release of Organon. Except as provided in Section 4.01(c) and in the proviso to this Section 4.01(b), effective as of the Effective Time, Merck does hereby, for itself, each of the Merck Subsidiaries, and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been directors, officers, agents or employees of Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge: (1) Organon, each Organon Subsidiary, and their respective successors and assigns; and (2) all Persons who prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, in each case from:

(i) all Merck Liabilities; and

(ii) all Liabilities existing or arising: (A) in connection with the implementation of the Separation and the Distribution; or (B) from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Merck Business, the Merck Assets or the Merck Liabilities;

provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.01(b) shall release the Persons released in this Section 4.01(b) from: (x) any Liability (or right or obligation in respect thereof) expressly allocated to Organon or an Organon Subsidiary in this Agreement (including the indemnification obligations in Section 4.02 and the contribution obligations in Section 4.07), any Transaction Document or any other agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding to the extent expressly preserved by the express terms of this Agreement; (y) any Liability incurred in the ordinary course of business after the Effective Time; or (z) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than the Persons released in this Section 4.01(b) and, provided, further, that nothing in this Section 4.01(b) shall relieve any Person released in this Section 4.01(b) who, after the Effective Time, is a director, officer or employee of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary and is no longer a director, officer or employee of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary from Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from his or her service as a director, officer or employee of Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries after the Effective Time.

(c) Merck Obligations Not Affected. Nothing contained in this Article IV shall release Merck or a Merck Subsidiary from honoring its obligations existing immediately prior to the Effective Time to (i) indemnify any director, officer or employee of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary who was a director, officer or employee of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, officer or employee was entitled in such capacity to such indemnification pursuant to obligations existing immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that if a director, officer or employee of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary receives indemnification payments from Merck or Organon, as the case may be, with respect to a particular Liability for which such person is entitled to indemnification, such person shall not be entitled to receive duplicate indemnification payments from the other Party with respect to the same Liability to the extent of the indemnification payments previously received by such director from Merck or Organon, as the case may be; provided, further, that (A) to the extent the events underlying an

 

36


indemnification claim would give rise to a Merck Liability, then Merck shall have primary responsibility for the administration (including payment) of the indemnification claim and (B) to the extent that the events underlying an indemnification claim would give rise to an Organon Liability, then Organon shall have primary responsibility for the administration (including payment) of the indemnification claim; or (ii) provide any employment, post-employment or retirement benefits to any director, officer or employee of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary who was a director, officer or employee of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, officer or employee was entitled to such benefits pursuant to obligations existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, except as otherwise provided in, and subject to the terms and conditions (including with respect to the adjustment, conversion or assignment of any agreements or awards) in, the Employee Matters Agreement.

(d) No Organon Claims. Without limiting the rights of either Party under Section 4.04, 4.05 or 4.06 or otherwise expressly provided in any of the Transaction Documents, Organon shall not make, and shall not permit an Organon Subsidiary to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Proceeding asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or indemnification, against Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.01(a), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.01(a).

(e) No Merck Claims. Without limiting the rights of either Party under Section 4.04, 4.05 or 4.06 or otherwise expressly provided in any of the Transaction Documents, Merck shall not make, and shall not permit a Merck Subsidiary to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Proceeding asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or indemnification, against Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.01(b), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.01(b).

(f) Subsidiary Releases. At any time at or after the Effective Time, at the request of either Party, the other Party shall cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions of this Section 4.01.

Section 4.02 Indemnification by Organon. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in any provision of this Agreement or of any Transaction Document, Organon and each of the Organon Subsidiaries shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the Merck Indemnitees from and against all Liabilities to the extent such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items:

(a) any Organon Liability;

(b) any failure of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Organon Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;

(c) the conduct of any business, operation or activity by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary whether before or after the Effective Time;

(d) any breach by Organon or an Organon Subsidiary of this Agreement or any Transaction Document (subject to limitations, if any, expressly set forth herein and in the applicable Transaction Document); and

 

37


(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement (other than the matters described Section 4.03(e)).

Section 4.03 Indemnification by Merck. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in any provision of this Agreement or of any Transaction Document, Merck and each of the Merck Subsidiaries shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the Organon Indemnitees from and against all Liabilities to the extent such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items:

(a) any Merck Liability;

(b) any failure of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Merck Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;

(c) the conduct of any business, operation or activity by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary from and after the Effective Time (other than the conduct of business, operations, or activities for the benefit of Organon or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document);

(d) any breach by Merck or a Merck Subsidiary of this Agreement or any Transaction Document (subject to limitations, if any, expressly set forth herein or in the applicable Transaction Document); and

(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact expressly supplied by Merck for use in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement as the same may be amended prior to the Effective Time.

Section 4.04 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts.

(a) Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts. The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document: (i) shall be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and any deductibles or retentions applicable thereto) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of any indemnifiable Liability; (ii) shall not be increased to take into account any Tax costs incurred by the Indemnitee arising from any Indemnity Payments received from the Indemnifying Party (as defined below); and (iii) shall not be reduced to take into account any Tax benefit received by the Indemnitee arising from the incurrence or payment of any Indemnity Payment; provided that, in the event of any conflict between Sections 4.04(a)(ii) and 4.04(a)(iii), on the one hand, and any term or provision of the Tax Matters Agreement, on the other hand, the Tax Matters Agreement shall control. Accordingly, the amount which any Person against whom a claim is made for indemnification in accordance with this Agreement (an “Indemnifying Party”) is required to pay to any Indemnitee shall be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or any other amounts theretofore

 

38


actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and any deductibles or retentions applicable thereto) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee receives a payment required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability (an “Indemnity Payment”) and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or any other amounts in respect of the related Liability, then the Indemnitee shall pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment (or such other amounts) received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds or such other amounts (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and any deductibles or retentions applicable thereto) had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.

(b) Insurers and Other Third Parties Not Relieved. The Parties hereby agree that an insurer or other Third Party that would otherwise be obligated to pay any amount shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or have any subrogation, contribution or indemnification rights with respect thereto by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Transaction Document, and that no insurer or any other Third Party shall be entitled to a “windfall” (e.g., a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification or release provisions) by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Transaction Document. Each Party shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to collect or recover, or allow the Indemnifying Party to collect or recover, any Insurance Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification may be available under this Article IV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Proceeding to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

Section 4.05 Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims.

(a) Notice of Claims. If an Indemnitee receives notice of the assertion or commencement by a Third Party of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee with respect to which the Indemnitee believes that Organon (in the case of a Merck Indemnitee) or Merck (in the case of an Organon Indemnitee) is obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document (collectively, a “Third Party Claim”), such Indemnitee shall (if such notice is received following the date of this Agreement) give such Indemnifying Party notice thereof within 30 days (or sooner if the nature of the Third Party Claim so requires) after becoming aware of such Third Party Claim. The notice must describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail or, in the alternative, include copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnitee to give the notice as provided in this Section 4.05(a) shall not relieve the related Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article IV, except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced as a result of such failure to give the notice in accordance with this Section 4.05(a).

 

39


(b) Control of Defense. Subject to Section 5.04, an Indemnitee may request that the Indemnifying Party defend (and seek to settle or compromise), at its own expense and with its own counsel, any Third Party Claim (or, to the extent possible, only that portion of the Third Party Claim for which indemnification is sought). Within 30 days after the receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.05(a) (or sooner, if the nature of the Third Party Claim so requires), the Indemnifying Party shall provide a notice to the Indemnitee indicating whether the Indemnifying Party shall, if requested to do so, assume responsibility for defending the Third Party Claim and specifying any reservations or exceptions to its defense. If an Indemnifying Party does not assume responsibility for defending any Third Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within 30 days after receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.05(a), then the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third Party Claim shall be entitled to continue to conduct and control the defense of such Third Party Claim.

(c) Allocation of Defense Costs. If an Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of a Third Party Claim, whether with or without any reservations or exceptions with respect to such defense, then such Indemnifying Party shall be solely liable for all fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim and shall not be entitled to seek any indemnification or reimbursement from the Indemnitee for any such fees or expenses incurred during the course of its defense of such Third Party Claim, regardless of any subsequent decision by the Indemnifying Party to reject or otherwise abandon its assumption of any particular argument or defense. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within 30 days after receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.05(a), and the Indemnitee conducts and controls the defense of such Third Party Claim, then the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for all fees and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in good faith in connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim. If an Indemnifying Party elects to assume responsibility for defending any Third Party Claim and elects to continue with the counsel previously retained by the Indemnitee, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim after responsibility is assumed by the Indemnifying Party.

(d) Right to Monitor and Participate. An Indemnitee that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third Party Claim, or an Indemnifying Party that has failed to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim as contemplated hereby, nevertheless shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) of its own choosing to monitor and participate in (but not control) the defense of any Third Party Claim for which it is a potential Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at their own expense, and the provisions of Section 4.05(c) shall not apply to such fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Sections 6.06 and 6.07, each non-controlling Person shall reasonably cooperate with the Person entitled to conduct and control the defense of such Third Party Claim in such defense and make available to the controlling Person, at the non-controlling Person’s expense, those witnesses, information and materials in such Person’s possession or under such Person’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the controlling Person (provided that the controlling Person shall cooperate with the non-controlling Person to limit any requests for information or depositions from the non-controlling Person). Each non-controlling Person shall receive regular, periodic updates on a schedule to be agreed to with the controlling Person. In addition to the foregoing, if any Indemnitee shall in good faith determine

 

40


that such Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party have actual or potential differing defenses or conflicts of interest between them that make joint representation inappropriate, then the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for all Indemnitees.

(e) No Settlement. Except with respect to the Indemnitee if the Indemnifying Party has not assumed the defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, no Party (or any Subsidiary thereof) may settle or compromise any Third Party Claim for which any Indemnitee is seeking to be indemnified hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement or compromise is solely for monetary damages, does not involve any finding or determination of wrongdoing or violation of Law by any non-Affiliate Party and provides for a full, unconditional and irrevocable release of each other non-Affiliate Party from all Liability in connection with the Third Party Claim.

(f) Allocation of Proceeding Liabilities. The Parties acknowledge that Liabilities for Proceedings (regardless of the parties to the applicable Proceeding) may be partly Merck Liabilities and partly Organon Liabilities. If the Parties cannot agree on an allocation of any such Liabilities for Proceedings (or such matters or types of matters have not been allocated or addressed either in the definition of Organon Liabilities, in Schedule 1.01(m) or Schedule 5.04, or otherwise as set forth in this Agreement or any Transaction Document), they shall resolve the matter pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article VIII. Neither Party shall, nor shall either Party permit its Subsidiaries to, file Third Party claims or cross-claims against the other Party or its Subsidiaries in a Proceeding in which a Third Party Claim is being resolved.

(g) Cooperation as to Removal. Each of the Parties agrees that at all times from and after the Effective Time, if a Proceeding is commenced by a Third Party naming two or more Parties (or any Affiliates of such Parties) as defendants and with respect to which one or more named Parties (or any Affiliates of such Parties) is a nominal defendant and/or such Proceeding is related solely to an Asset or Liability that the other Party has been allocated under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, then the other Party or Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such nominal defendant to be removed from such Proceeding, as soon as reasonably practicable.

Section 4.06 Additional Matters.

(a) Timing of Payments. Indemnity Payments or contribution payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV shall be paid reasonably promptly (but in any event within sixty (60) days of the final determination of the amount that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV). Upon demand, the Indemnitee shall provide reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such Indemnity Payments or contribution payments, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article IV shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee; and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Liabilities for which it might be entitled to indemnification or contribution hereunder.

 

41


(b) Notice of Direct Claims. An Indemnitee shall give the Indemnifying Party notice of any matter that an Indemnitee has determined has given, or will likely give rise to, a right of indemnification under this Agreement or any Transaction Document (other than a Third Party Claim which shall be governed by Section 4.05(a)), within 30 days of such determination, stating the amount being sought, if known, and method of computation thereof, and containing a reference to the provisions of this Agreement in respect of which such right of indemnification is claimed by such Indemnitee or arises; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnitee to give the notice provided in this Section 4.05(b) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article IV, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnifying Party will have a period of 30 days after receipt of a notice under this Section 4.05(b) within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party responds within such period and rejects such claim in whole or in part, the disputed matter shall be resolved in accordance with Article VIII.

(c) Subrogation. In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third Party Claim or against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.

(d) Pursuit of Claims Against Third Parties. If (i) a Party incurs any Liability arising out of this Agreement or any Transaction Document; (ii) an adequate legal or equitable remedy is not available for any reason against the other Party to satisfy the Liability incurred by the incurring Party; and (iii) a legal or equitable remedy may be available to the other Party against a Third Party for such Liability, then the other Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the incurring Party, at the incurring Party’s expense, to permit the incurring Party to obtain the benefits of such legal or equitable remedy against the Third Party.

(e) Limitations on Subrogation Rights and Pursuit of Claims. Notwithstanding Sections 4.06(c) and 4.06(d), without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), no Indemnifying Party shall have the right to pursue claims not directly available to it, or otherwise cause any Indemnitee to pursue any such claims, against Third Parties (other than insurance providers) with whom any Indemnitee (or Affiliate thereof) has a material commercial relationship, if such Indemnitee (or Affiliate thereof) determines in good faith that the pursuit of such claim would reasonably be expected to materially disrupt or diminish the commercial relationship with such Third Party.

 

42


Section 4.07 Right of Contribution.

(a) Contribution. If any right of indemnification contained in Section 4.02 or 4.03 is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason, or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnitee in respect of any Liability for which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by the Indemnitees as a result of such Liability (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Indemnitee’s entitlement to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

(b) Allocation of Relative Fault. Solely for purposes of determining relative fault pursuant to this Section 4.07: (i) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Deferred Organon Local Businesses, Delayed Organon Assets or Delayed Organon Liabilities (except for the intentional misconduct of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary) or with the ownership, operation or activities of the Organon Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary; and (ii) any fault associated with the business conducted with Delayed Merck Assets or Delayed Merck Liabilities (except for the intentional misconduct of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary) or with the ownership, operation or activities of the Merck Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.07(b) shall not affect the Parties’ indemnification obligations set forth in this Article IV.

(c) Contribution Procedures. The provisions of Sections 4.04 through 4.10 and Sections 5.05 through 5.06 shall govern any contribution claims.

Section 4.08 Covenant Not to Sue. Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, its Subsidiaries or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, neutral mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that: (a) the assumption of any Organon Liabilities by Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Transaction Documents is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the retention of any Merck Liabilities by Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Transaction Documents is void or unenforceable for any reason; or (c) the provisions of this Article IV are void or unenforceable for any reason.

Section 4.09 Remedies Not Cumulative. The remedies provided in this Article IV shall be the sole monetary remedies available in respect of this Agreement.

Section 4.10 Survival of Indemnities. The rights and obligations of each of the Parties and their respective Indemnitees under this Article IV shall survive (a) the sale or other transfer by either Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries of any assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities; or (b) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving either Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries.

 

43


Section 4.11 Party Responsible for Indemnity Payment. All Indemnity Payments under this Agreement shall be made by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee entitled to indemnification; provided, however, that if the Parties mutually agree with respect to any such Indemnity Payment, Merck or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, may make such Indemnity Payment to Organon or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, and vice versa. All Indemnity Payments shall be treated in the manner described in Section 5.05.

ARTICLE V

CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

Section 5.01 No Right to Use Regulatory Information. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in another Transaction Document: (a) none of Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries shall have a right of reference to or otherwise be entitled to use the regulatory filings or other regulatory information to the extent exclusively related to any Organon Products; and (b) none of Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries shall have a right of reference to or otherwise be entitled to use the regulatory filings or other regulatory information owned or controlled by Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries for any products in the Merck Business.

Section 5.02 Directors and Officers Insurance; Fiduciary Liability Insurance.

(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Merck shall obtain a directors and officers liability (“D&O”) run-off or tail insurance policy or program (including excess insurance layers), for claims first made after the Effective Time resulting from or based on actual or alleged wrongful acts that occurred prior to the Effective Time and arising out of or relating to any of Organon, the Organon Subsidiaries and the Organon Business, with a policy period of at least six years from and after the Effective Time, with insureds including: (i) any Persons who, as of or at any time prior to the Effective Time, are or have been directors, officers or insureds of Merck or the Merck Subsidiaries; (ii) any Persons who, as of or at any time prior to the Effective Time, are or have been directors or officers of Organon or the Organon Subsidiaries; and (iii) with respect to classes or categories of claims, demands and other matters covered by the D&O insurance maintained by Merck immediately prior to the Effective Time, Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries and Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and the Organon Business. Organon shall bear the full cost of purchase of such D&O insurance run-off or tail insurance policy or program, and shall pay or reimburse Merck for any payment by Merck of premiums and costs of, associated with or arising from such purchase. The coverages of such D&O run-off or tail insurance shall be consistent with the D&O insurance maintained by Merck immediately prior to the Effective Time, except it is expressly contemplated that: (iv) liabilities related to the transactions reflected in and contemplated by this Agreement that typically are covered by D&O insurance programs will be covered by such run-off or tail insurance; (v) the policy limits, policy period(s) and self-insured retention(s) applicable to such run-off or tail insurance need not be consistent with the D&O insurance maintained by Merck immediately prior to the Effective Time, but shall be commercially available at reasonable cost and reasonably consistent with benchmarking materials applicable to a company conducting a business similar to the Organon Business, considering metrics such as anticipated market capitalization, revenue or any other metrics that as of the Effective Time may reasonably be anticipated for Organon after the Effective Time; (vi) Organon’s responsibilities to indemnify (and defend or reimburse defense costs of) Merck Indemnitees will be covered by such D&O run-off or tail insurance; and (vii) such D&O run-off or tail insurance may include provisions excluding coverage for Loss arising from wrongful acts occurring after the Effective Time. Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries shall be responsible for all self-insured retentions or deductibles applicable to any claims under the D&O run-off or tail policies or programs.

 

44


(b) Prior to the Effective Time, Merck shall obtain a fiduciary liability insurance policy or program (including excess insurance layers) (the “Organon Fiduciary Liability Program”), for claims first made after the Effective Time resulting from or based on actual or alleged wrongful acts in connection with domestic and foreign welfare plans, pension plans, retirement plans, non-qualified plans, plans in development and other such plans which may be covered by fiduciary liability insurance (collectively “Fiduciary Liability Plans”) developed, organized, administered or managed by Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and the Organon Business (as the Organon Business exists as of immediately after the Effective Time). Organon shall bear the full cost of purchase of such Organon Fiduciary Liability Program, and shall pay or reimburse Merck for any payment by Merck of premiums and costs of, associated with or arising from such purchase. The coverages of the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program shall be consistent with the fiduciary liability insurance maintained by Merck immediately prior to the Effective Time, except it is expressly contemplated that: (i) liabilities related to the transactions reflected in and contemplated by this Agreement that typically are covered by fiduciary liability insurance will be covered by existing Merck fiduciary liability insurance (and may be covered also by the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program); (ii) the policy limits, policy period(s) and self-insured retention(s) applicable to the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program need not be consistent with the fiduciary liability insurance maintained by Merck immediately prior to the Effective Time, but shall be commercially available at reasonable cost and reasonably consistent with benchmarking materials applicable to a company conducting a business similar to the Organon Business, with anticipated metrics such as retirement plan assets and any other metrics that as of the Effective Time may reasonably be anticipated for Organon after the Effective Time; (iii) the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program shall provide coverage for prior acts including liabilities related to the transactions reflected in and contemplated by this Agreement including the development, planning and organization of Fiduciary Liability Plans for or to be administered or managed by Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and the Organon Business; and (iv) the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program shall be primary and first to respond with respect to claims involving the Merck Fiduciary Liability Insureds. Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries shall maintain a fiduciary liability insurance program with coverage no less broad and limits no less than those in the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program as long as Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries face potential liability for claims for wrongful acts in connection with Fiduciary Liability Plans developed, organized, administered or managed by Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and the Organon Business, and in no event for less than six years following the Effective Time, and sub-parts (iii) through (iv) of this paragraph shall apply to the Organon Fiduciary Liability Program at all times.

Section 5.03 Certain Other Insurance Matters.

(a) Organon acknowledges and agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the Organon Subsidiaries and Organon Indemnitees, that, from and after the Effective Time, neither Organon nor any of the Organon Subsidiaries nor any of the Organon Indemnitees shall have any rights to or under any of Merck’s or the Merck Subsidiaries’ insurance policies, except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

 

45


(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.03(a), from and after the Effective Time, with respect to any Liability incurred by Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries or Organon Indemnitees prior to the Effective Time (or, with respect to any Deferred Organon Local Business, prior to the Local Closing Date), and except with respect to any Directors and Officers or Management Liability insurance policies other than the tail or run-off provided for under Section 5.02(a), to the extent reasonably possible, Merck or the Merck Subsidiary that is insured thereunder will undertake commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable insurance company or companies to (i) continue to provide Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and Organon Indemnitees with access to and coverage under the applicable insurance policies, and (ii) reasonably cooperate with Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and Organon Indemnitees and take commercially reasonable actions as reasonably may be requested to assist Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries and Organon Indemnitees in connection with such claims under applicable insurance policies; provided, that Organon shall in any event be solely responsible for any and all applicable deductibles, self-insured retentions, retrospective premiums, claims-handling charges, co-payments or any other expenses, charges or fees relating to such claims, including, without limitation, expenses, charges or fees of Merck personnel. In furtherance thereof, except as otherwise addressed in another Transaction Document, to the extent Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries is billed by an insurance carrier or a third-party administrator (including under any workers compensation or auto liability policies) for claims that constitute Organon Liabilities or that Merck pays for such claims within a deductible or self-insured retention, Merck shall submit a statement to Organon following the end of each quarter (or with such lesser frequency as may be appropriate) setting forth the amount of such claims, and Organon shall reimburse Merck within 30 days any amounts paid by it in respect of such Organon Liabilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Merck nor the insurance company or any Merck Subsidiary shall be required to maintain any such insurance policies. For the avoidance of doubt, if an accident, first loss or first occurrence date is after the Effective Time (or, with respect to any Deferred Organon Local Business, after the Local Closing Date), or with respect to any claims-made policies the claim first is made after the Effective Time and is not provided for in Section 5.03(a) or 5.03(b), then no payment for any damages, settlement(s), indemnification(s), costs of defense or any other sums with respect to such accident, first loss, first occurrence or claim shall be available to Organon or the Organon Subsidiaries and Organon Indemnitees under any such insurance policies. Neither Organon nor any Organon Subsidiary or Organon Indemnitee, in connection with making a claim under any insurance policy of Merck or any Merck Subsidiary pursuant to this Section 5.03(b), shall take, nor shall Merck or any Merck Subsidiary be required to take, any action that would be reasonably likely to: (A) have an adverse impact on the then-current relationship between Merck or any Merck Subsidiary or Merck Indemnitee, on the one hand, and the applicable insurance company, on the other hand; (B) result in the applicable insurance company terminating, materially changing or reducing coverage, or increasing the amount of any premium owed by Merck or any Merck Subsidiary under the applicable insurance policy; or (C) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere with the rights of Merck or any Merck Subsidiary or Merck Indemnitee under the applicable insurance policy. At all times, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries and Indemnitees to, cooperate with reasonable requests for information by the other Party or the insurance companies regarding any such insurance policy claim.

 

46


(c) At the Effective Time, Organon shall have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with Organon’s statutory, contractual and regulatory obligations and all such other insurance policies as are reasonably necessary or customary for companies operating a business similar to the Organon Business in every jurisdiction in which Organon may operate or face potentially covered exposures. Such insurance programs shall include, without limitation, general and excess liability, commercial auto liability, workers’ compensation, employers liability, professional services liability, cargo, cyber, employment practices liability, employee dishonesty/crime, D&O liability, fiduciary liability (specifically as provided in Section 5.02(b)), property (including business income and additional and other customary extensions and types of coverage provided to businesses similar to the Organon Business) and, to the extent Organon or the Organon Subsidiaries participate in any clinical trials, clinical trial coverage.

(d) Organon agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Organon Subsidiaries, that, from the Effective Time until the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.01, it or they shall request of all insurance companies that Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries shall be named as additional insureds or loss payee, whichever is appropriate, under Organon’s or the Organon Subsidiaries’ insurance policies in respect of any Merck Liabilities arising out of the Organon Business or any accidents, occurrences or actual or alleged wrongful acts or omissions prior to the Effective Time, and provide Merck with proof of such status as additional insured or loss payee. Organon and the Organon Subsidiaries shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Merck and the Merck Subsidiaries and Merck Indemnitees for any and all costs or expenses incurred by Merck or the Merck Subsidiaries or Merck Indemnitees to the extent resulting from any of Organon’s or the Organon Subsidiaries’ insurance policies in which Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries are named as additional insureds, including, without limitation, costs or expenses of or associated with any deductibles, self-insured retentions or uninsured losses, including, without limitation, under the D&O run-off or tail policies or programs referenced in Section 5.02(a).

(e) Neither Merck nor any of the Merck Subsidiaries shall have any obligation to secure extended reporting for any claims under any of Merck’s or the Merck Subsidiaries’ claims-made or occurrence-reported liability policies for any acts or omissions by Organon or any Organon Subsidiary or Organon Indemnitee incurred prior to the Effective Time.

(f) This Agreement shall not be considered as a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of either Merck or any Merck Subsidiary or Merck Indemnitee in respect of any of the Merck insurance policies and programs, or any other contract or policy of insurance or any claim whatsoever.

Section 5.04 Procedures Related to Certain Proceedings.

(a) Without limiting the provisions of Section 4.05, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Organon shall exclusively conduct and control the defense, settlement and/or other resolution of the Organon Proceedings and Merck shall exclusively conduct and control the defense, settlement and/or other resolution of the Merck Proceedings. Each Party agrees that if the other Party is wrongly named in its claim, such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to remove the wrongly named Party from the claim and shall consult with the wrongly named Party until its removal from the claim.

 

47


(b) A list of Proceedings asserted against, involving or potentially involving both Merck, the Merck Subsidiaries and/or the Merck Business and Organon, the Organon Subsidiaries and/or the Organon Business as of the date hereof for which costs and liability will be shared is set forth on Schedule 5.04 (the “Shared Existing Proceedings”) together with (x) the Party allocated responsibility to conduct and control the defense, settlement and/or other resolution of such matters (such named Party, the “Controlling Party”) and (y) unless otherwise agreed by the Controlling Party and the other Party (the “Non-Controlling Party”), each Party’s respective share of costs and liability for any such Shared Existing Proceeding.

(c) With respect to any Proceedings arising after the date hereof that implicates both Parties in any material respect due to the allocation of Liabilities, responsibilities for management of defense and related indemnities pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents, the Parties agree the Party that has primary responsibility for Liabilities arising in connection with such Proceeding shall be the Controlling Party with respect to such Proceeding (unless the control of such defense has otherwise been allocated or addressed in Schedule 1.01(m), Schedule 5.04, or otherwise as set forth in this Agreement or any Transaction Document). To the extent that the Parties’ respective share of costs and liability with respect to any such Proceeding is not set forth on Schedule 5.04, the Parties shall negotiate in good-faith to allocate responsibility for such costs and liability based on the extent to which such Proceeding relates, on the one hand, to Organon, the Organon Business, an Organon Asset and an Organon Liability, and, on the other hand, Merck, the Merck Business, a Merck Asset and a Merck Liability.

(d) The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, cooperate in the defense and settlement of any Proceeding described in Section 5.04(b)-(c). The Controlling Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include the Non-Controlling Party in the defense and resolution of any Proceeding described in Section 5.04(b)-(c); provided, however, that the Non-Controlling Party shall be responsible for its proportionate share of any costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith (including its share of any settlement, judgement, award or other resolution and any incremental cost to the Controlling Party of including the Non-Controlling Party in such settlement); provided further, that the Non-Controlling Party shall be permitted in good faith to opt out of any settlement if the Non-Controlling Party agrees to be responsible for defending and settling any remaining claims with respect to such Proceeding.

Section 5.05 Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes. For all Tax purposes, in the absence of any change in Tax treatment under the Code or other applicable Tax Law, the Parties agree to treat (a) any payment required by this Agreement (other than payments with respect to interest accruing after the Effective Time) as either a contribution by Merck to Organon or a distribution by Organon to Merck, as the case may be, occurring immediately prior to the Effective Time or as a payment of an assumed or retained Liability and (b) any payment of interest as taxable or deductible, as the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in either case except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

Section 5.06 Post-Effective Time Conduct. The Parties acknowledge that, after the Effective Time, each Party shall be independent of the other Party, with responsibility for its own actions and inactions and its own Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the conduct of its business, operations and activities following the Effective Time, except as may otherwise be provided herein or in any Transaction Document, and each Party shall (except as otherwise provided in Article IV, including Sections 4.02 and 4.03) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such Liabilities from being inappropriately borne by the other Party.

 

48


Section 5.07 Use of Retained Names and Marks. Organon hereby acknowledges that Merck or its Affiliates or its or their licensors own all right, title and interest in and to the company names (including the Merck Licensed Names), trade names, logos, trade dress and other Trademarks, together with all variations, translations, transliterations and acronyms thereof and all company names (including the Merck Licensed Names), Trademarks, internet domain names, social media accounts, addresses and all other identifiers and other identifiers of source or goodwill containing, incorporating or associated with any of the foregoing, excluding, on and after the Distribution Date, Intellectual Property included in the Organon Assets (collectively, the “Retained Names and Marks”), and that, except as expressly provided herein or in the IP License Agreements, any and all right of Organon to use the Retained Names and Marks shall terminate as of the Distribution Date and shall immediately revert to Merck or its Affiliates, along with any and all goodwill associated therewith. Organon further acknowledges that it has no rights in any of the Retained Names and Marks, and that it is not acquiring any rights, directly or indirectly, to use the Retained Names and Marks, except as expressly provided herein or in the IP License Agreements.

ARTICLE VI

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; SECURITY

Section 6.01 Agreement for Exchange of Information; Archives.

(a) Exchange of Information. Except as otherwise provided in any Transaction Document, each of Merck and Organon, on behalf of itself and its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available, or cause to be provided or made available, to the other Party or its applicable Subsidiaries, at any time before or after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, any Information (or a copy thereof) in the possession or under the control of either Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent that (i) such Information reasonably relates to the Organon Business, or any Organon Asset or Organon Liability, if Organon is the requesting Party, or to the Merck Business, or any Merck Assets or Merck Liability, if Merck is the requesting Party; (ii) such Information is required by the requesting Party to comply with its (or its applicable Subsidiaries’) obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document; or (iii) such Information is required by the requesting Party to comply with any obligation imposed by any Governmental Authority; provided, however, that, in the event that the Party to whom the request has been made determines that any such provision of Information could be commercially detrimental, violate any Law or agreement, or waive any attorney-client privilege or other applicable privileges or immunities from disclosure, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit compliance with such obligations to the extent and in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence. The Party providing Information pursuant to this Section 6.01(a) shall only be obligated to provide such Information in the form, condition and format in which it then exists and in no event shall such Party be required to perform any improvement, modification, conversion, updating or reformatting of any such Information, and nothing in this Section 6.01(a) shall expand the obligations of the Parties under Section 6.03.

 

49


(b) Access to Specified Information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or the terms of any other Transaction Document, until the first Organon fiscal year end occurring during the year of the Distribution Date (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each of Merck and Organon to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), each of Merck and Organon shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party’s Information requests to enable (i) the other Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases, financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Items 307 and 308, respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) the other Party’s accountants to timely complete their review of the quarterly financial statements and audit of the annual financial statements, including, to the extent applicable to such Party, its auditor’s audit of its internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC’s and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s rules and auditing standards thereunder and any other applicable Laws.

(c) Compensation for Providing Information. The Party requesting Information agrees to reimburse the other Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, redacting (where required), copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such Information (including any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in any review of Information for purposes of protecting the Privileged Information of the providing Party or in connection with the restoration of backup media for purposes of providing the requested Information). Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any Transaction Document, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing Party’s standard methodology and procedures.

Section 6.02 Ownership of Information. The provision of any Information pursuant to Section 6.01 shall not affect the ownership of such Information (which shall be determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents), or constitute the grant of rights in or to any such Information.

Section 6.03 Stored Records.

(a) The Parties agree and acknowledge that it is not practicable to separate all Tangible Information belonging to the Parties or their Subsidiaries, and that following the Effective Time, each Party (or its Subsidiaries) will have some of the Tangible Information belonging to the other Party and its Subsidiaries stored under its care, custody or control at internal or Third Party records storage locations or otherwise (which may include data on servers) (each, a “Records Facility”). Tangible Information held in a Records Facility maintained or arranged for by the Party other than the Party that owns such Tangible Information is referred to as “Stored Records.” The Party that maintains the Records Facility where Stored Records are held is referred to as the “Custodial Party” and the Party that owns the Stored Records held in the other Party’s Records Facility is referred to as the “Non-Custodial Party.” The Non-Custodial Party agrees to reimburse the Custodial Party for storage costs pursuant to the terms of the Transition Services Agreements during their effectiveness and then pursuant to Section 6.01(c) hereof. The Custodial Party shall make such Stored Records available to the Non-Custodial Party upon its request. The

 

50


Non-Custodial Party agrees to reimburse the Custodial Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, redacting (where required), copying, storing, transporting and otherwise complying with the request to provide or make available such Stored Records (including any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the restoration of backup media for purposes of providing the requested Stored Records). Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any Transaction Document, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing Party’s standard methodology and procedures.

(b) Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts: (i) to maintain the Stored Records as to which it is the Custodial Party in accordance with its regular records retention policies and procedures and the terms of this Section 6.03; and (ii) to comply with the requirements of any “Litigation Hold” that relates to Stored Records as to which it is the Custodial Party that relate to (x) any Proceeding that is pending as of the Effective Time; or (y) any Proceeding that arises or becomes threatened or reasonably anticipated after the Effective Time as to which the Custodial Party has received a written preservation notice of the applicable “Litigation Hold” from the Non-Custodial Party to which the Stored Records are subject. Upon the termination of any “Litigation Hold” related to Stored Records, the Non-Custodial shall promptly notify the Custodial Party so that the Custodial Party can destroy the relevant Stored Records where appropriate. Each Party agrees, with respect to the Stored Records as to which it is the Custodial Party, to notify the Non-Custodial Party in the event of a data loss or cyber event that affects the Stored Records of the Non-Custodial Party.

Section 6.04 Limitations of Liability. Neither Party shall have any Liability to the other Party in the event that any Information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement is found to be inaccurate in the absence of willful misconduct by the Party providing such Information. Neither Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any Liability to the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries if any Information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by such Party to comply with the provisions of this Article VI.

Section 6.05 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information.

(a) The rights and obligations set forth under this Article VI are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of Information set forth in any Transaction Document. For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between this Article VI and the Tax Matters Agreement or the JDA, the Tax Matters Agreement or the JDA, as applicable, shall prevail.

(b) Either Party that receives, pursuant to a request for Information in accordance with this Article VI, Tangible Information that is not relevant to its request shall (i) return it to the providing Party or, at the providing Party’s request, destroy such Tangible Information; and (ii) deliver to the providing Party confirmation that such Tangible Information was returned or destroyed, as the case may be.

(c) When any Tangible Information provided by one Party to the other Party (other than Tangible Information provided pursuant to Section 6.03) is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement or any Transaction Document or is no longer required to be retained by applicable Law, the receiving Party shall promptly, after request of the other

 

51


Party, either return to the other Party all Tangible Information in the form in which it was originally provided (including all copies thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or, if the providing Party has requested that the other Party destroy such Tangible Information, confirm to the other Party that it has destroyed such Tangible Information (and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon); provided that this obligation to return or destroy such Tangible Information shall not apply to any Tangible Information solely related to the receiving Party’s business, Assets, Liabilities, operations or activities.

Section 6.06 Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation. Notwithstanding any provisions of Article VI to the contrary, after the Distribution, each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist (or cause its Subsidiaries to assist) the other with respect to any Proceeding or potential Proceeding upon the request of such other Party and at such other Party’s sole expense. In addition, each Party shall have the right to request in writing (including on behalf of any of its Subsidiaries) that the other Party use commercially reasonable efforts to make available for consultation or witness purposes, its (or its applicable Subsidiary’s) employees, consultants or agents who have expertise or knowledge with respect to the other Party’s business or products or matters in litigation or alternative dispute resolution to the extent that the requesting Party believes any such persons may reasonably be required in connection with any legal, administrative or other proceedings in which the requesting Party may from time to time be involved (provided that the requesting Party shall cooperate with the other Party to limit any requests for information or depositions from such Party). Upon such request, the affected Party shall select a person or persons to provide the requested assistance after conferring in good faith to determine which person or persons should provide such assistance, and if commercially reasonable shall use its efforts to make such person or persons available at the requesting Party’s sole expense (at a rate to be mutually and reasonably agreed at such time).

Section 6.07 Privileged Matters.

(a) The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and shall be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and shall be rendered for the collective benefit of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and that each Party and its respective Subsidiaries should be deemed to be the client with respect to such services for the purposes of asserting all privileges and immunities that may be asserted under applicable Law in connection therewith.

(b) The Parties agree as follows:

(i) Merck shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the Merck Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or Organon or an Organon Subsidiary. Merck shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any Merck Liabilities resulting from any Proceedings that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of Merck or a Merck Subsidiary or Organon or an Organon Subsidiary.

 

52


(ii) Organon shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the Organon Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or Merck or a Merck Subsidiary. Organon shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any Organon Liabilities resulting from any Proceedings that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of Organon or an Organon Subsidiary or Merck or a Merck Subsidiary.

(iii) If Merck and Organon do not agree as to whether certain information is Privileged Information, then the information shall be treated as Privileged Information, and the Party who believes such information is Privileged Information shall be entitled to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any such information unless the Parties otherwise agree. The Parties shall utilize the procedures set forth in Article VIII to resolve any disputes as to whether any information relates solely to the Merck Business, solely to the Organon Business, or to both the Merck Business and the Organon Business.

(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided in the JDA with respect to Privileged Information shared in the context of defending against existing or potential claims, and subject to Sections 6.07(d) and 6.07(e), the Parties agree that they shall have a shared privilege or immunity with respect to all privileges not allocated pursuant to Section 6.07(b) and all privileges and immunities relating to any Proceedings or other matters that involve both Parties (or one or more of their respective Subsidiaries) and in respect of which both Parties have Liabilities under this Agreement, including with respect to the opinions delivered pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(vii), and that no such shared privilege or immunity may be waived by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries without the consent of the other Party.

(d) If any dispute arises between Merck and Organon, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, regarding whether a privilege or immunity should be waived to protect or advance the interests of either Party and/or their respective Subsidiaries, each Party agrees that it shall (i) negotiate with the other Party in good faith; and (ii) endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) Upon receipt by Organon or by any of the Organon Subsidiaries of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of information subject to a shared privilege or immunity or as to which Merck or any of the Merck Subsidiaries has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege or immunity, or if Organon obtains knowledge that any of its, or the Organon Subsidiary’s, current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, Organon shall promptly provide notice to Merck of the existence of the request (which notice shall be delivered to Merck no later than five business days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide Merck a reasonable opportunity to review the information and to assert any rights it or they may have, including under this Section 6.07 or otherwise, to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information.

 

53


Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proposed production or disclosure of Privileged Information (whether or not relating solely to the Merck Business) is to a Governmental Authority or in response to an enforcement action and such Privileged Information is reasonably believed to have a potential impact on the legal interests of Merck (including its own claims, defenses or potential exposure), then Organon shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide notice to Merck at least fourteen days in advance of any waiver of privilege or immunity with respect to such Privileged Information; provided that if Merck withholds waiver of any privilege or immunity pursuant to Section 6.07(c), Organon may produce or disclose only such Privileged Information that is required to be produced or disclosed in response to such Governmental Authority or enforcement action. For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between the foregoing and the JDA with respect to Privileged Information shared pursuant to the JDA, the JDA shall prevail.

(f) Upon receipt by Merck or by any of the Merck Subsidiaries of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of information subject to a shared privilege or immunity or as to which Organon or any of the Organon Subsidiaries has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege or immunity, or if Merck obtains knowledge that any of its, or the Merck Subsidiary’s, current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, Merck shall promptly provide notice to Organon of the existence of the request (which notice shall be delivered to Organon no later than five business days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide Organon a reasonable opportunity to review the information and to assert any rights it or they may have, including under this Section 6.07 or otherwise, to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proposed production or disclosure of Privileged Information (whether or not relating solely to the Organon Business) is to a Governmental Authority or in response to an enforcement action and such Privileged Information is reasonably believed to have a potential impact on the legal interests of Organon (including its own claims, defenses or potential exposure), then Merck shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide notice to Organon at least fourteen days in advance of any waiver of privilege or immunity with respect to such Privileged Information; provided that if Organon withholds waiver of any privilege or immunity pursuant to Section 6.07(c), Merck may produce or disclose only such Privileged Information that is required to be produced or disclosed in response to such Governmental Authority or enforcement action. For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between the foregoing and the JDA with respect to Privileged Information shared pursuant to the JDA, the JDA shall prevail.

(g) The Parties agree that they have or may in the future have common legal interests in the Merck Liabilities and any corresponding legal rights, in the Organon Liabilities and any corresponding legal rights, in the Privileged Information and in the preservation of the protected status of the Privileged Information. The Parties have disclosed and exchanged and will disclose and exchange certain Privileged Information between and among themselves in order to further the Parties’ common legal interests, including pursuant to the JDA.

 

54


(h) Any furnishing of, or access to, information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of Merck and Organon set forth in this Section 6.07, in Section 6.08 and in the JDA to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged Information and to assert and maintain all applicable privileges and immunities. The Parties further agree that (i) the exchange by one Party (or any of its Subsidiaries) to the other Party (or any of its Subsidiaries) of any Privileged Information that should not have been transferred pursuant to the terms of this Article VI shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any privilege or immunity that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to such Privileged Information; and (ii) the Party receiving (or for which a Subsidiary has received) such Privileged Information shall promptly return such Privileged Information to the Party (or its applicable Subsidiary) who has the right to assert the privilege or immunity.

(i) In furtherance of, and without limitation to, the Parties’ agreement under this Section 6.07, Merck and Organon shall, and shall cause their applicable Subsidiaries to, use reasonable efforts to maintain their respective separate and joint privileges and immunities, including by executing joint defense and/or common interest agreements where necessary or useful for this purpose.

Section 6.08 Confidentiality.

(a) Confidentiality. From and after the Effective Time, subject to Section 6.09 and except as contemplated by or otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Transaction Document, Merck, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates, and Organon, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives (each, a “Representative”) to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to Merck’s confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all Confidential Information of the other Party and the other Party’s Affiliates and shall not use the Confidential Information of the other Party or any of its Affiliates other than for such purposes as may be expressly permitted under this Agreement or any Transaction Document. If any Confidential Information of one Party or any of its Affiliates is disclosed to another Party or any of its Affiliates in connection with providing services to such first Party or any of its Affiliates under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, then such disclosed Confidential Information shall be used only as required to perform such services.

(b) No Release. Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any Confidential Information to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such Confidential Information in their capacities as such, and except in compliance with Section 6.09 or with the other Party’s prior written consent. Confidential Information furnished by the other Party after the Effective Time pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.08.

(c) Third-Party Information; Privacy or Data Protection Laws. Each Party acknowledges that it and its respective Affiliates may presently have and, following the Effective Time, may gain access to or possession of confidential or proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties (i) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements entered into between such Third Parties, on the one hand, and the other Party or the other Party’s Affiliates, on the other hand, prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) that, as between the two Parties, was originally collected by the other Party or the other Party’s Affiliates and that may

 

55


be subject to and protected by privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws. As may be provided in more detail in an applicable Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the Data Sharing Agreement and the Transition Services Agreements), each Party agrees that it shall hold, protect and use, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives to hold, protect and use, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties in accordance with privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws and the terms of any agreements that were either entered into before the Effective Time or affirmative commitments or representations that were made before the Effective Time by, between or among the other Party or the other Party’s Affiliates, on the one hand, and such Third Parties, on the other hand.

Section 6.09 Protective Arrangements. In the event that either Party or any of its Affiliates is requested or required (by oral question, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to applicable Law to disclose or provide any Confidential Information of the other Party (other than with respect to any such information furnished pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.01 through 6.07), as applicable, that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such Party shall provide the other Party with notice of such request or demand as promptly as practicable under the circumstances so that such other Party shall have an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order, at such other Party’s own cost and expense. In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its failure to disclose or provide such information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority. Confidential Information that is disclosed by judicial or administrative process or as required by applicable Law shall remain otherwise subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 6.08, and the Party disclosing Confidential Information pursuant to law or court order or as required by applicable Law shall take all steps reasonably necessary, including obtaining an order of confidentiality, to ensure the continued confidential treatment of such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the release of information under the JDA, the terms of the JDA shall prevail.

Section 6.10 Equitable Relief with respect to Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Parties hereto acknowledge that: (i) it would be impossible to measure the damages that would be suffered by the other Party if a Party failed to comply with Section 6.07, Section 6.08 and Section 6.09 and (ii) in the event of any such failure, there might not be adequate remedy at law. Therefore, each Party hereto shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights or remedies that it may have (including, in the context of the disclosure of Privileged Information related to existing or potential claims, pursuant to the JDA), to obtain specific performance by the other Party of the obligations of Section 6.07, Section 6.08 and Section 6.09, to obtain immediate injunctive relief without having to post a bond. Neither Party hereto will urge, as a defense to any proceeding for such specific performance or injunctive relief, that the other Party has an adequate remedy at law.

 

56


Section 6.11 Security.

(a) If either Party is given access to the other Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) computer systems or software (collectively, the “Systems”) or physical facilities in connection with the exchange of Information or the conduct of any activities under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, such Party shall comply with all of the other Party’s reasonable policies, procedures and requirements in relation to Systems or physical facilities (collectively, “Security Regulations”) and will not tamper with, compromise, attempt to circumvent or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by such other Party. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any Security Regulations, this Agreement will govern. Each Party shall access and use only those Systems of the other Party for which it has been granted the right to access and use, and only to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the provision or receipt, as applicable, of Information, or the conduct of activities, pursuant to this Agreement or a Transaction Document. Each Party shall be responsible for its employees’ compliance with the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement in connection with such access, including access to comingled or sensitive Information.

(b) Each Party will ensure that only those of its personnel who are specifically authorized to have access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party (or its Affiliates) gain such access, and to prevent unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or other property contained therein, including notifying its personnel of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and of the Security Regulations.

(c) If, at any time, either Party determines that (i) any of its personnel has sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations of the other Party, (ii) any unauthorized personnel of such Party has accessed the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party, or (iii) any of the personnel of such Party has engaged in activities that may lead or leads to the unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or software, such Party shall immediately terminate any such personnel’s access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party and immediately notify the other Party. In addition, each Party shall have the right to deny the personnel of the other Party access to any Systems or physical facilities upon written notice to the other Party in the event that such Party reasonably believes that such personnel have engaged in any of the activities set forth above in this Section 6.11(c) or otherwise pose a security concern. Each Party will cooperate with the other Party in investigating any apparent unauthorized access to the Systems or facilities of the other Party.

ARTICLE VII

TRANSITION MANAGEMENT OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES; GOVERNANCE

Section 7.01 Transition Management Office Team. As of the Distribution Date, the Parties shall have each established a transition management office team consisting of an appropriate number of representatives of each Party that will be responsible for monitoring and implementing the STAIRS Plan, coordinating and executing the exits of the IOM Markets and the Deferred Markets and coordinating the performance of the Parties’ obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document (each, a “TMO Team”).

 

57


Section 7.02 Transition Management Office Lead.

(a) Each Party also shall designate at least one representative to serve as that Party’s primary contact for the other Party (each, a “TMO Lead”). The TMO Teams and the TMO Leads shall meet at a frequency agreed to by the TMO Leads and be responsible for discussing status and progress of activities under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. The TMO Leads may establish such governance procedures, tracking mechanisms and such functional sub-teams as it deems appropriate.

(b) The TMO Leads will work together to resolve issues or potential disputes relating to this Agreement and any Transaction Document, with the intent of averting the escalation of such issues or potential disputes. Any escalation of any potential disputes will be in accordance with Section 8.01. Either Party may change its TMO Lead or TMO Team whenever it considers appropriate and, in any such case, shall advise the other Party of such changes accordingly.

ARTICLE VIII

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Section 8.01 Disputes. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement and, except for those Transaction Documents that contain separate dispute resolution provisions (in which case such provisions shall govern), any Transaction Documents, or the breach thereof (a “Dispute”), shall be resolved: (a) first, during such time as there are TMO Leads for each of Organon and Merck, by negotiation by such individuals within their requisite authority with the intent of resolving and averting the escalation of such Dispute; (b) second, by negotiation by the appropriate executives of the Parties who have authority to settle the Dispute (or such other individuals designated by the respective executives), and then (if there remains a Dispute) by discussions between the respective Chief Executive Officers or their respective designees (with full settlement authority) of Merck and Organon, with the possibility of mediation as provided in Section 8.02; and (c) then, if negotiation and mediation fail, by binding arbitration as provided in Section 8.03. Each Party agrees on behalf of itself and each of its Subsidiaries that the procedures set forth in this Article VIII shall be the exclusive means for resolution of any Dispute. The initiation of mediation or arbitration hereunder will toll the applicable statute of limitations for the duration of any such proceedings.

Section 8.02 Negotiation and Mediation. If either Party serves written notice of a Dispute upon the other Party, the Parties will first attempt to resolve such Dispute by direct discussions and negotiation (including as set forth in Section 8.01 above or, as applicable, in accordance with the applicable Transaction Document). If the Parties agree, the Parties may also attempt to resolve the Dispute by a mediation administered by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (“CPR”) under its Mediation Procedure.

Section 8.03 Arbitration.

(a) If a Dispute is not resolved within 45 days (or later if mutually agreed by the Parties) after the service of a notice of a Dispute, either Party shall have the right to commence arbitration. The arbitration shall be administered by the CPR pursuant to its Arbitration Rules and Procedures. References herein to any arbitration rules or procedures mean such rules or procedures as amended from time to time, including any successor rules or procedures, and references herein to the CPR include any successor thereto. The arbitration shall be before three arbitrators. Each

 

58


Party shall designate one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Rule 5.4 of the CPR Rules. The two party-appointed arbitrators will select the third, who will serve as the panel’s chair or president. This arbitration provision, and the arbitration itself, shall be governed by the laws of Delaware and the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16.

(b) Consistent with the expedited nature of arbitration, each Party will, upon the written request of the other Party, promptly provide the other with copies of documents on which the producing Party may rely in support of or in opposition to any claim or defense. At the request of a Party, the arbitrators shall have the discretion to order examination by deposition of witnesses to the extent the arbitrator deems such additional discovery relevant and appropriate. Depositions shall be limited to a maximum of five per Party and shall be held within 45 days of the grant of a request. Additional depositions may be scheduled only with the permission of the arbitrators, and for good cause shown. Each deposition shall be limited to a maximum of one day’s duration. All objections are reserved for the arbitration hearing except for objections based on privilege and proprietary or confidential information. The Parties shall not utilize any other discovery mechanisms, including international processes and United States federal statutes, to obtain additional evidence for use in the arbitration. Any Dispute regarding discovery, or the relevance or scope thereof, shall be determined by the arbitrators, which determination shall be conclusive. All discovery shall be completed within 60 days following the appointment of the arbitrators. All costs and fees relating to the retrieval, review and production of electronic discovery shall be paid by the Party requesting such discovery.

(c) The panel of arbitrators shall have no power to award non-monetary or equitable relief of any sort. The arbitrators shall have no power or authority, under the CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration or otherwise, to relieve the Parties from their agreement hereunder to arbitrate or otherwise to amend or disregard any provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document. The award of the arbitrators shall be final, binding and the sole and exclusive remedy to the Parties. Either Party may seek to confirm and enforce any final award entered in arbitration, in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) If an arbitral award does not impose an injunction on the losing Party or contain a money damages award in excess of $25,000,000, then the arbitral award shall not be appealable and shall only be subject to such challenges as would otherwise be permissible under the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16. In the event that the arbitration does result in an arbitral award, which imposes an injunction or a monetary award in excess of $25,000,000, such award may be appealed to a tribunal of appellate arbitrators via the CPR Arbitration Appeal Procedure.

(e) Except as may be required by Law, neither a Party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both Parties.

Section 8.04 Interim Relief. At any time during the resolution of a Dispute between the Parties, either Party has the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for interim relief, including pre-arbitration attachments or injunctions, necessary to preserve the Parties’ rights or to maintain the Parties’ relative positions until such time as the arbitration award is rendered or the Dispute is otherwise resolved.

 

59


Section 8.05 Remedies. The arbitrators shall have no authority or power to limit, expand, alter, amend, modify, revoke or suspend any condition or provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document nor any right or power to award punitive, exemplary or treble damages (or other multiple damages that are not actual damages).

Section 8.06 Expenses. Each Party shall bear its own costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees in pursuit and resolution of any Dispute; provided, however, that, in the event of any arbitration pursuant to Section 8.03, the non-prevailing Party shall bear both Parties’ costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such arbitration (including the fees of any arbitrator).

Section 8.07 Continuation of Services and Commitments. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement and each Transaction Document to the extent required by such Agreements during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to all matters related to such Dispute.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

Section 9.01 Termination. This Agreement and all Transaction Documents may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole discretion of Merck without the approval of any Person, including Organon. In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall become null and void and no Party, nor any of its directors, officers or employees, shall have any Liability of any kind to any Person by reason of this Agreement. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power; Facsimile or Electronic Signatures.

(a) Counterparts. This Agreement and each Transaction Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.

(b) Entire Agreement.

(i) This Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the exhibits, schedules and annexes hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties and their Subsidiaries with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties or their Subsidiaries other than those set forth or

 

60


referred to herein or therein. It is the intention of the Parties that the Conveyance and Assumption Instruments shall be consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. In the event of any conflict between the Conveyance and Assumption Instruments and this Agreement, (1) the Assets and Liabilities expressly and specifically listed in such Conveyance and Assumption Instruments as being for the account of either Merck or its Subsidiaries on the one hand, or Organon or its Subsidiaries on the other hand, shall control, other than as set forth on Schedule 10.01(b)(i) and (2) in the case of any other inconsistent terms, the provisions of this Agreement shall control. Except with respect to the express and specific allocation of Assets and Liabilities as described therein, the Parties agree (including on behalf of their Subsidiaries) that the Conveyance and Assumption Instruments are not intended and shall not be construed in any way to enhance, modify or decrease any of the rights or obligations of Merck, any Merck Subsidiary, Organon or any Organon Subsidiary from those contained in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

(ii) This Agreement is not intended to address, and should not be interpreted to address, the matters specifically and expressly covered by the Transaction Documents. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of a Transaction Document (other than any Conveyance and Assumption Instruments), the provisions of such Transaction Document shall control over the inconsistent provisions of this Agreement as to matters specifically addressed in such Transaction Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Transition Services Agreements become effective prior to the Effective Time, the producer or provider (or any of its controlled group Affiliates) thereunder or with respect thereto shall have no Liability with respect to performance or non-performance during any period preceding the Effective Time (as though such agreements for that purpose had only become effective as of the Effective Time) in light of the Parties’ intent for any and all Liabilities related to the operation of the Organon Business (including intercompany services related thereto) prior to the Effective Time to remain with Organon and its Subsidiaries and for all Liabilities related to the operation of the Merck Business (including intercompany services related thereto) prior to the Effective Time to remain with Merck and its Subsidiaries; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the recipient or purchaser under such agreements shall continue to be responsible to the provider or producer for payment and other obligations set forth in such agreements from the effective times of such agreements in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence is intended to achieve the same result as would have occurred had Merck and Organon entered into the applicable Transaction Document covering only the period prior to the Effective Time (and as though such agreement were not considered a “Transaction Document” hereunder) and a new Transaction Document covering the period after the Effective Time (with the latter being the only such Transaction Document that controls in the event of a conflict between such Transaction Document and this Agreement). For the avoidance of doubt, the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern all matters (including any indemnities and payments among the Parties and each of their Subsidiaries and the allocation of any rights and obligations pursuant to agreements entered into with Third Parties) relating to Taxes to the extent specifically addressed in the Tax Matters Agreement and the Employee Matters Agreement shall govern all matters (including the allocation of any rights and obligations) relating to employees to the extent specifically addressed in the Employee Matters Agreement.

 

61


(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge and agree that neither Party will be charged more than once for the same service, activity, function or expense that is performed or incurred by the other Party or its Affiliates or third parties pursuant to this Agreement to the extent that such charged Party or its Affiliates are bearing the charges for such service, activity, function or expense pursuant to another Transaction Document.

(c) Corporate Power. Merck represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each Merck Subsidiary, and Organon represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each Organon Subsidiary as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Transaction Document to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

(ii) this Agreement and each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

(d) Signatures and Delivery. Each Party acknowledges that it and its Subsidiaries and the other Party and its Subsidiaries may execute this Agreement and any Transaction Document to which it is a party by manual, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or any Transaction Document (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email or other electronic delivery in portable document format (PDF) or other electronic format shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement or any Transaction Document. Each Party (including on behalf of its Subsidiaries) expressly adopts and confirms a stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email or other electronic delivery in portable document format (PDF) or other electronic format) made in its name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it shall not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party or its Subsidiaries to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it shall as promptly as reasonably practicable cause each such Agreement and Transaction Document to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

Section 10.02 Governing Law. This Agreement and, unless expressly provided therein, each Transaction Document, shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of the choice of Laws and principles of the State of Delaware, as to all matters, including matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

62


Section 10.03 Assignability. Except as set forth in any Transaction Document, this Agreement and each Transaction Document shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and the parties thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 10.04 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of an Indemnitee under this Agreement, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Transaction Document are solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the Distribution, and their permitted successors and assigns, and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the Separation, and their permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder; and (b) there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Transaction Document and neither this Agreement nor any Transaction Document shall provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

Section 10.05 Notices. All notices and, to the extent applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each of the Transaction Documents shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by e-mail (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice):

If to Merck:

Merck & Co., Inc.

2000 Galloping Hill Road

Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033

Attention: Sunil Patel, SVP, Business Development

E-mail: sunil_patel@merck.com

With a copy to:

Merck & Co., Inc.

2000 Galloping Hill Road

Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033

E-mail: office.secretary@merck.com

If to Organon:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Office of Secretary

E-mail: secretaryoffice@organon.com

Either Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

 

63


Section 10.06 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or any Transaction Document or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document, or the application of such term or provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and the Parties shall (and shall cause their applicable Subsidiaries to) use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable terms or provisions into this Agreement (or the applicable Transaction Document) which, insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the Parties. Any term or provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document held invalid or unenforceable only in part, degree or within certain jurisdictions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable to the extent consistent with the intent of the parties as reflected by this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Party waives any term or provision of Law which renders any term or provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.

Section 10.07 Force Majeure. No Party or other Person shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein and without limiting the generality of the terms thereof, any Transaction Document for failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party or other Person claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide notice to the other Party or Parties of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement or any Transaction Document as soon as reasonably practicable.

Section 10.08 No Set Off. Except as set forth in any Transaction Document or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any right of set off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

Section 10.09 Responsibility for Expenses.

(a) Expenses Incurred on or Prior to the Effective Time. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Transaction Document, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties (including in Schedule 10.09(a)), all costs and expenses incurred on or prior to the Effective Time in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement and any Transaction Document, the Separation, the Registration Statement, the plan of Separation and the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be charged to and paid by Merck.

 

64


(b) Expenses Incurred or Accrued After the Effective Time. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, Schedule 10.09(b) to this Agreement, or any Transaction Document, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, each Party and its Subsidiaries shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred or accrued after the Effective Time; provided that: (i) any costs and expenses incurred in obtaining any Consent or novation from a Third Party in connection with the assignment to and assumption by a Party or its Subsidiary of any contracts, commitments or understandings in connection with the Separation shall be borne by the Party or its Subsidiary to which such contract, commitment or understanding is being assigned; and (ii) any costs and expenses incurred by a Party or its Subsidiary that are for the benefit of the other Party or its Subsidiary, or are specifically related to such other Party’s business, products, assets or liabilities, will be borne by such other Party.

Section 10.10 Headings. The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and in the Transaction Documents are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Transaction Document.

Section 10.11 Survival of Covenants. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement and each Transaction Document, and liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein or therein, shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

Section 10.12 Subsidiaries and Employees. Merck shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a Merck Subsidiary (including the employees thereof) and Organon shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by an Organon Subsidiary (including the employees thereof).

Section 10.13 Waivers. Waiver by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any default by the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party or Person of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party or Person. No provisions of this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be deemed waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party or relevant Subsidiary against whom it is sought to be enforced. No failure or delay of any Party (or any of its Subsidiaries) in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

Section 10.14 Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be deemed amended, supplemented or modified unless such amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of both Parties or their relevant Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

Section 10.15 Interpretation. Words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires. The terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless

 

65


otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. Unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days. References herein to this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such Transaction Document as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified. References to the performance, discharge or fulfillment of any Liability in accordance with its terms shall have meaning only to the extent such Liability has terms. If the Liability does not have terms, the reference shall mean performance, discharge or fulfillment of such Liability.

Section 10.16 Public Announcements. From and after the Effective Time, Merck and Organon shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, that portion of any press release or other public statements that relates to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except (i) as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system (in which case such Party shall promptly notify the other Party and allow the other Party a reasonable time and opportunity to oppose such process before making such disclosure), (ii) ordinary course communications with investors and analysts, and (iii) press releases or other public statements that are substantially consistent with prior disclosures made in accordance with this Agreement.

Section 10.17 Specific Performance. Subject to the provisions of Article VIII and Article IX, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the Party or Parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) of its rights under this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Proceeding for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate is waived.

Section 10.18 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

66


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

MERCK & CO., INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert Davis

Name:   Robert Davis
Title:   President
ORGANON & CO.
By:  

/s/ Kevin Ali

Name:   Kevin Ali
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]


Exhibit A

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Organon


Exhibit B

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Organon


Exhibit C

Plan of Reorganization

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

Organon & Co.

(a Delaware corporation)

Organon & Co., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), as it may be amended, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

1.    The name of the corporation is Organon & Co.

2.    The original certificate of incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 11, 2020 under the name “Organon & Co.”

3.    This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates, integrates and amends the certificate of incorporation of the corporation as heretofore in effect, has been adopted by the corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL, and has been adopted by the consent of the stockholders of the corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.

4.    The text of the certificate of incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended and restated by this Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Organon & Co. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE; REGISTERED AGENT; OTHER OFFICES

(a)    The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

(b)    The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.


ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 4.1    Authorized Stock. The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 525,000,000, of which 500,000,000 shall be designated as Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 25,000,000 shall be designated as Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Section 4.2    Common Stock.

(a)    Except as required by law, each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock (each hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

(b)    Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends to the extent permitted by law when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor.

(c)    Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

Section 4.3    Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article IV (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors (or such duly authorized committee thereof) is hereby authorized to provide, by resolution and by causing the filing of a Preferred Stock Designation for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, with respect to each such series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of each such series.

Section 4.4    No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock of the Corporation outstanding and entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

2


ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 5.1    Number. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors, not fewer than three nor more than fifteen directors, as may, from time to time, be determined solely by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”).

Section 5.2    Terms.

(a)    Except as may be otherwise provided with respect to directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation) (the “Preferred Stock Directors”), the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall initially serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, expected to be held in 2022, and director nominees elected to succeed such Class I directors as Class I directors shall hold office for a three-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. Directors designated as Class II directors shall initially serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, expected to be held in 2023, and director nominees elected to succeed such Class II directors as Class II directors shall hold office for a two-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. Directors designated as Class III directors shall initially serve until the third annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, expected to be held in 2024, and director nominees elected to succeed such Class III directors as Class III directors shall hold office for a one-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. Commencing with the fourth annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, expected to be held in 2025, directors of each class the term of which shall then or thereafter expire shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. Prior to the fourth annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, in case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors (other than Preferred Stock Directors), the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III, with such assignment becoming effective as of the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective.

 

3


(b)    Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, and unless otherwise required by law, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by the sole remaining director. Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class, if any, for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the fourth annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, expected to be held in 2025, any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of directors and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until any such director’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or disqualification. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c)    Any director (other than any Preferred Stock Director) may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon; provided, however, that from and after the fourth annual meeting of stockholders following the time at which the initial classification of the Board of Directors becomes effective, any director may be removed with or without cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect one or more directors by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), with respect to the removal without cause of a director or directors so elected, the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole shall apply.

(d)    During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such number of directors that the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have a right to elect, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions; and (ii) each Preferred Stock Director shall serve until such Preferred Stock Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to said provisions, the terms of office of all Preferred Stock Directors elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such Preferred Stock Director shall cease to be qualified as a director and shall cease to be a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be automatically reduced accordingly.

 

4


Section 5.3    Powers. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 5.4    Election; Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

(a)    Ballot Not Required. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

(b)    Notice. Advance notice of nominations for the election of directors, and of business other than nominations, to be proposed by stockholders for consideration at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in or contemplated by the Bylaws.

(c)    Annual Meeting. Any annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected by consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting of stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Except as otherwise required by law, and except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

EXISTENCE

The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

 

5


ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT

Section 9.1    Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all powers, preferences and rights of any nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to this reservation.

Section 9.2    Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, but subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation (including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation) or the Bylaws, and in addition to any requirements of law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

Section 10.1    No Personal Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Section 10.2    Amendment or Repeal. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article X, or the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article X, shall not affect its application with respect to an action or omission by a director occurring before such amendment, alteration, adoption or repeal. If the DGCL hereafter is amended to eliminate or limit the liability of a director, then a director of the Corporation, in addition to the circumstances in which a director is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL.

***

This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 1, 2021.

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this 28th day of May, 2021.

 

By:  

/s/ Matthew Walsh

  Name:   Matthew Walsh
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

of

Organon & Co.

(a Delaware corporation)

ARTICLE I

CORPORATE OFFICES

Section 1.1    Registered Office. The registered office of Organon & Co. (the “Corporation”) shall be fixed in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

Section 1.2    Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or offices, and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as otherwise required by law, at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.1    Annual Meeting. Any annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.2    Special Meeting.

(a)    General. Except as otherwise required by law, and except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock (each hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.3    Notice of Stockholders Meetings.

(a)    Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, notice of the place, if any, date and time of the meeting of stockholders, the record date


for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and, if the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communications, the means for accessing the list of stockholders contemplated by Section 2.5 of these Bylaws, shall be given. The notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws. In the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called also shall be set forth in the notice.

(b)    Except as otherwise required by law, notice may be given in writing directed to a stockholder’s mailing address as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given: (i) if mailed, when notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid; and (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address.

(c)    So long as the Corporation is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)’s proxy rules set forth in Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), notice shall be given in the manner required by such rules. To the extent permitted by such rules, notice may be given by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, and if so given, shall be given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Section 232(e) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). If notice is given by electronic mail, such notice shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 232(a) and 232(d) of the DGCL.

(d)    Notice may be given by other forms of electronic transmission with the consent of a stockholder in the manner permitted by Section 232(b) of the DGCL, and shall be deemed given as provided therein.

(e)    An affidavit that notice has been given, executed by the Secretary of the Corporation, Assistant Secretary or any transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the notice in the absence of fraud. Notice shall be deemed to have been given to all stockholders who share an address if notice is given in accordance with the “householding” rules set forth in Rule 14a-3(e) under the Exchange Act and Section 233 of the DGCL.

(f)    When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed

 

2


for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 7.6(a), and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 2.4    Organization and Conduct of Meetings.

(a)    Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, by another person designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation and all Assistant Secretaries, a person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep a record of the proceedings thereof.

(b)    The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders shall vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the authority to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders and the safety of those in attendance as, in the judgment of the chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the conduct of the meeting. Rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, establishing: (i) an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall permit; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted for consideration of each agenda item and for questions and comments by participants; (vi) regulations for the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot (if any); and (vii) procedures (if any) requiring attendees to provide the Corporation advance notice of their intent to attend the meeting. Subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting may convene and, for any or no reason, from time to time, adjourn and/or recess any meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2.7. The chairman of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall declare that a nomination or other business was not properly brought before the meeting if the facts warrant (including if a determination is made, pursuant to Section 2.10(c)(i) of these Bylaws, that a nomination or other business was not made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 2.10 of these Bylaws), and if such chairman should so declare, such nomination shall be disregarded or such other business shall not be transacted.

Section 2.5    List of Stockholders. The Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to

 

3


vote is less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date. Such list shall be arranged in alphabetical order and shall show the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing in this Section 2.5 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting; or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.5 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.6    Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws, at any meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock of such class or series or classes or series outstanding and entitled to vote on that matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such matter. If a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, then the chairman of the meeting, or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section 2.7, until a quorum is present or represented. Subject to applicable law, if a quorum initially is present at any meeting of stockholders, the stockholders may continue to transact business until adjournment or recess, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum, but if a quorum is not present at least initially, no business other than adjournment or recess may be transacted.

Section 2.7    Adjourned or Recessed Meeting. Any annual or special meeting of stockholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned or recessed for any or no reason from time to time by the chairman of the meeting, subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.4(b). Any such meeting may be adjourned for any or no reason from time to time by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. At any such adjourned or recessed meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

4


Section 2.8    Voting.

(a)    Except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), each holder of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held of record by such holder that has voting power upon the subject matter in question.

(b)    At each meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, all corporate actions to be taken by vote of the stockholders shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter, unless a different or minimum vote is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), these Bylaws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, if a quorum of such class or series or classes or series is present, such act shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.

Section 2.9    Submission of Information by Director Nominees.

(a)    To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation the following information:

(i)    a written representation and agreement, which shall be signed by such person and pursuant to which such person shall represent and agree that such person: (A) consents to serving as a director if elected and (if applicable) to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy as a nominee, and currently intends to serve as a director for the full term for which such person is standing for election; (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity: (1) as to how the person, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; or (2) that could limit or interfere with the person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (C) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director or nominee that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; and (D) if elected as a director, will comply with all of the Corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors (which will be promptly provided following a request therefor); and

 

5


(ii)    all completed and signed questionnaires prepared by the Corporation (including those questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors and any other questionnaire the Corporation determines is necessary or advisable to assess whether a nominee will satisfy any qualifications or requirements imposed by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any law, rule, regulation or listing standard that may be applicable to the Corporation, and the Corporation’s corporate governance policies and guidelines) (all of the foregoing, the “Questionnaires”). The Questionnaires will be promptly provided following a request therefor.

(b)    A nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation shall also provide to the Corporation such other information as it may reasonably request. The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such person can be considered an independent director.

(c)    All written and signed representations and agreements, and the Questionnaires described in Section 2.9(a)(ii) above, shall be considered timely for a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation under Section 2.10 or Section 2.11, as applicable, if provided to the Corporation by the deadlines specified in Section 2.10 or Section 2.11, as applicable. All information provided pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall be deemed part of the stockholder’s notice submitted pursuant to Section 2.10 or a Stockholder Notice (as defined in Section 2.11 below), as applicable.

Section 2.10    Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a)    Annual Meeting.

(i)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any authorized committee thereof); (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.10(a) is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.10(a); or (D) with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, by any Eligible Stockholder (as defined in Section 2.11) whose Stockholder Nominee (as defined in Section 2.11) is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clauses (C) and (D) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make director nominations, and the foregoing clause (C) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose other business at an annual meeting of stockholders (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act).

(ii)    For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of the foregoing paragraph, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of

 

6


business other than nominations, such business must be a proper subject for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) on the 120th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 30 days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held or deemed to have been held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the date on which public announcement (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment or recess of an annual meeting, or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice of the meeting has already been given to stockholders or a public announcement of the meeting date has already been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of the beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. For purposes of this Section 2.10, the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to have been held on June 7, 2021. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

(A)    as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: (1) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; and (2) the information required to be submitted by nominees pursuant to Section 2.9(a) above, including all completed and signed Questionnaires described in Section 2.9(a)(ii) above, which will be promptly provided following a request therefor;

(B)    as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

(C)    as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed:

(1)    the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner;

(2)    the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner as of

 

7


the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by the stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the record date for the meeting; and

(3)    a representation that the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) intends to appear at the meeting to make such nomination or propose such business;

(D)    as to the stockholder giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or the other business is proposed, as to such beneficial owner, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “control person”):

(1)    the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) below) by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the meeting;

(2)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including, without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting;

(3)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class or series of the Corporation’s stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder, beneficial owner or control person with respect to securities of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting; and

(4)    a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will engage in a solicitation with respect to the nomination or other business and, if so, the name of each participant in such solicitation (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) and whether such person intends or is part of a group

 

8


which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of shares representing at least 50% of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors in the case of a nomination, or holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s stock required to approve or adopt the business to be proposed in the case of other business.

(iii)    Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.10(a)(ii) above or Section 2.10(b) below to the contrary, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders is different from the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall set forth a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, or by the opening of business on the date of the meeting (whichever is earlier), of the information required under clauses (ii)(C)(2) and (ii)(D)(1)-(3) of this Section 2.10, and such information when provided to the Corporation shall be current as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

(iv)    This Section 2.10(a) shall not apply to a proposal proposed to be made by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present the proposal at an annual or special meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such meeting.

(v)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.10(a) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for directors or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice in accordance with Section 2.10(a)(ii) above, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)    Special Meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any authorized committee thereof); or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that one or more directors are to be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.10(b) is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who delivers notice thereof in writing setting forth the information required by Section 2.10(a) above and provides the additional information required by Section 2.9 above. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the notice required by this Section 2.10(b) shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive

 

9


offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees to be elected at such meeting is first made by the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting. In no event shall an adjournment, recess or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c)    General.

(i)    Except as otherwise required by law, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 and Section 2.11, as applicable, shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10. Except as otherwise required by law, each of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 (including whether a stockholder or beneficial owner solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(D)(4) of this Section 2.10). If any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with this Section 2.10, then except as otherwise required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such other business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder does not provide the information required under Section 2.9 or clauses (a)(ii)(C)(2) and (a)(ii)(D)(1)-(3) of this Section 2.10 to the Corporation within the time frames specified herein, any such nomination shall be disregarded and any such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. To be considered a qualified representative of a stockholder pursuant to the preceding sentence, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such nomination or proposal at such meeting (and in any event not fewer than five business days before the meeting) stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.

 

10


(ii)    For purposes of these Bylaws, the “close of business” shall mean 6:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day, and a “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of clause (a)(ii)(D)(1) of this Section 2.10, shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both); (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others; and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.

(iii)    Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation).

Section 2.11    Proxy Access for Director Nominations.

(a)    Eligibility. Subject to the terms and conditions of these Bylaws, in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, the Corporation (x) shall include in its proxy statement and on its form of proxy the names of, and (y) shall include in its proxy statement the “Additional Information” (as defined in Section 2.11(b)(iv) below) relating to, a number of nominees specified pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(i) (the “Authorized Number”) for election to the Board of Directors submitted pursuant to this Section 2.11 (each, a “Stockholder Nominee”), if:

(i)    the Stockholder Nominee satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.11;

(ii)    the Stockholder Nominee is identified in a timely notice (the “Stockholder Notice”) that satisfies this Section 2.11 and is delivered by a stockholder that qualifies as, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder (as defined Section 2.11(b)(ii) below);

(iii)    the Eligible Stockholder satisfies the requirements in this Section 2.11 and expressly elects at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have the Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.11; and

(iv)    the additional requirements of these Bylaws are met.

(b)    Definitions.

(i)    The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees appearing in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders (the “Authorized Number”) shall not exceed the greater of (i) two or (ii) 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to

 

11


this Section 2.11 with respect to the annual meeting, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number (rounding down) below 20%; provided that the Authorized Number shall be reduced, but not below one, (A) by any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.11 but whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee; (B) by any directors in office or director nominees that in either case shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to the annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or other understanding between the Corporation and a stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of capital stock, by the stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation); and (C) by any nominees who were previously elected to the Board as Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two annual meetings and who are nominated for election at the annual meeting by the Board as a Board nominee. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the date of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting and the Board resolves to reduce the size of the Board in connection therewith, the Authorized Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.

(ii)    To qualify as an “Eligible Stockholder,” a stockholder or a group as described in this Section 2.11 must:

(A)    own and have owned (as defined below), continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares (as adjusted to account for any stock dividend, stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization of outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors) that represents at least 3% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of all classes and series of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation, voting as a single class, as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the “Required Shares”); and

(B)    thereafter continue to own the Required Shares through such annual meeting of stockholders.

For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirements of this Section 2.11(b)(ii), a group of not more than 20 stockholders and/or beneficial owners may aggregate the number of outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors that each group member has individually owned continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice if all other requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 2.11 are satisfied by and as to each stockholder or beneficial owner comprising the group whose shares are aggregated. No shares may be attributed to more than one Eligible Stockholder, and no stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may individually or as a member of a group qualify as or constitute more than one Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.11. A group of any two or more funds shall be treated as only one stockholder or beneficial owner for this purpose if they are (1) under common management and investment control, or (2) part of a family of funds, meaning a group of publicly offered funds that are part of the same family of funds (whether organized in the U.S. or outside the U.S.) that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. For purposes of this Section 2.11, the term “affiliate” or “affiliates” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

12


(iii)    For purposes of this Section 2.11:

(A)    A stockholder or beneficial owner is deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors as to which the person possesses both (1) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (2) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares, except that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) shall not include any shares (i) sold by such person in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (ii) borrowed by the person for any purposes or purchased by the person pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (iii) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by the person, whether the instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, if the instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, the person’s full right to vote or direct the voting of the shares, and/or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of the shares by the person. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, have correlative meanings. For purposes of clauses (i) through (iii), the term “person” includes its affiliates.

(B)    A stockholder or beneficial owner “owns” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains both (1) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (2) the full economic interest in the shares. The person’s ownership of shares is deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the stockholder.

(C)    A stockholder or beneficial owner’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned the shares if the person has the power to recall the loaned shares on not more than five business days’ notice and (1) the person recalls the loaned shares within five business days of the last date on which a timely Stockholder Notice may be delivered for the relevant annual meeting or the record date for the relevant annual meeting, and (2) the person holds the recalled shares through the annual meeting.

(iv)    For purposes of this Section 2.11, the “Additional Information” referred to in Section 2.11(a) that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is:

(A)    the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice concerning each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and

 

13


(B)    if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (or, in the case of a group, a written statement of the group), not to exceed 500 words, in support of its Stockholder Nominee(s), which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting (the “Statement”).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.11, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is untrue in any material respect (or omits a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading) or would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 2.11 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.

(c)    Stockholder Notice and Other Informational Requirements.

(i)    The Stockholder Notice shall set forth all information, representations and agreements required under Sections 2.9 and 2.10 above, including the information and Questionnaires, as applicable, required with respect to (i) any nominee for election as a director, (ii) any stockholder giving notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election, and (iii) any stockholder, beneficial owner or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made under this Section 2.11. In addition, such Stockholder Notice shall include:

(A)    a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act;

(B)    a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written statement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder), which statement(s) shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC: (1) setting forth and certifying to the number of outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors the Eligible Stockholder owns and has owned continuously for at least three years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice; (2) agreeing to continue to own such shares through the annual meeting; and (3) regarding whether or not it intends to maintain ownership of the Required Shares for at least one year following the annual meeting;

(C)    the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written agreement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the Corporation, setting forth the following additional agreements, representations, and warranties:

(1)    it shall provide (i) within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, one or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder owns, and has owned continuously in compliance with this Section 2.11; (ii) within five business days after the record date for determining stockholders

 

14


entitled to vote at the annual meeting, both the information required under Section 2.10(a)(ii)(C)(2) and Section 2.10(a)(ii)(D)(1)-(3) and written statements from the record holder(s) and intermediaries as required under clause (B)(1) of this Section 2.11(c)(1) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares, in each case, as of such date; and (iii) immediate notice to the Corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the annual meeting;

(2)    it (i) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Corporation, and does not presently have this intent; (ii) has not nominated and shall not nominate for election to the Board at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2.11; (iii) has not engaged and shall not engage in, and has not been and shall not be a participant (as defined in Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 14A) in, a solicitation within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee(s) of the Board; and (iv) shall not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation; and

(3)    it will (i) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation; (ii) indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of the nomination or solicitation process pursuant to this Section 2.11; (iii) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to its nomination or any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting; (iv) file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the Corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders, one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether the filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, or whether any exemption from filing is available for the materials under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, and (v) at the request of the Corporation, promptly, but in any event within five business days after such request (or by the day prior to the day of the annual meeting, if earlier), provide to the Corporation such additional information as reasonably requested by the Corporation; and

(D)    in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination, and the written agreement, representation, and warranty of the Eligible Stockholder that it shall provide, within five business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation demonstrating that the number of stockholders and/or beneficial owners within such group does not exceed 20, including whether a group of funds qualifies as one stockholder or beneficial owner within the meaning of Section 2.11(b)(ii).

 

15


All information provided pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 2.11.

(ii)    To be timely under this Section 2.11, the Stockholder Notice must be delivered by a stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) above) on the 120th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date (as stated in the Corporation’s proxy materials) the definitive proxy statement was first released to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held or deemed to have been held in the preceding year, to be timely, the Stockholder Notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) above) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment of an annual meeting, or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice of the meeting has already been given to stockholders or a public announcement of the meeting date has already been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Stockholder Notice as described above. For purposes of this Section 2.11, the definitive proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to have been first released to stockholders on April 21, 2021.

(iii)    At the request of the Corporation, a Stockholder Nominee shall promptly, but in any event within five business days after such request (or by the day prior to the day of the annual meeting, if earlier), provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may reasonably request. The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Corporation to determine if a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the requirements of this Section 2.11, including information relevant to a determination whether the Stockholder Nominee can be considered an independent director.

(iv)    In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this Section 2.11.

(d)    Proxy Access Procedures.

(i)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.11, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee shall occur,

 

16


notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:

(A)    the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its agreements, representations or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 2.11, any of the information in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 2.11 was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the Eligible Stockholder or applicable Stockholder Nominee otherwise fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to these Bylaws, including, but not limited to, its obligations under this Section 2.11;

(B)     the Stockholder Nominee (1) is not independent under any applicable listing standards, any applicable rules of the SEC and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (2) is or has been, within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined for purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (3) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) within the past ten years, or (4) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

(C)    the Corporation has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board pursuant to the advance notice requirements set forth in Section 2.10 of this Article II; or

(D)    the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board would cause the Corporation to violate the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard.

(ii)    An Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials and include such assigned rank in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation. In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.11 exceeds the Authorized Number, the Stockholder Nominees to be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions: one Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.11 shall be selected from each Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Authorized Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as owned in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation and going in the order of the rank (highest to lowest) assigned to each Stockholder Nominee by such Eligible Stockholder. If the Authorized Number is not reached after one Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.11 has been selected from each Eligible Stockholder, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Authorized Number is

 

17


reached. Following such determination, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.11 thereafter is nominated by the Board, thereafter is not included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this Section 2.11), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for election as a director at the applicable annual meeting in substitution for such Stockholder Nominee.

(iii)    Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but either (A) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these Bylaws (provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice) or (B) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election that is at least equal to 25% of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors, shall be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 2.11 for the next two annual meetings.

(iv)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting or the Board, if the stockholder delivering the Stockholder Notice (or a qualified representative of the stockholder, as defined in Section 2.10(c)(i)) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Corporation. Without limiting the Board’s power and authority to interpret any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Board (and any other person or body authorized by the Board) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 2.11 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 2.11 to any persons, facts or circumstances, in each case acting in good faith. This Section 2.11 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the Corporation’s proxy materials.

Section 2.12    No Action by Consent. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected by consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.13    Inspectors of Election. Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. Inspectors may be employees of the Corporation. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Inspectors need not be stockholders. No director or nominee for the office of director at an election shall be appointed as an inspector at such election.

 

18


Such inspectors shall:

(a)    determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity of proxies and ballots;

(b)    determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors;

(c)    count and tabulate all votes and ballots; and

(d)    certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots.

Section 2.14    Meetings by Remote Communications. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication: (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that: (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder; (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

Section 2.15    Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of such document or information unless the document or information is in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the Corporation required by this Article II.

 

19


ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 3.1    Powers. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities these Bylaws expressly confer upon it, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 3.2    Number and Election. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors, not fewer than three nor more than fifteen directors, the exact number to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors then authorized (the “Whole Board”).

At any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, each nominee for election as a director in an uncontested election shall be elected if the number of votes cast for the nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast against the nominee’s election. In all director elections other than uncontested elections, the nominees for election as a director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of this Section 3.2, an “uncontested election” means any meeting of stockholders at which the number of candidates does not exceed the number of directors to be elected and with respect to which: (a) no stockholder has submitted notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election at such meeting in accordance with Section 2.10 or no Eligible Stockholder has submitted a Stockholder Notice nominating a Stockholder Nominee at such meeting in accordance with Section 2.11; or (b) such a notice has been submitted, and on or before the fifth business day prior to the date that the Corporation files its definitive proxy statement relating to such meeting with the SEC (regardless of whether thereafter revised or supplemented), the notice has been: (i) withdrawn in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation; (ii) determined not to be a valid notice of nomination, with such determination to be made by the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) pursuant to Section 2.10 or 2.11, as applicable, or if challenged in court, by a final court order; or (iii) determined by the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) not to create a bona fide election contest.

Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws, wherein other qualifications for directors may be prescribed.

Section 3.3    Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

20


Section 3.4    Resignations and Removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon delivery, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or time or an effective date or time determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Directors of the Corporation may be removed only as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 3.5    Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, on such date or dates and at such time or times, as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

Section 3.6    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the place, within or without the State of Delaware, date and time of such meetings. Notice of each such meeting shall be given to each director, if by mail, addressed to such director at his or her residence or usual place of business, at least five days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to such director by electronic transmission, or be delivered personally or by telephone, in each case at least 24 hours prior to the time set for such meeting. A notice of special meeting need not state the purpose of such meeting, and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 3.7    Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.8    Quorum and Voting. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and the vote of a majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the meeting or a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting to another time and place whether or not a quorum is present. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

Section 3.9    Board of Directors Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, provided that all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are

 

21


maintained. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action shall be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

Section 3.10    Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at meetings of stockholders and at meetings of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of stockholders, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at such meeting or, in his or her absence, another person designated by the Board of Directors. If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, another director chosen by the Board of Directors shall preside.

Section 3.11    Rules and Regulations. The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws for the conduct of its meetings and management of the affairs of the Corporation as the Board of Directors shall deem proper.

Section 3.12    Fees and Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, directors may receive such compensation, if any, for their services on the Board of Directors and its committees, and such reimbursement of expenses, as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.13    Emergency Bylaws. This Section 3.13 shall be operative during any emergency condition as contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL (an “Emergency”), notwithstanding any different or conflicting provisions in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL. In the event of any Emergency, or other similar emergency condition, the director or directors in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a standing committee thereof shall constitute a quorum. Such director or directors in attendance may further take action to appoint one or more of themselves or other directors to membership on any standing or temporary committees of the Board of Directors as they shall deem necessary and appropriate. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, during any Emergency, the Corporation and its directors and officers may exercise any authority and take any action or measure contemplated by Section 110 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 4.1    Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they

 

22


constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.2    Meetings and Action of Committees. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise by resolution, any committee of the Board of Directors may adopt, alter and repeal such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws for the conduct of its meetings as such committee may deem proper. A majority of the directors then serving on a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, and except as otherwise provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that in no case shall a quorum be less than one-third of the directors then serving on the committee. Unless the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or a resolution of the Board of Directors requires a greater number, the vote of a majority of the members of a committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 5.1    Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary of the Corporation. The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may also elect one or more Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Presidents, General Counsel, Treasurers, Controllers, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these Bylaws or as determined by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and until such person’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such person’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person; provided, however, that no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.

Section 5.2    Compensation. The salaries of the officers of the Corporation and the manner and time of the payment of such salaries shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized officer and may be altered by the Board of Directors from time to time as it deems appropriate, subject to the rights, if any, of such officers under any contract of employment.

 

23


Section 5.3    Removal, Resignation and Vacancies. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized officer, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party. Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Section 5.4    Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy, and shall report directly to the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws or determined by the Board of Directors, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, if present and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, preside at meetings of the stockholders.

Section 5.5    Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine.

Section 5.6    General Counsel. The General Counsel will be the chief consultant of the Corporation on legal matters, will supervise all matters of legal import concerning the interests of the Corporation and shall exercise all other powers and perform the duties of the office of the General Counsel. The General Counsel shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine.

Section 5.7    Treasurer. The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer may from time to time determine.

Section 5.8    Controller. The Controller shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Treasurer may from time to time determine.

 

24


Section 5.9    Secretary. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and affix it to any instrument when authorized by the Board of Directors, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Secretary (or in such officer’s absence, an Assistant Secretary, but if neither is present, another person selected by the chairperson for the meeting) shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders, the Board of Directors and of the committees of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose.

Section 5.10    Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board of Directors.

Section 5.11    Checks; Drafts; Evidences of Indebtedness. From time to time, the Board of Directors shall determine the method, and designate (or authorize officers of the Corporation to designate) the person or persons who shall have authority, to sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for payment of money and notes, bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in the name of or payable by the Corporation, and only the persons so authorized shall sign or endorse such instruments.

Section 5.12    Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may determine the method, and designate (or authorize officers of the Corporation to designate) the person or persons who shall have authority to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, or within the power incident to a person’s office or other position with the Corporation, no person shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

Section 5.13    General Power of Officers. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other instruments or documents of the Corporation may be executed, signed or endorsed: (i) by the Chief Executive Officer; or (ii) by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or Controller, in each case only with regard to such instruments or documents that pertain to or relate to such person’s duties or business functions.

Section 5.14    Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations or Entities. The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer is authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of the Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or other equity interests of any other corporation or entity or corporations or entities, standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority herein granted may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by the person having such authority.

 

25


Section 5.15    Delegation. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article V.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

Section 6.1    Right to Indemnification.

(a)    Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, judicial, administrative or legislative hearing, or any other threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise, including any and all appeals, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative or other nature (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or while a director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), or by reason of anything done or not done by him or her in any such capacity, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, penalties and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of the indemnitee) actually and reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection therewith, all on the terms and conditions set forth in these Bylaws. Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary: (i) except as otherwise required by law or by Section 6.3, no indemnification shall be paid to any such indemnitee with respect to any proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation against the indemnitee that is authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines that indemnification is appropriate; and (ii) except as otherwise required by law or provided in Section 6.4 with respect to suits to enforce rights under this Article VI, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding, or part thereof, voluntarily initiated by such indemnitee (including claims and counterclaims, whether such counterclaims are asserted by such indemnitee, or the Corporation in a proceeding initiated by such indemnitee) only if such proceeding, or part thereof, was authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors otherwise determines that indemnification is appropriate.

(b)    To receive indemnification under this Article VI, an indemnitee shall submit a written request to the Secretary of the Corporation. Such request shall include documentation or information that is necessary to determine the entitlement of the indemnitee to indemnification and that is reasonably available to the indemnitee. Upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of such a written request, unless indemnification is required by Section 6.3,

 

26


the entitlement of the indemnitee to indemnification shall be determined by the following person or persons who shall be empowered to make such determination, as selected by the Board of Directors (except with respect to clause (v) of this Section 6.1(b)): (i) the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such proceeding, whether or not such majority constitutes a quorum; (ii) a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, whether or not such majority constitutes a quorum; (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel (as defined below) selected by the Corporation in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the indemnitee; (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation; or (v) in the event that a change of control (as defined below) has occurred, by independent legal counsel (to be mutually agreed upon by the Corporation and the indemnitee, with such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the indemnitee. The determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be made and, unless a contrary determination is made, such indemnification shall be paid in full by the Corporation not later than 60 days after receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of a written request for indemnification. For purposes of this Section 6.1(b), (A) “independent counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither is presently nor in the past five years has been retained to represent the Corporation or the indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or any other party to the proceeding giving rise to a request for indemnification hereunder; provided that the term “independent counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the indemnitee in an action to determine the indemnitee’s right to indemnification under these Bylaws; and (B) a “change of control” will be deemed to have occurred if, with respect to any particular 24-month period, the individuals who, at the beginning of such 24-month period, constituted the Board of Directors (the “incumbent board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such 24-month period whose election, or nomination for election by the stockholders of the Corporation, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the incumbent board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the incumbent board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, a “change of control” for purposes of this Article VI shall not include the “spin-off,” “distribution” or the “separation” (in each case, as defined in the registration statement on Form 10 filed by the Corporation) relating to Merck & Co., Inc. and the Corporation or the actions or transactions contemplated to effect any of them.

Section 6.2    Right to Advancement of Expenses.

(a)    In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 6.1, an indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”), other than a proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation against the indemnitee that is authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that an advancement of expenses shall

 

27


be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision of a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VI or otherwise.

(b)    To receive an advancement of expenses under this Section 6.2, an indemnitee shall submit a written request to the Secretary of the Corporation. Such request shall reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the indemnitee and shall include or be accompanied by the undertaking required by Section 6.2(a). Each such advancement of expenses shall be made within 20 days after the receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of a written request for advancement of expenses.

Section 6.3    Indemnification for Successful Defense. To the extent that an indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding (or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein), such indemnitee shall be indemnified under this Section 6.3 against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such defense. Indemnification under this Section 6.3 shall not be subject to satisfaction of a standard of conduct, and the Corporation may not assert the failure to satisfy a standard of conduct as a basis to deny indemnification or recover amounts advanced, including in a suit brought pursuant to Section 6.4 (notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein); provided, however, that, any indemnitee who is not a current or former director or officer (as such term is defined in the final sentence of Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) shall be entitled to indemnification under Section 6.1 and this Section 6.3 only if such indemnitee has satisfied the standard of conduct required for indemnification under Section 145(a) or Section 145(b) of the DGCL.

Section 6.4    Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. In the event that a determination is made that the indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or if payment is not timely made following a determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1(b), if a request for indemnification under Section 6.3 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written request has been received by the Secretary of the Corporation, or if an advancement of expenses is not timely made under Section 6.2(b), the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware seeking an adjudication of entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct for indemnification set forth in Section 145(a) or Section 145(b) of the DGCL. Further, in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct for indemnification set forth in Section 145(a) or Section 145(b) of the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a

 

28


committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under applicable law, this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

Section 6.5    Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, provisions of an entity’s organizational documents (including the Corporation’s), or otherwise.

Section 6.6    Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 6.7    Service at Subsidiaries; Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Any person serving as a director or officer of a subsidiary of the Corporation shall be entitled to the rights to indemnification conferred in this Article VI, and to the advancement of expenses, as defined in Section 6.2, with respect to his or her service at such subsidiary; provided, however, that the advancement of expenses to any person who is not an indemnitee as defined in Section 6.1(a) shall be at the discretion of the Corporation. Any director or officer of a subsidiary is deemed to be serving such subsidiary at the request of the Corporation, and the Corporation is deemed to be requesting such service. This Article VI shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, supersede any conflicting provisions contained in the corporate governance documents of any other subsidiary of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, and to the extent authorized from time to time, grant additional rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

Section 6.8    Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VI shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VI that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

29


Section 6.9    Settlement of Claims. Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify any indemnitee under this Article VI for any amounts paid in settlement of any proceeding effected without the Corporation’s written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Section 6.10    Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Article VI, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee (excluding insurance obtained on the indemnitee’s own behalf), and the indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

Section 6.11    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article VI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not by themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VI (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article VI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent of the parties that the Corporation provide protection to the indemnitee to the fullest extent set forth in this Article VI.

ARTICLE VII

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 7.1    Certificates of Stock. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary of the Corporation or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 7.2    Special Designation on Certificates. If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of

 

30


each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the registered owner thereof shall be given a notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 7.2 or Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the DGCL or with respect to this Section 7.2 and Section 151 of the DGCL a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

Section 7.3    Transfers of Stock. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation upon authorization by the registered holder thereof or by such holder’s attorney thereunto authorized by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or a transfer agent for such stock, and if such shares are represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power and the payment of any taxes thereon; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer.

Section 7.4    Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new share certificate or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond (or other adequate security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it (including any expense or liability) on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares. The Board of Directors may adopt such other provisions and restrictions with reference to lost certificates, not inconsistent with applicable law, as it shall in its discretion deem appropriate.

Section 7.5    Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

 

31


Section 7.6    Record Date for Determining Stockholders.

(a)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business (as defined in Section 2.10(c)(ii) above) on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjourned meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

(b)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 7.7    Regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.

Section 7.8    Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

32


ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL MATTERS

Section 8.1    Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December of the same year, or shall extend for such other 12 consecutive months as the Board of Directors may designate.

Section 8.2    Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Corporation. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Secretary, Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

Section 8.3    Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 8.4    Subject to Law and Certificate of Incorporation. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in these Bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are qualified by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and applicable law.

Section 8.5    Electronic Signatures, etc. Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including as otherwise required by any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws (including, without limitation, as otherwise required by Section 2.15), any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The terms “electronic mail,” “electronic mail address,” “electronic signature” and “electronic transmission” as used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

ARTICLE IX

FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES

Section 9.1    Forum. Unless the Corporation, in writing, selects or consents to the selection of an alternative forum: (a) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting any internal corporate claims (as defined below), to the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to applicable jurisdictional requirements, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of

 

33


Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have, or declines to accept, jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware); and (b) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the federal district courts of the United States of America. For purposes of this Article IX, “internal corporate claims” means claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder in such capacity, or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

Section 9.2    Enforceability. If any provision of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

Section 10.1    Amendments. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation (including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws, and in addition to any other vote required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws.

The foregoing Amended and Restated Bylaws were adopted by the Board of Directors on May 28, 2021, effective as of June 1, 2021.

 

34

Exhibit 10.1

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

by and between

MERCK & CO., INC.

and

ORGANON & CO.


TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

This Tax Matters Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of the 2 day of June, 2021, by and between Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”), a New Jersey corporation, and Organon & Co. (“Organon” and, together with Merck, the “Parties”), a Delaware corporation.

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, Merck’s Board of Directors has determined that it is appropriate and advisable to: (i) separate the Organon Business from Merck’s remaining businesses (the “Separation”), which will include the transfer of the assets (including interests in intangible assets and stock of subsidiaries) used in connection with the Organon Business to Organon and Organon’s direct and indirect subsidiaries; and (ii) following the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of common shares of Merck (“Merck Common Stock”) of all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Organon (“Organon Common Stock”) owned by Merck (the “Distribution,” and, together with the Separation, the “Transactions”) (the date of such Distribution, the “Distribution Date”);

WHEREAS, Merck and Organon intend that the Distribution and certain other transactions effected as part of the Separation qualify for Tax-Free Status;

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Merck is the common parent of an affiliated group of domestic corporations, including Organon, that has elected to file consolidated U.S. federal Income Tax Returns and, as a result of the Distribution, neither Organon nor any of its Affiliates will be a member of such group after the close of the Distribution Date; and

WHEREAS, in contemplation of the Distribution, the Parties desire to provide for and agree upon the rights and obligations of the Parties and their respective Affiliates of liabilities, and entitlements to refunds thereof, for certain federal, state, local, and non-U.S. Taxes arising prior to, at the time of, and subsequent to the Distribution, to provide for and agree upon other matters relating to Taxes, and to set forth certain covenants and indemnities relating to the Tax-Free Status of the Separation and the Distribution.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions, and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties (and their respective Affiliates) hereby covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meaning, and capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Separation Agreement.

Active Trade or Business” means, as shown on Exhibit A, the active conduct (as defined in Section 355(b)(2) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) by Organon and its “separate affiliated group” (as defined in Section 355(b)(3)(B) of the Code) and any Affiliate of Organon that is a party to a transaction intended to qualify under Section 355 of the Code and such Affiliate’s “separate affiliated group” of the Organon Business, in each case, as conducted immediately prior to the Distribution or any other relevant distribution.

 

1


Adjustment Request” means any formal or informal claim or request filed with any Tax Authority, or with any administrative agency or court, for the adjustment, Refund, or credit of Taxes, including (a) any amended Tax Return claiming adjustment to the Taxes as reported on the Tax Return or, if applicable, as previously adjusted, (b) any claim for equitable recoupment or other offset, and (c) any claim for Refund or credit of Taxes previously paid.

Affiliate” (including, with a correlative meaning, “affiliated”) means, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or otherwise. The Parties agree that for purposes of this Agreement, neither Organon nor any member of the Organon Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Merck or any member of the Merck Group, and neither Merck nor any member of the Merck Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Organon or any member of the Organon Group.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Board Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(d) of this Agreement.

Business” means the Merck Business or Organon Business, as the case may be.

Business Entity” means any corporation, general or limited partnership, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, limited liability entity or other entity.

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

Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a) of this Agreement.

Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Employee Matters Agreement” means the Employee Matters Agreement entered into by and between Merck and Organon in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement.

Employment Taxes” means withholding taxes imposed with respect to employment, payroll, social security, workers compensation, unemployment, disability and any similar tax imposed by any Tax Authority, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to the foregoing imposed on any taxpayer or consolidated, combined or unitary group of taxpayers.

Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest” has the meaning ascribed to such term for purposes of Sections 355(d) and (e) of the Code.

Final Determination” means the final resolution of liability for any Tax, which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable period, (a) by IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto), on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the taxpayer, or by a comparable form under the laws of a state, local, or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction, except that a Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form shall not constitute a Final Determination to the extent that it reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for Refund or the right of the Tax Authority to

 

2


assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such taxable period (as the case may be); (b) by a decision, judgment, decree, or other order by a court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and unappealable; (c) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the laws of a state, local, or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction; (d) by any allowance of a Refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax; (e) by a final settlement resulting from a treaty-based competent authority determination; or (f) by any other final disposition, including by reason of: (i) the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations to which such Tax relates, or (ii) by mutual agreement of the Parties.

Foreign Tax Redetermination” means a change in the liability for a foreign Income Tax or other changes that may affect a Person’s United States federal Income Tax liability within the meaning of Section 905(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

Gain Recognition Agreement” means a gain recognition agreement as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.367(a)-8 or any successor provision thereto.

Governmental Authority” means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial or local court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority, including the New York Stock Exchange and any similar self-regulatory body under applicable securities laws.

Income Tax” means all Taxes (i) based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to (A) net income or profits (including any capital gains, minimum Tax or any Tax on items of Tax preference, but not including sales, use, real or personal property, gross or net receipts, value added, excise, leasing, transfer or similar Taxes), or (B) multiple bases (including corporate franchise, doing business and occupation Taxes) if one or more bases upon which such Tax is determined is described in clause (A) of this definition, (ii) constituting an income Tax, war profits Tax, or excess profits Tax, or a Tax “in lieu of” such an income Tax, war profits Tax, or excess profits Tax, within the meaning of Section 901 of the Code, or (iii) for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax imposed by any State of the United States or by any political subdivision of any such State which is imposed on or measured by net income, including state or local franchise or similar Taxes measured by net income, as well as any state or local franchise, capital or similar Taxes imposed in lieu of a tax imposed on or measured by net income, together with any interest, penalty, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

Income Tax Return” means any Tax Return relating to Income Taxes.

Indemnifying Party” means a Party that has an obligation to make an Indemnity Payment.

Indemnitee” means a Party that is entitled to receive an Indemnity Payment.

Indemnity Payment” means an indemnity payment contemplated by the Separation Agreement, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Joint Return” means any Tax Return that actually includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members of the Merck Group together with one or more members of the Organon Group, including any entity that is a predecessor or successor, including an “acquiring corporation” within the meaning of Section 381 of the Code, to a member of the Merck Group or the Organon Group.

Merck” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

3


Merck Affiliated Group” means the affiliated group (as that term is defined in Section 1504 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of which Merck is the common parent.

Merck Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Merck Capital Stock” means all classes or series of capital stock of Merck, including (a) the Merck Common Stock, (b) all options, warrants and other rights to acquire such capital stock and (c) all instruments properly treated as stock in Merck for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes.

Merck Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Merck Federal Consolidated Income Tax Return” means any United States federal Income Tax Return for the Merck Affiliated Group.

Merck Group” means Merck and all Affiliates of Merck, excluding any entity that is a member of the Organon Group.

Merck Liability Percentage” means the difference, expressed as a percentage, of (i) one hundred percent (100%) minus (ii) the Organon Liability Percentage.

Merck Market Capitalization” means the product of (i) the volume-weighted average trading price per share of Merck Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days beginning on and following the first trading day following the Distribution Date, as quoted by Bloomberg Professional Services, rounded to the nearest whole cent, multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic average of the number of Merck Common Stock outstanding, on a fully-diluted basis, on each of such twenty (20) trading days, rounded to two (2) decimal points.

Merck Separate Return” means any Tax Return of or including any member of the Merck Group (including any consolidated, combined or unitary return) that is not a Joint Return.

Non-Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

Non-Income Tax” means any Tax that is not an Income Tax or a Property Tax.

Notified Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).

Organon” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Organon Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

Organon Capital Stock” means all classes or series of capital stock of Organon, including (a) the Organon Common Stock, (b) all options, warrants and other rights to acquire such capital stock and (c) all instruments properly treated as stock in Organon for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes.

Organon Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Organon Group” means Organon and all Affiliates of Organon, as determined immediately after the Distribution.

Organon Liability Percentage” means the quotient, expressed as a percentage and rounded to two (2) decimal points, of (i) the Organon Market Capitalization, divided by (ii) the sum of the Merck Market Capitalization plus the Organon Market Capitalization.

 

4


Organon Market Capitalization” means the product of (i) the volume-weighted average trading price per share of Organon Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days beginning on and following the first trading day following the Distribution Date, as quoted by Bloomberg Professional Services, rounded to the nearest whole cent, multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic average of the number of Organon Common Stock outstanding, on a fully-diluted basis, on each of such twenty (20) trading days, rounded to two (2) decimal points.

Organon Separate Return” means any Tax Return for any Tax Period, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Pre-Distribution Tax Period, of or including any member of the Organon Group (including any consolidated, combined or unitary return) that is not a Joint Return.

Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Person” means any (i) individual, (ii) Business Entity or (iii) Governmental Authority, and including any successor or permitted assignee, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing, without regard to whether any entity is treated as disregarded for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes.

Pharma Fee” means the “Branded Prescription Drug Fee” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 51.1, et seq.

Post-Distribution Tax Period” means any Tax Period beginning after the Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period beginning the day after the Distribution Date.

Pre-Distribution Tax Period” means any Tax Period ending on or before the Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Distribution Date.

Preliminary Tax Advisor” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(c) of this Agreement.

Privilege” means any privilege that may be asserted under applicable law, including, any privilege arising under or relating to the attorney-client relationship (including the attorney-client and work product privileges), the accountant-client privilege and any privilege relating to internal evaluation processes.

Property Tax” means any real, personal and intangible ad valorem Tax imposed by any Tax Authority incident to the ownership of property, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

Proposed Acquisition Transaction” means a transaction or series of transactions (or any agreement, understanding or arrangement, within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7, or any other Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, to enter into a transaction or series of transactions), whether such transaction is supported by Organon management or shareholders, is a hostile acquisition, or otherwise, as a result of which Organon would merge or consolidate with any other Person or as a result of which one or more Persons would (directly or indirectly) acquire, or have the right to acquire, from Organon and/or one or more holders of outstanding shares of Organon Capital Stock, a number of shares of Organon Capital Stock that would, when combined with any other changes in ownership of Organon Capital Stock pertinent for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code, comprise twenty percent (20%) or more of (a) the value of all outstanding shares of stock of Organon as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series, or (b) the total combined voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of Organon as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Proposed Acquisition Transaction shall not include issuances by Organon that satisfy Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions in connection with a Person’s performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d). For purposes of determining whether a transaction constitutes an indirect acquisition,

 

5


any recapitalization resulting in a shift of voting power shall be treated as an acquisition of stock by the shareholder whose voting power increases and any redemption of shares of stock shall be treated as an indirect acquisition of shares of stock by the non-exchanging shareholders. This definition and the application thereof are intended to monitor compliance with Section 355(e) of the Code and shall be interpreted accordingly. Any clarification of, or change in, the statute or Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 355(e) of the Code shall be incorporated in this definition and its interpretation. All references to “Organon” in this definition shall include any predecessor or successor thereto, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-8.

Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i).

Refund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

Refund Recipient” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

Representation Letters” means the representation letters and any other materials (including, without limitation, a Ruling Request and any related supplemental submissions) delivered or deliverable by Merck and others in connection with the rendering by Baker & McKenzie LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, and/or the issuance by any Tax Authority, of the Tax Opinions/Rulings.

Ruling Request” means any letter filed by Merck with any Tax Authority requesting a ruling regarding certain Tax consequences of the Transactions (including all attachments, exhibits, and other materials submitted with such ruling request letter) and any amendment or supplement to such ruling request letter.

Section 336(e) Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).

Section 336(e) Tax Basis” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b)(ii).

Section 965 Liability” means the “net tax liability” of the Merck Group under Section 965(h)(6)(A) of the Code.

Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that is not a Proposed Acquisition Transaction but would be a Proposed Acquisition Transaction if the percentage reflected in the definition of Proposed Acquisition Transaction were ten percent (10%) instead of twenty percent (20%).

Separate Return” means a Merck Separate Return or an Organon Separate Return, as the case may be.

Separation” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Separation Agreement” means the Separation and Distribution Agreement entered into by and between Merck and Organon on the date hereof, as the same may be amended.

Separation Plan” means the Global Macro Step Plan dated May 6, 2021, attached hereto as Exhibit B.

Separation Taxes” means those Taxes shown on Exhibit C, identified by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax, the step in the Separation Plan with respect to which such Tax is triggered, and a description of the nature of such Tax. Dollar amounts shown on Exhibit C reflect the current estimate of the amount of such Separation Taxes, where available; the indemnification obligations of Merck pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof with respect to such Separation Taxes shall be determined based upon the final amount of such Separation Taxes as determined under applicable law or a Final Determination or other adjustment made by a Tax Authority rather than upon the estimated amounts set forth on Exhibit C. For the avoidance of doubt, Separation Taxes shall include only those Taxes shown on Exhibit C, and shall not include any other Taxes.

 

6


Straddle Period” means any Tax Period that begins on or before and ends after the Distribution Date.

Tax” or “Taxes” means (i) any income, net income, gross income, gross receipts, profits, capital stock, franchise, property, ad valorem, value added, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease, transfer, import, export, alternative minimum, estimated, withholding (to the extent not related to employment) or other tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature of or in lieu of any tax), imposed by any governmental entity or political subdivision thereof, and any interest, penalty, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing, and including any liability of any member of the Merck Group or the Organon Group for payment of any amounts described in the foregoing as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person; and (ii) any Employment Tax.

Tax Advisor” means, with respect to U.S. Tax matters, a U.S. Tax counsel or accountant of recognized national standing, and, with respect to non-U.S. Tax matters, a local Tax counsel or accountant of recognized national standing in the relevant jurisdiction.

Tax Attribute” means a net operating loss, net capital loss, unused investment credit, unused foreign tax credit, excess charitable contribution, unused general business credit, unused research and development credit, disallowed business interest expense carryforward, earnings and profits, or any other Tax Item that could reduce a Tax or create a Tax Benefit.

Tax Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such Governmental Authority or subdivision.

Tax Benefit” means, with respect to a Tax Period, the amount by which the cash Tax liability of an entity (or of the consolidated or combined group of which it is a member) is reduced solely as a result of a Tax Item, or the amount of an actual Tax Refund that is generated solely as a result of such Tax Item (plus any related interest received from any Tax Authority), in either case, by comparing the cash Tax liability or actual Tax Refund on the applicable Tax Return that would arise with and without the Tax Item potentially giving rise to the Tax Benefit.

Tax Contest” means an audit, review, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of determining or redetermining any Tax (including any administrative or judicial review of any claim for Refund).

Tax-Free Status” means the treatment of the Transactions and any other transaction described in the Tax Opinions/Rulings, in accordance with the treatment set forth therein.

Tax Incentive” means a Tax exemption, Tax holiday, Tax incentive, preferential Tax treatment, Tax deferral, Tax credit, or other Tax reduction agreement relating to the Merck Group or the Organon Group shown on Exhibit D.

Tax Item” means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, recapture of credit, or any other item (including the basis or adjusted basis of property) which increases or decreases Taxes paid or payable in any taxable period.

 

7


Tax Law” means the law of any governmental entity or political subdivision thereof relating to any Tax.

Tax Opinions” means (i) the written opinions on the U.S. federal Income Tax consequences of certain aspects of the Transactions provided by Baker & McKenzie LLP and/or Ernst & Young LLP to any member of the Merck Group or the Organon Group and (ii) any other written opinions on the U.S. state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of certain aspects of the Transactions provided by any Tax Advisors to any member of the Merck Group or Organon Group, in either case, requested prior to the Distribution.

Tax Opinions/Rulings” means the Tax Opinions and/or the Tax Rulings shown on Exhibit E.

Tax Period” means, with respect to any Tax, the period for which the Tax is reported as provided under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.

Tax-Related Losses” means (a) all Taxes (including interest and penalties thereon) imposed pursuant to any settlement, Final Determination, judgment, or otherwise; (b) all accounting, legal, and other professional fees, and court costs incurred in connection with such Taxes; and (c) all costs, expenses, and damages associated with stockholder litigation or controversies and any amount paid by Merck (or any Merck Affiliate) or Organon (or any Organon Affiliate) in respect of the liability of shareholders, whether paid to shareholders or to the IRS or any other Tax Authority, in each case, resulting from the failure of the Transactions to have Tax-Free Status.

Tax Return” means any report of Tax due, any claims for Refund of Tax paid, any information return with respect to Tax, any election made with respect to Tax, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document required to be filed under the Code or other law with respect to Tax, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing for any taxpayer or consolidated, combined, or unitary group of taxpayers.

Tax Return Preparer” means (i) with respect to any Tax Return that Merck is responsible for preparing under Section 3.1(a), Merck, and (ii) with respect to any Tax Return that Organon is responsible for preparing under Section 3.1(b), Organon.

Tax Ruling” means a ruling issued by a Tax Authority pursuant to a Ruling Request filed by or on behalf of the Merck Group with respect to the Transactions (including any supplemental rulings).

Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code as in effect for the relevant Tax Period.

Unqualified Tax Opinion” means an unqualified “will” opinion of a Tax Advisor, which Tax Advisor is acceptable to Merck, on which Merck may rely to the effect that a transaction will not affect the Tax-Free Status. Any such opinion must assume that the Transactions would have qualified for Tax-Free Status if the transaction in question did not occur.

 

8


ARTICLE II

RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAX

Section 2.1 General Rule.

(a) Merck Liability. Merck shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Organon Group from and against any liability for, Taxes which are allocated to Merck under this Article II.

(b) Organon Liability. Organon shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Merck Group from and against any liability for, Taxes which are allocated to Organon under this Article II.

Section 2.2 Allocation of Income Taxes.

Except as provided in Section 2.5, all Income Taxes of the Merck Group and Organon Group shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Allocation of Income Taxes Relating to Joint Returns.

(i) Pre-Distribution Tax Period Joint Returns. With respect to all Pre-Distribution Tax Periods, Merck shall be responsible for any and all Income Taxes (including estimated Income Taxes) shown as due and owing on any originally filed Joint Return, and any and all Income Taxes as a result of either an amended Joint Return or a Final Determination or other adjustment made by a Tax Authority with respect to any Income Tax Item relating to a Joint Return.

(ii) Merck U.S. Consolidated Return. All U.S. federal Income Tax Returns that are Joint Returns filed by Merck as the common parent of a consolidated group shall be treated as Tax Returns filed with respect to a Pre-Distribution Tax Period, without regard to whether a Tax Period ends after the Distribution Date.

(b) Allocation of Income Taxes Relating to Separate Returns.

(i) Merck Separate Returns. Merck shall be responsible for any and all Income Taxes (including estimated Income Taxes) shown as due and owing on any originally filed Merck Separate Return, and any and all Income Taxes as a result of either an amended Merck Separate Return or a Final Determination or other adjustment made by a Tax Authority with respect to any Income Tax Item relating to a Merck Separate Return, for all Tax Periods.

(ii) Organon Separate Returns. Subject to Schedule 2.2, Organon shall be responsible for any and all Income Taxes (including estimated Income Taxes) shown as due and owing on any originally filed Organon Separate Return, and any and all Income Taxes as a result of either an amended Organon Separate Return or a Final Determination or other adjustment made by a Tax Authority with respect to any Income Tax Item relating to a Organon Separate Return, for all Tax Periods.

Section 2.3 Non-Income Taxes.

Subject to Section 2.5, all Non-Income Taxes of the Merck Group and Organon Group shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Pre-Distribution Tax Period Non-Income Taxes. For all Pre-Distribution Tax Periods, (i) Merck shall be responsible for any and all Non-Income Taxes that are attributable to the Merck Business, and (ii) Organon shall be responsible for any and all Non-Income Taxes that are attributable to the Organon Business.

 

9


(b) Post-Distribution Tax Period Non-Income Taxes. For all Post-Distribution Tax Periods, (i) Merck shall be responsible for any and all Non-Income Taxes imposed on the Merck Group and (ii) Organon shall be responsible for any and all Non-Income Taxes imposed on the Organon Group.

(c) Pharma Fee. Notwithstanding Section 2.3(a), for all Tax Periods, (i) Merck shall be responsible for any Pharma Fee imposed on the Merck Group and (ii) Organon shall be responsible for any Pharma Fee imposed on the Organon Group; provided, however, that Organon shall be responsible for any Pharma Fee imposed on the Merck Group relating to transactions that (i) occur on or after November 1, 2020 and (ii) are attributable to the Organon Business or otherwise results from assets, intellectual property, or other products owned by the Organon Group immediately after the Distribution.

Section 2.4 Property Taxes.

Merck shall be responsible for Property Taxes imposed with respect to any property owned by any member of the Merck Group during a Tax Period, and Organon shall be responsible for Property Taxes imposed with respect to property owned by any member of the Organon Group during a Tax Period. In the event that Property Taxes are imposed with respect to property that is owned by both a member of the Merck Group and a member of the Organon Group during a Tax Period, the amount of Property Taxes for which each of Merck and Organon is liable shall be computed on a daily pro rata basis with respect to the number of days the Merck Group member and the Organon Group member, respectively, owned the property.

Section 2.5 Certain Transaction Taxes, Section 965 Liability, and Breaches of Representations or Covenants.

(a) The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement, including Article II, shall not apply with respect to any and all Employment Taxes, for which the Employee Matters Agreement shall govern.

(b) Any Separation Taxes shall be allocated to Merck.

(c) Any Section 965 Liability shall be allocated to Merck.

(d) Organon shall be responsible for: (i) any and all Tax-Related Losses for which Organon is responsible pursuant to Section 4.5 of this Agreement; and (ii) any and all Taxes resulting from a breach by any member of the Organon Group of any representation or covenant in this Agreement.

(e) Merck shall be responsible for: (i) any and all Tax-Related Losses for which Merck is responsible pursuant to Section 4.5 of this Agreement; and (ii) any and all Taxes resulting from a breach by any member of the Merck Group of any representation or covenant in this Agreement.

Section 2.6 Determination of Tax Attributable to Merck Business and Organon Business.

(a) For purposes of this Article II, the amount of Taxes attributable to either the Merck Business or Organon Business for any Tax Period shall be determined by Merck, in Merck’s sole discretion, in a manner consistent with the past return filing practices (if any) of the Merck Group with respect to the relevant Tax Return (including any past accounting methods, elections and conventions).

 

10


(b) Limitation. The amount of Taxes attributable to the Organon Business for any Tax Period shall not be less than zero.

Section 2.7 Proration of Taxes for Straddle Periods.

(a) If Merck determines, in its sole discretion, to close the taxable year of any member of the Organon Group for the purposes of any Tax as of the end of the Distribution Date, Merck and Organon shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to so close such taxable year, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(b) For any Straddle Period, Taxes for the Pre-Distribution Tax Period shall be computed (i) in the case of Taxes imposed on a periodic basis, on a daily pro rata basis and (ii) in the case of other Taxes generally, as if the Tax Period ended as of the close of business on the Distribution Date.

Section 2.8 Tax Refunds.

(a) Subject to Section 2.8(b), and except as provided in Section 2.9, if Merck, Organon or any of their respective Affiliates receives any refund of Taxes, or any rebate or other repayment of an amount in addition or adjustment with respect to Taxes, whether from a Tax Authority or other entity (collectively, a “Refund”), with respect to any Taxes for which the other Party is allocated responsibility under this Article II (a “Refund Recipient”), such Refund Recipient or any of its Affiliates shall pay to the other Party the entire amount of the Refund (including interest received from the relevant Tax Authority or other entity, but net of any Taxes imposed with respect to such Refund and any other reasonable costs) within ten (10) business days of receipt thereof; provided, however, that the other Party, upon the request of such Refund Recipient, shall repay the amount paid to the other Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Tax Authority) in the event such Refund Recipient is required by applicable law to repay such Refund. In the event a Party would be a Refund Recipient but for the fact it elected to apply a Refund to which it would otherwise have been entitled against a Tax liability arising in a subsequent taxable period, then such Party shall be treated as a Refund Recipient and the economic benefit of so applying the Refund shall be treated as a Refund, and shall be paid within ten (10) business days of the due date of the Tax Return to which such Refund is applied to reduce the subsequent Tax liability.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.8(a) to the contrary, no payments shall be required pursuant to Section 2.8(a) for overpayments shown on any originally filed Income Tax Return for a Pre-Distribution Tax Period (but not including any amended Income Tax Return or other Adjustment Request), unless the overpayment equals or exceeds $100,000. For the avoidance of doubt, any Refund of Income Taxes for a Pre-Distribution Tax Period received pursuant to a Final Determination, Adjustment Request, or other adjustment by a Tax Authority (but not an originally filed Income Tax Return), shall be governed by Section 2.2 and Section 2.8(a).

Section 2.9 Carrybacks and Claims for Refund.

(a) Organon hereby agrees that if a Tax Return of a member of the Organon Group for a Post-Distribution Tax Period reflects any Tax Attribute, then the applicable member of the Organon Group shall elect to relinquish, waive, or otherwise forgo the right to carry back any such Tax Attribute to a Pre-Distribution Tax Period with respect to a Joint Return to the extent permissible under applicable law.

(b) If, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.9(a), Organon is required to carry back a Tax Attribute, Merck shall promptly remit to Organon any Tax Benefit that the Merck Group actually realizes with respect to any such carryback on an “as and when” realized basis; provided, however, that Merck shall not be required to remit such Tax Benefit with respect to any such carryback arising from Taxes or Tax Attributes allocated to a member of the Merck Group under this Agreement.

 

11


(c) If Organon has a Tax Attribute that must be carried back to any Pre-Distribution Tax Period, Organon shall notify Merck in writing that such Tax Attribute must be carried back. Such notification shall include a description in reasonable detail of the basis for any Tax Benefit and the amount thereof, and a certification by an appropriate officer of Organon setting forth Organon’s belief (together with supporting analysis prepared by a Tax Advisor) that the Tax treatment of such Tax Attribute is more likely than not correct.

(d) If Merck pays any amount to Organon under Section 2.9(b) and, as a result of a subsequent Final Determination, a Tax Benefit that gave rise to such payment is subsequently disallowed, Merck shall notify Organon of the amount to be repaid to Merck, and Organon shall then repay such amount to Merck, together with any interest, fines, additions to Tax, penalties, or any additional amounts imposed by a Tax Authority relating thereto.

(e) For purposes of this Agreement, a Tax Benefit shall be deemed to have been realized at the time any actual Refund of Taxes is received or applied against other cash Taxes due, or at the time of filing a Tax Return (including a Tax Return relating to estimated Taxes) on which a Tax Item is applied in reduction of cash Taxes that would otherwise be payable.

(f) For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding Section 2.8, Merck shall be entitled to the Refund of any Taxes or other Tax Benefit attributable to the use or carryback of any Tax Attribute that was generated on a Joint Return or Merck Separate Return for any Tax Period that includes the Distribution Date or any Post-Distribution Tax Period; provided, however, that Merck shall not be entitled to the refund of any Taxes or other Tax Benefit attributable to any Taxes or Tax Attributes allocated to the Organon Group under this Agreement.

Section 2.10 Allocation of Tax Attributes.

(a) Merck shall in good faith advise Organon in writing of the amount, if any, of any Tax Attributes, which Merck determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall be allocated and apportioned to the Organon Group under applicable law, provided that this Section 2.10 shall not be construed as obligating Merck to undertake any such determination. Organon and all members of the Organon Group shall prepare all Tax Returns in accordance with such written notice. Organon agrees that it shall not dispute Merck’s allocation or apportionment of Tax Attributes. Organon may request that Merck undertake a determination of the portion, if any, of any particular Tax Attribute to be allocated or apportioned to the Organon Group under applicable law; to the extent that Merck determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, not to undertake such determination, or does not otherwise advise Organon of its intention to undertake such determination within twenty (20) business days of the receipt of such request, Organon shall be permitted to undertake such determination at its own cost and expense and shall notify Merck of its determination, which determination shall not be binding upon Merck.

(b) The allocations made under this Section 2.10 shall be revised by Merck, in its sole discretion, to reflect each subsequent Final Determination or change in law that affects such allocations or the amounts of Tax Attributes available for allocation.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that Merck is not warranting or guaranteeing the amount of any such Tax Attributes and Merck shall not be liable to any member of the Organon Group for any failure of any determination under this Section 2.10 to be accurate under applicable law.

 

12


Section 2.11 Certain Allocations Under Other Transaction Documents.

The Parties acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement, including Article II hereof, shall not apply with respect to any and all Taxes and Tax Attributes that are expressly allocated pursuant to any Transaction Document (other than this Agreement) that is shown on Exhibit F, for which such other Transaction Document shall govern.

ARTICLE III

TAX RETURNS, TAX CONTESTS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Section 3.1 Responsibility of Preparing Tax Returns.

(a) Merck shall timely prepare any Joint Returns or Merck Separate Returns that are required or permitted to be filed for any Tax Period. If Organon is responsible for filing any such Tax Return under Section 3.3(a) Merck shall, subject to Section 3.1(c), promptly deliver such prepared Tax Return to Organon no later than thirty (30) days in advance of the applicable filing deadline.

(b) Organon shall timely prepare any Organon Separate Returns that are required or permitted to be filed for any Tax Period. If Merck is responsible for filing any such Tax Return under Section 3.3(a), Organon shall, subject to Section 3.1(c), promptly deliver such prepared Tax Return to Merck no later than thirty (30) days in advance of the applicable filing deadline.

(c) To the extent that any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) or 3.1(b) directly relates to matters for which another Party may have an indemnification obligation to the Tax Return Preparer, that may give rise to a Refund to which that other Party would be entitled under this Agreement, or that may give rise to a Foreign Tax Redetermination for that other Party, the Tax Return Preparer shall (i) prepare the relevant portions of the Tax Return on a basis consistent with past practice, except (A) as required by applicable law or to correct any clear error, (B) as a result of changes or elections made on any Joint Return that do not relate primarily to the Organon Group or (C) as mutually agreed by the Parties; (ii) notify the other Party of any such portions not prepared on a basis consistent with past practice; (iii) provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the relevant portions of the Tax Return; (iv) consider in good faith any reasonable comments made by the other Party; and (v) use commercially reasonable efforts to incorporate, in the portion of such Tax Return related to the other Party’s potential indemnification obligation (or Refund entitlement), any reasonable comments made by the other Party relating to the Tax Return Preparer’s compliance with clause (i). The Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any issues arising out of the review of any such Tax Return.

(d) The Tax treatment of the Transactions reported on any Tax Return shall be consistent with the treatment thereof in the Tax Opinions/Rulings, taking into account the jurisdiction in which such Tax Returns are filed, unless the Tax Return Preparer reasonably determines, upon advice from counsel, that there is no reasonable basis for such Tax treatment. Such treatment reported on any Tax Return for which Organon is the Tax Return Preparer shall be consistent with that on any Tax Return filed or to be filed by Merck or any member of the Merck Group or caused or to be caused to be filed by Merck, unless Organon reasonably determines, upon advice from counsel, that there is no reasonable basis for such Tax treatment. In the event that a Party shall reasonably determine, upon advice from counsel, that there is no reasonable basis for the Tax treatment described in either of the preceding two sentences, such Party shall notify the other Party twenty (20) business days prior to filing the relevant Tax Return and the Parties shall attempt in good faith to agree on the manner in which the relevant portion of the Transactions shall be reported.

 

13


Section 3.2 Information Packages.

Each Party (i) shall provide to the other Party (in the format reasonably determined by the other Party) all information and assistance requested by the other Party as reasonably necessary to prepare any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.1(b) on a timely basis consistent with the current practices of the Merck Group in preparing Tax Returns, but in no event later than thirty (30) days following receipt of such request from the other Party, and (ii) in so providing such information and assistance, shall use any systems and third-party service providers as are consistent with the current practices of the Merck Group in preparing Tax Returns.

Section 3.3 Filing of Tax Returns and Payment of Taxes.

(a) Each Party shall execute and timely file each Tax Return that it is responsible for filing under applicable law and shall timely pay to the relevant Tax Authority any amount shown as due on each such Tax Return. The obligation to make payments pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) shall not affect a Party’s right, if any, to receive payments under Section 3.3(b) or otherwise be indemnified with respect to that Tax liability.

(b) In addition to its obligations under Section 3.1(c), the relevant Tax Return Preparer shall, no later than five (5) business days before the due date (including extensions) of any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.1(b), notify the other Party of any amount (or any portion of any such amount) shown as due on that Tax Return for which the other Party must indemnify the Tax Return Preparer under this Agreement, as well as any amount with respect to which the other Party may have a Foreign Tax Redetermination obligation. If the other Party must indemnify the Tax Return Preparer, the other Party shall pay such amount to the Tax Return Preparer no later than the due date (including extensions) of the relevant Tax Return. If the Tax Return Preparer must indemnify the other Party for any amount with respect to a Tax Return for which the other Party has the filing obligation under Section 3.3(a), the Tax Return Preparer shall pay such amount to the other Party no later than the due date (including extensions) of the relevant Tax Return. A failure by an Indemnitee to give notice as provided in this Section 3.3(b) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced by such failure.

(c) Any Tax Indemnity Payment required to be made by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be reduced by any corresponding Tax Benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, a Tax Benefit payment is treated as corresponding to a Tax Indemnity Payment to the extent the Tax Benefit realized is directly attributable to the same Tax Item (or adjustment of such Tax Item pursuant to a Final Determination) that gave rise to the Tax Indemnity Payment.

(d) All indemnification payments under this Agreement shall be made by Merck directly to Organon and by Organon directly to Merck; provided, however, that if the Parties mutually agree with respect to any such indemnification payment, any member of the Merck Group, on the one hand, may make such indemnification payment to any member of the Organon Group, on the other hand, and vice versa. All indemnification payments shall be treated in the manner described in Section 5.4.

(e) Each Party shall, in its sole discretion, be permitted to file any Adjustment Request for any Tax Returns that it is responsible for preparing pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.1(b): provided that, unless otherwise required by a Final Determination, no such Adjustment Request shall be filed for any Tax Period that begins on or before the Distribution Date (including any Straddle Period) to the extent that any such Adjustment Request (i) reasonably would be expected to materially adversely impact the other Party or (ii) is inconsistent with past practice, in each case, without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed.

 

14


Section 3.4 Tax Contests.

(a) Notice. Merck or Organon, as applicable, shall, within fifteen (15) business days of becoming aware of any Tax Contest that reasonably could be expected to cause the other Party to have an indemnification obligation or Refund under this Agreement or a Foreign Tax Redetermination obligation, notify the other Party of such Tax Contest and thereafter promptly forward or make available to the Indemnifying Party copies of notices and communications relating to the relevant portions of such Tax Contest. A failure by an Indemnitee to give notice as provided in this Section 3.4(a) (or to promptly forward any such notices or communications) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced by such failure.

(b) Control of Tax Contests.

(i) Separate Returns. In the case of any Tax Contest with respect to any Tax Item reported on a Separate Return, the Party having liability for the Tax pursuant to Article II hereof shall have exclusive control over the Tax Contest, including exclusive authority with respect to any settlement of such Tax liability, subject to Section 3.4(b)(iii) and Section 3.4(b)(iv) below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Merck shall be entitled to control exclusively the conduct and settlement of any Tax Contest with respect to any Non-Income Tax Item reported on a Merck Separate Return if Merck notifies Organon that (notwithstanding the rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement) Merck waives its right to indemnity with respect to such Non-Income Tax Item and agrees to pay (and indemnify Organon against) any Taxes resulting from such Tax Contest. Organon shall be entitled to control exclusively the conduct and settlement of any Tax Contest with respect to any Non-Income Tax Item reported on an Organon Separate Return if Organon notifies Merck that (notwithstanding the rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement) Organon waives its right to indemnity with respect to such Non-Income Tax Item and agrees to pay (and indemnify Merck against) any Taxes resulting from such Tax Contest.

(ii) Joint Returns. In the case of any Tax Contest with respect to any Tax Item reported on a Joint Return, Merck shall have exclusive control over the Tax Contest, including exclusive authority with respect to any settlement of such Tax liability, subject to Section 3.4(b)(iii) and Section 3.4(b)(iv) below.

(iii) Settlement Rights. The Controlling Party shall have the sole right to contest, litigate, compromise and settle any Tax Contest without obtaining the prior consent of the Non-Controlling Party. Unless waived by the Parties in writing, in connection with any potential adjustment in a Tax Contest as a result of which adjustment the Non-Controlling Party may reasonably be expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to the Controlling Party under this Agreement: (i) the Controlling Party shall keep the Non-Controlling Party informed in a timely manner of all actions taken or proposed to be taken by the Controlling Party with respect to such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; (ii) the Controlling Party shall timely provide the Non-Controlling Party copies of any written materials relating to such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest received from any Tax Authority; (iii) the Controlling Party shall timely provide the Non-Controlling Party with copies of any correspondence or filings submitted to any Tax Authority or judicial authority in connection with such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; (iv) the Controlling Party shall consult with the Non-Controlling Party and offer the Non-Controlling Party a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; and (v) the Controlling Party shall defend such Tax Contest diligently and in good faith. The failure of the Controlling Party to take any action specified in the preceding sentence with respect to the Non-Controlling Party shall not relieve the Non-Controlling Party of any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Non-Controlling Party was actually harmed by such failure,

 

15


and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Controlling Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party. In the case of any Tax Contest described in this Section 3.4(b)(iii) or Section 3.4(b)(iv), “Controlling Party” means the Party entitled to control the Tax Contest under Section 3.4(b)(i) or Section 3.4(b)(ii), as the case may be, and “Non-Controlling Party” means the other Party.

(iv) Tax Contest Participation. Unless waived by the Parties in writing, the Controlling Party shall provide the Non-Controlling Party with written notice reasonably in advance of, and the Non-Controlling Party shall have the right to attend, any formally scheduled meetings with Tax Authorities or hearings or proceedings before any judicial authorities in connection with any potential adjustment in a Tax Contest pursuant to which the Non-Controlling Party may reasonably be expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to the Controlling Party under this Agreement. The failure of the Controlling Party to provide any notice specified in this Section 3.4(b)(iv) to the Non-Controlling Party shall not relieve the Non-Controlling Party of any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Non-Controlling Party was actually harmed by such failure, and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Controlling Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party.

(c) Power of Attorney. Each member of the Organon Group shall execute and deliver to Merck (or such member of the Merck Group as Merck shall designate) any power of attorney or other similar document reasonably requested by Merck (or such designee) in connection with any Tax Contest (as to which Merck is the Controlling Party) described in this Section 3.4. Each member of the Merck Group shall execute and deliver to Organon (or such member of the Organon Group as Organon shall designate) any power of attorney or other similar document requested by Organon (or such designee) in connection with any Tax Contest (as to which Organon is the Controlling Party) described in this Section 3.4.

Section 3.5 Reliance by Merck. If any member of the Organon Group supplies information to a member of the Merck Group in connection with a Tax liability and an officer of a member of the Merck Group signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request of such member of the Merck Group identifying the information being so relied upon, the chief financial officer of Organon (or any officer or Vice President of Tax of Organon as designated by the chief financial officer of Organon) shall certify in writing that to his or her knowledge (based upon consultation with appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and complete.

Section 3.6 Reliance by Organon.

Subject to Section 2.10(c), if any member of the Merck Group supplies information to a member of the Organon Group in connection with a Tax liability and an officer of a member of the Organon Group signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request of such member of the Organon Group identifying the information being so relied upon, the chief financial officer of Merck (or any officer or Vice President of Tax of Merck as designated by the chief financial officer of Merck) shall certify in writing that to his or her knowledge (based upon consultation with appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and complete.

 

16


Section 3.7 Tax Incentives.

Merck or Organon, as applicable, shall (i) provide written notice to the other Party describing any action that could reasonably be expected to cause the other Party to lose all or any part of, or otherwise affect the terms and conditions of, any Tax Incentive granted to the other Party by any Tax Authority, or that could reasonably be expected to cause the other Party to repay any Tax Incentive previously granted by any Tax Authority and (ii) shall consult with the other Party regarding any such proposed action reasonably in advance of taking such action.

Section 3.8 Expenses and Applicability.

After the Distribution, each Party shall bear its own expenses in the course of any Tax Contest, other than expenses included in the definition of Tax-Related Losses.

ARTICLE IV

TAX-FREE STATUS

Section 4.1 Tax Opinions/Rulings and Representation Letters.

Each of Merck and Organon hereby represents and agrees that: (i) it has or will read the Representation Letters deliverable to the applicable Tax Advisors in connection with the rendering of the Tax Opinions prior to the date submitted and has or will read any Representation Letter (including any Ruling Request) delivered to any Tax Authority in connection with obtaining any Tax Ruling prior to the date of this Agreement, and (ii) subject to any qualifications therein, all information contained in such Representation Letters and Ruling Requests that concerns or relates to such Party or its Affiliates will be true, correct, and complete.

Section 4.2 Restrictions on Organon.

(a) Organon agrees that it will not take or fail to take, or permit any member of the Organon Group to take or fail to take, any action where such action or failure to act would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue any material, information, covenant, or representation in any Representation Letters or Tax Opinions/Rulings. Organon agrees that it will not take or fail to take, or permit any member of the Organon Group to take or fail to take, any action which prevents or could reasonably be expected to prevent: (i) the Tax-Free Status, or (ii) any transaction contemplated by the Separation Agreement which is intended by the Parties to be tax-free (including, but not limited to, those transactions which any Tax Authority has ruled qualify for tax-free treatment in a Tax Ruling) from so qualifying, including, in the case of Organon, issuing any Organon Capital Stock that would prevent the Distribution from qualifying as a tax-free distribution within the meaning of Section 355 of the Code.

(b) Organon agrees that, from the date hereof until the first day after the two-year anniversary of the Distribution Date, it will: (i) maintain its status as a company engaged in the Active Trade or Business for purposes of Section 355(b)(2) of the Code, (ii) not engage in any transaction that would result in it ceasing to be a company engaged in the Active Trade or Business for purposes of Section 355(b)(2) of the Code, (iii) cause each Organon Affiliate whose Active Trade or Business is relied upon in the Tax Opinions/Rulings for purposes of qualifying a transaction as tax-free pursuant to Section 355 of the Code or other Tax Law to maintain its status as a company engaged in such Active Trade or Business for purposes of Code Section 355(b)(2) of the Code and any such other applicable Tax Law, and (iv) not engage in any transaction or permit any Organon Affiliate to engage in any transaction that would result in an Organon Affiliate described in clause (iii) hereof ceasing to be a company engaged in the relevant Active Trade or Business for purposes of Section 355(b)(2) or such other applicable Tax Law, in each case, taking into account Section 355(b)(3) of the Code for purposes of clauses (i) through (iv) hereof.

(c) Organon agrees that, from the date hereof until the first day after the two-year anniversary of the Distribution Date, it shall not (and shall not cause or permit of its Affiliates to), in a single transaction or series of transactions:

 

17


(i) enter into any Proposed Acquisition Transaction or, to the extent Organon has the right to prohibit any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, permit any Proposed Acquisition Transaction to occur (whether by (A) redeeming rights under a shareholder rights plan, (B) finding a tender offer to be a “permitted offer” under any such plan or otherwise causing any such plan to be inapplicable or neutralized with respect to any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, (C) approving any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, whether for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL or any similar corporate statute, any “fair price” or other provision of Organon’s charter or bylaws or otherwise, or (D) amending its certificate of incorporation to declassify its Board of Directors or approving any such amendment, or otherwise),

(ii) except as provided in Exhibit G, liquidate, partially liquidate, merge or consolidate with any other Person,

(iii) sell or transfer (other than sales or transfers of inventory in the ordinary course of business) all or substantially all of the assets that were transferred to Organon or an Organon Affiliate as part of the Separation or sell or transfer (or cause or permit to be transferred) twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the gross assets of any Active Trade or Business or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the consolidated gross assets of Organon and its Affiliates (such percentages to be measured based on fair market value as of the Distribution Date),

(iv) enter into, permit, approve of or fail to take any action within its control to prevent any transactions relating to any Organon Capital Stock, or rights to acquire Organon Capital Stock, including any redemption or other repurchase (directly or through an Affiliate) of Organon Capital Stock, other than (A) issuances of stock that satisfy the requirements of Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions in connection with a Person’s performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(d), or (B) such transactions that are undertaken in a manner consistent with (I) Section 4.05(l)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30 (as in effect prior to the amendment of such Revenue Procedure by Revenue Procedure 2003-48 and prior to being superseded by Revenue Procedure 2017-52) or (II) the Representation Letters,

(v) amend its certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), or take any other action, whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise, affecting the voting rights of Organon Capital Stock (including, without limitation, through the conversion of one class of Organon Capital Stock into another class of Organon Capital Stock), or

(vi) take any other action or actions (including any action or transaction that would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with any representation made in the Representation Letters or the Tax Opinions/Rulings) which in the aggregate (and taking into account any other transactions described in this subparagraph (c)) would be reasonably likely to have the effect of causing or permitting one or more Persons (whether or not acting in concert) to acquire directly or indirectly stock representing a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest in Organon or otherwise jeopardize the Tax-Free Status unless, prior to taking any such action set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi), (A) Organon shall have requested that Merck obtain a Tax Ruling in accordance with Section 4.4(b) and Section 4.4(d) of this Agreement to the effect that such transaction will not affect the Tax-Free Status and Merck shall have received such a Tax Ruling in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Merck (and in determining whether a Tax Ruling is reasonably satisfactory, Merck may consider, among other factors, the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions and management’s representations made in connection with such Tax Ruling), (B) Organon shall provide Merck with an Unqualified Tax Opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Merck (and in determining whether an opinion is reasonably satisfactory, Merck may consider, among other factors, the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions and management’s representations if used as a basis for the opinion) or (C) Merck shall have waived the requirement to obtain such Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, Organon shall be liable for any Tax actually incurred as a result of any action or failure to act described in Section 4.2(c)(ii) through Section 4.2(c)(vi), as provided in Section 2.5 and Section 4.5.

 

18


(d) Certain Issuances of Organon Capital Stock. If Organon proposes to enter into any Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction or, to the extent Organon has the right to prohibit any Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction, proposes to permit any Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction to occur, in each case, during the period from the date hereof until the first day after the two-year anniversary of the Distribution Date, Organon shall provide Merck, no later than ten (10) days following the signing of any written agreement with respect to the Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction, with a written description of such transaction (including the type and amount of Organon Capital Stock to be issued in such transaction) and a certificate of the Board of Directors of Organon to the effect that the Section 4.2(d) Acquisition Transaction is not a Proposed Acquisition Transaction or any other transaction to which the requirements of Section 4.2(c) apply (a “Board Certificate”).

(e) Organon Internal Restructuring. Organon shall provide written notice to Merck describing any internal restructuring (including by making or revoking any election under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3) involving a member of the Organon Group or any contribution, sale or other transfer of any of the assets directly or indirectly contributed to Organon as described in the Separation Agreement, to Organon or any of its Affiliates, apart from sales in the ordinary course of business proposed to be taken during or with respect to any Tax Period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date and ending on or prior to the two-year anniversary of such Distribution Date, and shall consult with Merck regarding any such proposed actions reasonably in advance of taking any such proposed actions and shall consider in good faith any comments from Merck relating thereto.

(f) Gain Recognition Agreements. Organon shall not (i) take any action (including, but not limited to, the sale or disposition of any stock, securities, or other assets), (ii) permit any member of the Organon Group to take any such action, (iii) fail to take any action, or (iv) permit any member of the Organon Group to fail to take any action, in each case that would cause Merck or any member of the Merck Group to recognize gain under any Gain Recognition Agreement. In addition, Organon shall file, and shall cause any member of the Organon Group to file, any Gain Recognition Agreement reasonably requested by Merck which Gain Recognition Agreement is determined by Merck to be necessary so as to (i) allow for or preserve the tax-free or tax-deferred nature, in whole or part, of any Transaction, or (ii) avoid Merck or any member of the Merck Group recognizing gain under any Gain Recognition Agreement.

Section 4.3 Restrictions on Merck. Merck agrees that it will not take or fail to take, or permit any member of the Merck Group to take or fail to take, any action where such action or failure to act would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue any material, information, covenant or representation in any Representation Letters or Tax Opinions/Rulings, and where any such action or failure to act would give rise to Taxes for which Merck is not already liable under this Agreement. Merck agrees that it will not take or fail to take, or permit any member of the Merck Group to take or fail to take, any action which prevents or could reasonably be expected to prevent: (i) the Tax-Free Status, or (ii) any transaction contemplated by the Separation Agreement which is intended by the Parties to be tax-free (including, but not limited to, those transactions which any Tax Authority has ruled qualify for tax-free treatment in a Tax Ruling) from so qualifying, including, in the case of Merck, issuing any Merck Capital Stock that would prevent the Distribution from qualifying as a tax-free distribution within the meaning of Section 355 of the Code, in each case where any such action or failure to act would give rise to Taxes for which Merck is not already liable under this Agreement.

 

19


Section 4.4 Procedures Regarding Opinions and Rulings.

(a) If Organon notifies Merck that it desires to take one of the actions described in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 4.2(c) (a “Notified Action”), Merck and Organon shall reasonably cooperate to attempt to obtain the Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion referred to in Section 4.2(c), unless Merck shall have waived the requirement to obtain such Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion.

(b) Merck agrees that at the reasonable request of Organon pursuant to Section 4.2(c), Merck shall cooperate with Organon and use its reasonable best efforts to seek to obtain, as expeditiously as possible, a Tax Ruling from the IRS or other applicable Tax Authority or an Unqualified Tax Opinion for the purpose of permitting Organon to take the Notified Action. Further, in no event shall Merck be required to file any Ruling Request under this Section 4.4(b) unless Organon represents that: (i) it has read the Ruling Request, and (ii) all information and representations, if any, relating to any member of the Organon Group, contained in the Ruling Request documents are (subject to any qualifications therein) true, correct, and complete. Organon shall reimburse Merck for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Merck Group in obtaining a Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion requested by Organon within ten (10) business days after receiving an invoice from Merck therefor.

(c) Merck shall have the right to obtain a Tax Ruling or any Tax opinion (including an Unqualified Tax Opinion) at any time in its sole and absolute discretion. If Merck determines to obtain a Tax Ruling or an Unqualified Tax Opinion, Organon shall (and shall cause each Affiliate of Organon to) cooperate with Merck and take any and all actions reasonably requested by Merck in connection with obtaining the Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion (including, without limitation, by making any representation or covenant or providing any materials or information requested by the IRS or Tax Advisor). Merck shall reimburse Organon for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Organon Group in obtaining a Tax Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion requested by Merck within ten (10) business days after receiving an invoice from Organon therefor.

(d) Organon hereby agrees that Merck shall have sole and exclusive control over the process of obtaining any Tax Ruling, and that only Merck shall apply for a Tax Ruling. In connection with obtaining a Tax Ruling pursuant to Section 4.4(b): (i) Merck shall keep Organon informed in a timely manner of all material actions taken or proposed to be taken by Merck in connection therewith; (ii) Merck shall (A) reasonably in advance of the submission of any Ruling Request documents provide Organon with a draft copy thereof, (B) reasonably consider Organon’s comments on such draft copy, and (C) provide Organon with a final copy; and (iii) Merck shall provide Organon with notice reasonably in advance of, and Organon shall have the right to attend, any formally scheduled meetings with the IRS (subject to the approval of the IRS) that relate to such Tax Ruling. Neither Organon nor any Affiliates of Organon shall seek any guidance from the IRS or any other Tax Authority (whether written, verbal or otherwise) at any time concerning the Transactions.

Section 4.5 Liability for Tax-Related Losses.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, subject to Section 4.5(c), Organon shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Merck and each of its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors and employees from and against, one hundred percent (100%) of any Tax-Related Losses that are attributable to or result from any one or more of the following: (i) the acquisition (other than pursuant to the Transactions or any other disposition of Organon Stock by Merck) of all or a portion of the stock and/or assets of Organon and/or its subsidiaries by any means whatsoever by any Person, (ii) any negotiations, understandings, agreements or

 

20


arrangements by Organon with respect to transactions or events (including, without limitation, stock issuances, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or otherwise, option grants, capital contributions or acquisitions, or a series of such transactions or events) that cause the Distribution to be treated as part of a plan pursuant to which one or more Persons acquire directly or indirectly stock of Organon representing a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest therein, (iii) any action or failure to act by Organon or a member of the Organon Group after the Distribution (including, without limitation, any amendment to Organon’s certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise) affecting the voting rights of Organon stock (including, without limitation, through the conversion of one class of Organon Capital Stock into another class of Organon Capital Stock), (iv) any act or failure to act by Organon or any Organon Affiliate described in Section 4.2 (regardless whether such act or failure to act is covered by a Tax Ruling, Unqualified Tax Opinion or waiver described in clause (A), (B) or (C) of Section 4.2(c) or a Board Certificate described in Section 4.2(d)) or (v) any breach by Organon of its agreement and representations set forth in Section 4.1.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, subject to Section 4.5(c), Merck shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Organon and its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors and employees from and against, one hundred percent (100%) of any Tax-Related Losses that are attributable to, or result from any one or more of the following: (i) the acquisition (other than pursuant to the Transactions) of all or a portion of the stock and/or assets of Merck and/or its subsidiaries by any means whatsoever by any Person, (ii) any negotiations, understandings, agreements or arrangements by Merck with respect to transactions or events (including, without limitation, stock issuances, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or otherwise, option grants, capital contributions or acquisitions, or a series of such transactions or events) that cause the Distribution to be treated as part of a plan pursuant to which one or more Persons acquire directly or indirectly stock of Merck representing a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest therein, (iii) any action or failure to act by Merck or a member of the Merck Group after the Distribution (including, without limitation, any amendment to Merck’s certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise) affecting the voting rights of Merck stock (including, without limitation, through the conversion of one class of Merck Capital Stock into another class of Merck Capital Stock), (iv) any act or failure to act by Merck or any Merck Affiliate described in Section 4.3, or (v) any breach by Merck of its agreement and representations set forth in Section 4.1.

(c) To the extent that any Tax-Related Loss is subject to indemnity under both Section 4.5(a) and Section 4.5(b), responsibility for such Tax-Related Loss shall be shared by Merck and Organon according to relative fault.

(d) If the indemnification obligations resulting from the failure of the Transactions to have Tax-Free Status are not otherwise addressed by any of the provisions in this Section 4.5, any Tax-Related Losses resulting therefrom shall be allocated to (i) Merck in an amount equal to such Tax-Related Loss multiplied by the Merck Liability Percentage and (ii) to Organon in an amount equal to such Tax-Related Loss multiplied by the Organon Liability Percentage.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in Section 4.5(b) or Section 4.5(c)(i) or any other provision of this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, with respect to (I) any Tax-Related Loss resulting from Section 355(e) of the Code (other than as a result of an acquisition of a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest in Merck, or any predecessor or successor thereto, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-8) and (II) any other Tax-Related Loss resulting (for the absence of doubt, in whole or in part) from an acquisition (other than pursuant to the Transactions) after the Distribution of any stock or assets of Organon (or any Organon Affiliate or predecessor or successor thereto, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-8) by any means whatsoever by any Person or any action or failure to act by Organon affecting the voting rights of Organon stock, Organon shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Merck and its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors and employees from and against, one hundred percent (100%) of such Tax-Related Loss.

 

21


(f) Notwithstanding anything in Section 4.5(a) or Section 4.5(c)(ii) or any other provision of this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, with respect to (I) any Tax-Related Loss resulting from Section 355(e) of the Code (other than as a result of an acquisition of a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest in Organon or any predecessor or successor thereto, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-8) and (II) any other Tax-Related Loss resulting (for the absence of doubt, in whole or in part) from an acquisition (other than pursuant to the Transactions) after the Distribution of any stock or assets of Merck (or any Merck Affiliate or predecessor or successor thereto, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-8) by any means whatsoever by any Person or any action or failure to act by Merck affecting the voting rights of Merck stock, Merck shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Organon and its Affiliates and each of their -respective officers, directors and employees from and against, one hundred percent (100%) of such Tax-Related Loss.

Section 4.6 Reporting, Protective Section 336(e) Election.

(a) Merck and Organon shall (i) timely file any appropriate information and statements (including as required by Section 6045B of the Code and Section 1.355-5 and, to the extent applicable, Section 1.368-3 of the Treasury Regulations) to report each step of the Transactions as qualifying for its Tax-Free Status and (ii) absent a change of law or an applicable Final Determination otherwise, not take any position on any Tax Return that is inconsistent with such qualification.

(b) Each Party covenants and agrees that it will make a protective election under Section 336(e) of the Code (a “Section 336(e) Election”) with respect to the Transactions, and that:

(i) Merck, Organon and their respective Affiliates shall cooperate in making the Section 336(e) Election, including by filing any statements, amending any Tax Returns or taking such other actions reasonably necessary to carry out the Section 336(e) Election;

(ii) if the Distribution fails to qualify (in whole or in part) for Tax-Free Status and Organon or any member of the Organon Group realizes an increase in Tax basis as a result of the Section 336(e) Election (the “Section 336(e) Tax Basis”), then the cash Tax savings realized by Organon and each member of the Organon Group as a result of the Section 336(e) Tax Basis shall be shared between Merck and Organon in the same proportion as the Taxes giving rise to the Section 336(e) Tax Basis were borne by Merck and Organon (after giving effect to the indemnification obligations in this Agreement); and

(iii) to the extent the Section 336(e) Election becomes effective, each Party agrees not to take any position (and to cause each of its Affiliates not to take any position) that is inconsistent with the Section 336(e) Election on any Tax Return, in connection with any Tax Contest or otherwise, except as may be required by a Final Determination.

ARTICLE V

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

Section 5.1 Cooperation.

(a) Each Party shall cooperate with reasonable requests from the other Party in matters covered by this Agreement, including in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, the calculation of Taxes, the determination of the proper financial accounting treatment of Tax Items and the conduct and settlement of Tax Contests. Such cooperation shall include:

 

22


(i) retaining until the expiration of the relevant statute of limitations (including extensions) records, documents, accounting data, computer data and other information (“Records”) necessary for the preparation, filing, review, audit, or defense of all Tax Returns relevant to an obligation, right, or liability of either Party under this Agreement;

(ii) providing the other Party reasonable access to Records and to its personnel (ensuring their cooperation) and premises during normal business hours to the extent relevant to an obligation, right or liability of the other Party under this Agreement or otherwise reasonably required by the other Party to complete Tax Returns or to compute the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement; and

(iii) notifying the other Party prior to disposing of any relevant Records and affording the other Party the opportunity to take possession or make copies of such Records at its discretion.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other agreement, (i) neither Merck nor any Merck Affiliate shall be required to provide Organon or any Organon Affiliate or any other Person access to or copies of any information or procedures (including the proceedings of any Tax Contest) other than information or procedures that relate to Organon, the business or assets of Organon or any Organon Affiliate and (ii) in no event shall Merck or any Merck Affiliate be required to provide Organon, any Organon Affiliate or any other Person access to or copies of any information if such action could reasonably be expected to result in the waiver of any Privilege. In addition, in the event that Merck determines that the provision of any information to Organon or any Organon Affiliate could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or agreement or waive any Privilege, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to permit compliance with its obligations under this Agreement in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.

(c) No member of the Organon Group shall provide access to, copies of, or otherwise disclose to any Person any documentation relating to Taxes allocated under this Agreement existing as of the date hereof to which Privilege may reasonably be asserted without the prior written consent of Merck, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

Section 5.2 Interest.

Any payments required pursuant to this Agreement that are not made within the time period specified in this Agreement shall bear interest from the end of that period. Interest required to be paid pursuant to this Agreement shall, unless otherwise specified, be computed at the rate and in the manner provided in the Code for interest on underpayments and overpayments, as applicable, for the relevant period.

Section 5.3 Indemnification Claims and Payments.

(a) An Indemnitee shall be entitled to make a claim for payment with respect to Taxes under this Agreement when the Indemnitee determines that it is entitled to such payment and is able to calculate with reasonably accuracy the amount of such payment. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.3(b), the Indemnitee shall provide to the Indemnifying Party notice of such claim within sixty (60) days of the first date on which it so becomes entitled to make such claim. Such notice shall include a description of such claim and a detailed calculation of the amount claimed.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.3(b), the Indemnifying Party shall make the claimed payment to the Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after receiving such notice, unless the Indemnifying Party reasonably disputes its liability for, or the amount of, such payment.

 

23


(c) A failure by an Indemnitee to give notice as provided in Section 3.3(b) or 5.3(a) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced by such failure.

(d) Nothing in this Section 5.3 shall prejudice a Party’s right to receive payments pursuant to Section 3.3(b).

Section 5.4 Treatment of Indemnity Payments.

In the absence of any change in Tax treatment under the Code or other applicable Tax Law and except as provided in Section 5.2, any payments made by a Party under this Agreement shall be reported for Tax purposes by the payor and the recipient as distributions or capital contributions, as appropriate, occurring immediately before the Distribution (but only to the extent that the payment does not relate to a Tax allocated to the payor in accordance with Section 1552 of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-33(d) (or under corresponding principles of other applicable Tax Laws)) or as payments of an assumed or retained liability.

Section 5.5 Tax Gross-Up.

If (i) notwithstanding the manner in which any payment under this Agreement is reported, there is a Final Determination with respect to the Tax liability of a Party as a result of its receipt of a payment pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) any deduction or withholding is required by law to be made from any payment (other than an interest payment) under this Agreement, such payment shall be appropriately adjusted so that the amount of such payment, reduced by the amount of all Income Taxes payable with respect to the receipt thereof or the amount of all deduction or withholding required by law with respect to such payment, as applicable (in each case, taking into account all correlative Tax Benefits resulting from the payment of such Income Taxes), shall equal the amount of the payment which the Party receiving such payment would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 5.6 Dispute Resolution.

(a) Discussion. The Parties will try, and they will cause their respective Group members to try, to resolve in an amicable manner all disagreements and misunderstandings connected with their respective rights and obligations under this Agreement, including any amendments hereto. In furtherance thereof, in the event of any dispute or disagreement (a “Dispute”) between any member of the Merck Group and any member of the Organon Group as to the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement or the performance of obligations hereunder, the Tax departments of the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve the Dispute.

(b) Escalation. If such good faith negotiations do not resolve the Dispute, then the matter, upon written request of either Party, will be referred for resolution to representatives of the Parties at a senior level of management of the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article VII of the Separation Agreement.

(c) Referral to Tax Advisor. If the Parties are not able to resolve the Dispute through the escalation process referred to above, then the matter will be referred to a Tax Advisor acceptable to each of the Parties to act as an arbitrator in order to resolve the Dispute. In the event that the Parties are unable to agree upon a Tax Advisor within fifteen (15) business days following the completion of the escalation process, the Parties shall each separately retain an independent, nationally recognized law or accounting firm (each, a “Preliminary Tax Advisor”), which Preliminary Tax Advisors shall jointly select a Tax Advisor on behalf of the Parties to act as an arbitrator in order to resolve the Dispute. The Tax

 

24


Advisor may, in its discretion, obtain the services of any third-party appraiser, accounting firm or consultant that the Tax Advisor deems necessary to assist it in resolving such disagreement. The Tax Advisor shall furnish written notice to the Parties of its resolution of any such Dispute as soon as practical, but in any event no later than thirty (30) business days after its acceptance of the matter for resolution. Any such resolution by the Tax Advisor will be conclusive and binding on the Parties. Following receipt of the Tax Advisor’s written notice to the Parties of its resolution of the Dispute, the Parties shall each take or cause to be taken any action necessary to implement such resolution of the Tax Advisor. Each Party shall pay its own fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses of its representatives) incurred in connection with the referral of the matter to the Tax Advisor (and the Preliminary Tax Advisors, if any). All fees and expenses of the Tax Advisor (and the Preliminary Tax Advisors, if any) in connection with such referral shall be shared equally by the Parties.

(d) Injunctive Relief. Nothing in this Section 5.6 will prevent either Party from seeking injunctive relief if any delay resulting from the efforts to resolve the Dispute through the process set forth above could result in serious and irreparable injury to either Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Merck and Organon are the only members of their respective Group entitled to commence a Dispute resolution procedure under this Agreement, and each of Merck and Organon will cause its respective Group members not to commence any Dispute resolution procedure other than through such party as provided in this Section 5.6.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole discretion of Merck without the approval of any Person, including Organon. In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall become null and void and no Party, nor any of its directors, officers or employees, shall have any Liability of any kind to any Person by reason of this Agreement. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.

Section 6.2 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power; Facsimile Signatures.

(a) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.

(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the exhibits, schedules and annexes hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties and their subsidiaries with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties or their subsidiaries other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

(c) Corporate Power. Merck represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each Merck subsidiary, and Organon represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each Organon subsidiary as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

 

25


(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

(d) Signatures and Delivery. Each Party acknowledges that it and its subsidiaries and the other Party and its subsidiaries may execute this Agreement by manual, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email or other electronic delivery in portable document format (PDF) or other electronic format shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement. Each Party (including on behalf of its subsidiaries) expressly adopts and confirms a stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email or other electronic delivery in portable document format (PDF) or other electronic format) made in its name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it shall not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party or party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it shall as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

Section 6.3 Governing Law.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of the choice of laws and principles of the State of Delaware, as to all matters, including matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

Section 6.4 Assignability.

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and the parties thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 6.5 Third Party Beneficiaries.

Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of an Indemnitee under this Agreement, (a) the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective subsidiaries and their permitted successors and assigns, and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties and their respective subsidiaries, and their permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder; and (b) there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

Section 6.6 Notices.

All notices, and to the extent applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by e-mail (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice):

 

26


If to Merck:

Merck & Co., Inc.

2000 Galloping Hill Road

Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033

Attention: Sunil Patel, SVP, Business Development

E-mail: sunil_patel@merck.com

With a copy to:

Merck & Co., Inc.

2000 Galloping Hill Road

Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033

E-mail: office.secretary@merck.com

If to Organon:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Office of Secretary

E-mail: secretaryoffice@organon.com

Either Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

Section 6.7 Severability.

In the event that any one or more of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and the Parties shall (and shall cause their applicable subsidiaries to) use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable terms or provisions into this Agreement which, insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the Parties. Any term or provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part, degree or within certain jurisdictions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable to the extent consistent with the intent of the parties as reflected by this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party waives any term or provision of law which renders any term or provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.

Section 6.8 Force Majeure.

No Party or other Person shall be deemed in default of this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly provided herein and without limiting the generality of the provisions hereof, for failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party or other Person claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide notice to the other Party or Parties of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

27


Section 6.9 No Set-Off.

Except as set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any of its subsidiaries shall have any right of set off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Party or any of its subsidiaries arising out of this Agreement.

Section 6.10 Headings.

The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 6.11 Survival of Covenants.

Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement, and liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein or therein, shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

Section 6.12 Subsidiaries and Employees.

Merck shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a Merck subsidiary (including the employees thereof) and Organon shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by an Organon subsidiary (including the employees thereof).

Section 6.13 Waivers.

Waiver by either Party or any of its subsidiaries of any default by the other Party or any of its subsidiaries of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party or Person of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party or Person. No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party or relevant subsidiary against whom it is sought to be enforced. No failure or delay of any Party (or any of its subsidiaries) in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

Section 6.14 Amendments.

No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed amended, supplemented or modified unless such amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of both Parties or their relevant subsidiaries, as the case may be.

 

28


Section 6.15 Interpretation.

Words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires. The terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. Unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days. References herein to this Agreement or any Transaction Document shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such Transaction Document as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified. References to the performance, discharge or fulfillment of any Liability in accordance with its terms shall have meaning only to the extent such Liability has terms. If the Liability does not have terms, the reference shall mean performance, discharge or fulfillment of such Liability.

Section 6.16 Specific Performance.

In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) of its rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Proceeding for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.

Section 6.17 Mutual Drafting.

This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.

Section 6.18 Confidentiality.

Each Party hereby acknowledges that confidential information of such Party or its subsidiaries may be exposed to employees and agents of the other Party or its subsidiaries as a result of the activities contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party agrees, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, that such Party’s obligations with respect to information and data of the other Party or its subsidiaries shall be governed by the Separation Agreement.

 

29


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

MERCK & CO., INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert M. Davis

Name: Robert M. Davis
Title: President
ORGANON & CO.
By:  

/s/ Kevin Ali

Name: Kevin Ali
Title: Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.2

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

MERCK & CO., INC.

AND

ORGANON & CO.

DATED AS OF JUNE 2, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.01 Defined Terms

     1  

ARTICLE II GENERAL PRINCIPLES

     8  

Section 2.01 Allocation of Liabilities

     8  

Section 2.02 Employment with Organon

     10  

Section 2.03 Establishment of Organon Plans

     12  

Section 2.04 Post-Distribution Organon Employees

     13  

Section 2.05 Collective Bargaining

     14  

ARTICLE III U.S. QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

     14  

Section 3.01 Pension Plan

     14  

Section 3.02 Savings Plan

     15  

Section 3.03 Supplemental Pension Plan

     16  

Section 3.04 Deferred Compensation Plan

     16  

Section 3.05 Failure to Notify of Employment Termination

     17  

ARTICLE IV NON-U.S. RETIREMENT PLANS

     17  

Section 4.01 Establishment of Non-U.S. Retirement Plans and Transfers of Assets and Liabilities

     17  

ARTICLE V WELFARE AND FRINGE BENEFIT PLANS

     19  

Section 5.01 Health and Welfare Plans.

     19  

Section 5.02 COBRA

     22  

Section 5.03 Vacation, Holidays and Leaves of Absence

     22  

Section 5.04 Severance and Unemployment Compensation

     23  

Section 5.05 Workers’ Compensation

     23  

ARTICLE VI EQUITY, INCENTIVE, AND DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

     23  

Section 6.01 Equity Incentive Programs

     23  

Section 6.02 Annual Bonus

     27  

Section 6.03 Merck Deferred Stock Units

     28  

Section 6.04 Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan

     28  

ARTICLE VII POST-DISTRIBUTION COVENANTS

     29  

Section 7.01 Non-Hire; Non-Solicit

     29  

ARTICLE VIII TAXES

     29  

Section 8.01 Reporting, Withholding and Deductions

     29  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     30  

Section 9.01 Transfer of Records and Information

     30  

Section 9.02 Cooperation

     31  

Section 9.03 Employee Agreements

     31  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

Section 9.04 Recoupment Assets

     31  

Section 9.05 Compliance

     31  

Section 9.06 Preservation of Rights

     31  

Section 9.07 Reimbursement

     31  

Section 9.08 Not a Change in Control

     32  

Section 9.09 Incorporation by Reference

     32  

Section 9.10 Limitation on Enforcement

     32  

Section 9.11 Further Assurances and Consents

     32  

Section 9.12 Third Party Consent

     33  

Section 9.13 Effect if Distribution Does Not Occur

     33  

Section 9.14 Disputes

     33  

Schedule 6.01(d) - Non-U.S. Equity Adjustment Exceptions

  

 

ii


This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT dated as of June 2, 2021, is by and between Merck & Co., Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Merck”) and Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (“Organon”) (each a “Party” and together, the “Parties”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merck has determined that it is appropriate and advisable to separate the Organon Business from the Merck Business (the “Spin-Off”);

WHEREAS, to achieve the foregoing, the Parties have executed a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”), which provides for, among other things, distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of the outstanding Merck Common Shares on the Record Date of all of the outstanding shares of Organon Common Stock, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and certain other agreements to facilitate and provide for the foregoing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, the Employees of the Organon Business are currently or were previously employed by the Merck Group and are expected to or have previously become Employees of the Organon Group in connection with the Spin-Off; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement describes the principal employment, compensation and employee benefit plan arrangements between the Parties in connection with the Spin-Off.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01    Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Separation and Distribution Agreement. The following capitalized terms as used in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth below unless otherwise specified herein:

Adjusted Merck Award” means a Merck Option, Merck PSU Award, or Merck RSU Award, as adjusted in accordance with Section 6.01(a).

Adjusted Merck Phantom Share” means a Merck Phantom Share, as adjusted in accordance with Section 3.04(c).

Adjusted Organon Stock Value” means the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Organon Price by (ii) the Distribution Ratio.

 

1


Affiliate” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or entity directly or indirectly controlled by the entity in question.

Agreement” means this Employee Matters Agreement and each of the Schedules hereto.

Applicable Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a).

Benefit Plan” means any (i) “employee benefit plan,” as defined in ERISA Section 3(3) (whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA); and (ii) employment, compensation, severance, salary continuation, bonus, thirteenth month, incentive, retirement, thrift, superannuation, savings, pension, workers’ compensation, termination benefit (including termination notice requirements), termination indemnity, other indemnification, supplemental unemployment benefit, redundancy pay, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock, “phantom” stock, performance share unit, restricted stock unit, other stock-based incentive, change in control, paid time off, perquisite, fringe benefit, vacation, disability, life, or other insurance, death benefit, hospitalization, medical, or other compensatory or benefit plan, program, fund, agreement, arrangement, or policy of any kind (whether written or oral, qualified or nonqualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic, currently effective or terminated), and any trust, escrow or similar agreement related thereto, whether or not funded, excluding any plan, program, fund, agreement, arrangement, or policy (other than for workers’ compensation Liabilities) that is mandated by and maintained solely pursuant to applicable Law.

COBRA” means the U.S. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

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

Core Benefits” means retirement, separation pay, paid time off, medical (excluding retiree medical), dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability plans or coverage.

Core Benefit Plans” means Benefit Plans offering any of the Core Benefits.

Core Merck Health and Welfare Plan” means a Health and Welfare Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Merck Group offering any of the Core Benefits.

Core Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan” means an Organon Benefit Plan established, maintained, or contributed to by the Organon Group that is primarily for the benefit of Employees or Former Employees who work primarily outside of the United States which offers any of the Core Benefits.

Core Organon Health and Welfare Plans” means a Health and Welfare Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Organon Group which offers any of the Core Benefits.

Employee” means an employee of the Merck Group or the Organon Group, as applicable, including any employee absent from work on account of long-term disability or workers’ compensation leave (in each case, unless treated as a separated employee for

 

2


employment purposes), vacation, jury duty, funeral leave, personal leave, sickness, short-term disability, military leave, family leave, pay continuation leave, or other approved leave of absence or for whom an obligation to recall, rehire or otherwise return to employment exists under a contractual obligation or Law.

Employee Agreement” means any employment contract, whether written or unwritten, between a member of the Merck Group and an Employee or Former Employee, including any standard form employee agreement customarily signed by certain Employees of the Merck Group and any other form of employment agreement, employment letter or notice with respect to the terms of employment between a member of the Merck Group and an Employee or Former Employee signed or otherwise effective under applicable local Law. The term Employee Agreement also includes any cash retention agreement.

Employee Recoupment Asset” means an employer’s right to repayment from an employee in respect of a tax equalization payment, sign-on bonus payment, relocation expense payment, tuition payment, reimbursement, loan, or other similar item, including any agreement related thereto.

Employment Tax” means withholding, payroll, social security, workers compensation, unemployment, disability and any similar tax imposed by any Tax Authority, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to the foregoing imposed on any taxpayer or consolidated, combined or unitary group of taxpayers.

ERISA” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Former Employee” means any individual whose employment with the Merck Group terminated on or prior to the Distribution Date, excluding any employee absent from work immediately prior to the Distribution Date on account of long-term disability or workers’ compensation leave (in each case, to the extent not treated as a separated employee for employment purposes), vacation, jury duty, funeral leave, personal leave, sickness, short-term disability, military leave, family leave, pay continuation leave, or other approved leave of absence or for whom an obligation to recall, rehire or otherwise return to employment exists under a contractual obligation or Law.

Health and Welfare Plan” means any Benefit Plan established or maintained to provide, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, medical, dental, prescription, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, death benefits, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, business travel accident insurance, employee assistance program, group legal services, wellness, cafeteria (including premium payment, health care flexible spending account, and dependent care flexible spending account components), travel reimbursement, transportation, vacation benefits, apprenticeship or other training programs, day care centers, or prepaid legal services benefits, including any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA Section 3(1)) that is not a severance plan.

Incurred Claim” means a Liability related to services or benefits provided under a Benefit Plan, and shall be deemed to be incurred: (i) with respect to medical, dental, vision, and

 

3


prescription drug benefits, upon the rendering of services giving rise to such Liability; (ii) with respect to death benefits, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and business travel accident insurance, upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to such Liability; (iii) with respect to disability benefits, upon the date of disability, as determined by the disability benefit insurance carrier or claim administrator, giving rise to such Liability; (iv) with respect to a period of continuous hospitalization, upon the date of admission to the hospital; and (v) with respect to tuition reimbursement or adoption assistance, upon completion of the requirements for such reimbursement or assistance, whichever is applicable.

Local Closing Transaction” means the local closing transaction involving a Deferred Organon Local Business.

Merck” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Merck Benefit Plan” means a Benefit Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Merck Group.

Merck Board” means the Merck board of directors.

Merck Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).

Merck Compensation & Benefits Committee” means the compensation and benefits committee of the Merck Board.

Merck Conversion Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Merck Pre-Spin Value by (ii) the Merck Post-Spin Value.

Merck DCP” means the Merck & Co., Inc. Deferral Program.

Merck Deferred Stock Unit” means a deferred unit (a.k.a. a phantom share) credited under a non-employee director’s Merck Common Stock account under the Merck Directors’ DCP.

Merck Directors’ DCP” means the Merck & Co., Inc. Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors’ Compensation.

Merck Group” means Merck and its Affiliates (excluding, after the Distribution, any member of the Organon Group).

Merck Health and Welfare Plan” means a Health and Welfare Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Merck Group.

Merck Pension Plan” means the Merck U.S. Pension Plan.

Merck Phantom Share” means a Merck common-stock-denominated investment pursuant to the Merck DCP.

 

4


Merck Pre-Spin Value” means the price per share of Merck Common Stock trading “regular-way” as reported on the NYSE at the close on the Distribution Date.

Merck Post-Spin Value” means the volume weighted average trading price per share of Merck Common Stock on the NYSE on the trading day immediately following the Distribution Date, as reported by Bloomberg.

Merck Retained Employee” means any Employee other than an Organon Employee.

Merck Retiree Health Care Plan” means the Merck Retiree Medical Plan.

Merck Savings Plan ” means the Merck US Savings Plan.

Merck SERP” means the MSD Supplemental Retirement Plan.

Merck Separation Plan” means the Merck U.S. Separation Benefits Plan.

Merck Stock Programs” means, collectively, (i) the Merck 2007 Incentive Stock Plan, (ii) the Merck & Co., Inc. 2010 Incentive Stock Plan, (iii) the Merck & Co., Inc. 2019 Incentive Stock Plan and (iv) any similar prior Merck plans and all sub-plans or equity plans related to any of the foregoing, together with any incentive compensation program or arrangement that governs the terms of equity-based incentive awards assumed by the Merck Group in connection with a corporate transaction and that is maintained by the Merck Group immediately prior to the Distribution Date, and any sub-plans established under those programs.

Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan” means a Merck Benefit Plan established, maintained, or contributed to by the Merck Group that is primarily for the benefit of Employees or Former Employees who work primarily outside of the United States.

Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan” means an Organon Benefit Plan established, maintained, or contributed to by the Organon Group that is primarily for the benefit of Employees or Former Employees who work primarily outside of the United States.

Non-U.S. Organon Employee” means an Organon Employee who works primarily outside of the United States.

Non-U.S. Health and Welfare Plan” means a Health and Welfare Plan established, maintained, or contributed to by the Merck Group or the Organon Group, as applicable, that is primarily for the benefit of Employees (including Former Employees, as appropriate) who work primarily outside of the United States.

Organon” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Organon Award” means an Organon Option, Organon PSU Award, or Organon RSU Award granted pursuant to Section 6.01.

Organon Benefit Plan” means each Benefit Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Organon Group, including, following the consummation of a Local Closing Transaction, each Benefit Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the applicable Deferred Organon Local Business.

 

5


Organon Board” means the Organon board of directors.

Organon Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).

Organon Conversion Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Merck Pre-Spin Value by (ii) the Adjusted Organon Stock Value.

Organon DCP” means the Organon & Co. U.S. Non-Qualified Savings Plan.

Organon Employee” means any Employee who is (i) employed by the Organon Group as of the Distribution Date, or (ii) a Post-Distribution Organon Employee.

Organon Equity Plan” means the Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan.

Organon Group” means Organon and its Affiliates.

Organon Health and Welfare Plan” means a Health and Welfare Plan sponsored by, maintained by, or contributed to by the Organon Group.

Organon Price” means the volume weighted average trading price per share of Organon Common Stock on the NYSE on the trading day immediately following the Distribution Date, as reported by Bloomberg.

Organon Retiree Liability” means that portion of the aggregate incremental cost of providing early retirement subsidies, service crediting bridges, and retiree healthcare benefits to Transferred Employees under the Merck Pension Plan, the Merck SERP and the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan, as described in Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 5.01(d) hereof, that is attributable to future service, with such aggregate incremental cost as determined based on reasonable estimates in the discretion of the actuaries designated by Merck to calculate such amounts.

Organon Savings Plan” means the Organon U.S. Savings Plan

Option” means (i) when immediately preceded by “Merck,” an option to purchase one or more Merck Common Shares granted under a Merck Stock Program and outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date (whether or not then vested or exercisable); (ii) when immediately preceded by “Adjusted Merck,” an option to purchase one or more Merck Common Shares adjusted in accordance with Section 6.01; and (iii) when immediately preceded by “Organon,” an option to purchase one or more shares of Organon Common Stock granted by Organon in accordance with Section 6.01.

Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Post-Distribution Organon Employee” means each Employee named as a Post-Distribution Organon Employee on a record maintained by Merck, which includes designated secondees from the Merck Group to the Organon Group and those Employees transferring only

 

6


upon a Local Closing Transaction if employed in connection with a Deferred Organon Local Business, including any Employee hired on or after the Distribution Date to the extent such Employee is primarily related to a Deferred Organon Local Business or is hired to replace any terminated or departing Employee who would have otherwise been a Post-Distribution Organon Employee.

PSU Award” means (i) when immediately preceded by “Merck,” a performance share unit award granted pursuant to a Merck Stock Program and outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date; (ii) when immediately preceded by “Adjusted Merck,” a performance share unit award granted pursuant to a Merck Stock Program adjusted in accordance with Section 6.01; and (iii) when immediately preceded by “Organon,” a performance share unit award granted by Organon in accordance with Section 6.01.

Regular Trading Hours” means the period beginning at 9:30 A.M. New York City time and ending 4:00 P.M. New York City time.

RSU Award” means (i) when immediately preceded by “Merck,” a restricted stock unit award granted pursuant to a Merck Stock Program and outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date; (ii) when immediately preceded by “Adjusted Merck,” a restricted stock unit award granted pursuant to a Merck Stock Program adjusted in accordance with Section 6.01 or Section 6.03; and (iii) when immediately preceded by “Organon,” a restricted stock unit award granted by Organon in accordance with Section 6.01 or Section 6.03.

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

Separation and Distribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Trading Day” means the period of time during any given calendar day, commencing with the determination of the opening price on the NYSE and ending with the determination of the closing price on the NYSE, in which trading and settlement in Merck Common Shares or Organon Common Stock, as applicable, is permitted on the NYSE.

Transfer Date” means the date on which such person first becomes employed by the Organon Group (whether prior to, on or following the Distribution Date).

Transferred Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(i).

Transferred Flexible Spending Account Balances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(c)(iii).

Transferred Non-U.S. Employee” means a Transferred Employee who works primarily outside of the United States.

United States” means, when used in a territorial sense, the fifty states of the United States of America and the District of Columbia, but does not, unless otherwise specifically provided, include Puerto Rico or any other territory of the United States.

 

7


USERRA” means the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as amended.

ARTICLE II

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Section 2.01    Allocation of Liabilities.

(a)    Organon Liabilities. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Transaction Document, Organon hereby assumes (or retains) and agrees to pay, perform, fulfill, and discharge all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from or with respect to:

(i)    the employment (or termination of employment), including with respect to any statutory or other Liabilities (whether those Liabilities are otherwise the legal responsibility of the Merck Group or the Organon Group) triggered by or in connection with the Spin-Off, of each Transferred Employee by the Merck Group up to the applicable Transfer Date and by the Organon Group on and after the applicable Transfer Date (including, in each case, all Liabilities with respect to any such Organon Employee relating to, arising out of, or resulting from Employment Taxes, Employee Agreements, any Merck Benefit Plan or any Organon Benefit Plan); provided, however, that, Organon shall assume only the Organon Retiree Liability with respect to any Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan, the Merck Pension Plan, the Merck SERP, the Merck DCP and Merck Directors’ DCP, which Liabilities shall otherwise be expressly retained by Merck;

(ii)    the employment (or termination of employment) of each Former Employee to the extent such individual was last employed prior to his or her termination of employment with a manufacturing plant or entity located outside of the United States and wholly transferring to the Organon Group in connection with the Spin-Off (including all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from Employment Taxes, Employee Agreements, any Merck Benefit Plan or any Organon Benefit Plan);

(iii)    the retention of any individual who is, or was, an independent contractor, temporary employee, temporary service worker, consultant, freelancer, agency employee, leased employee, on-call worker, incidental worker, or non-payroll worker or any other individual in any other similar relationship to the extent the services provided by any such individual were primarily related to the Organon Group or the Organon Business and such individual is identified to be transferred to the Organon Group in connection with the Spin-Off; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, address any Liabilities in respect of the services provided by consulting firms, investment advisory firms, valuation advisory firms, legal advisors or other third-party entities retained to provide advice with respect to or in connection with the Spin-Off;

 

8


(iv)    all Liabilities under any Organon Benefit Plan established or adopted by any member of the Organon Group, regardless of whether established prior to, on or following the Distribution Date; and

(v)    Liabilities and responsibilities expressly assumed or retained by Organon pursuant to this Agreement.

(b)    Merck Liabilities. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Transaction Document, Merck hereby retains (or assumes) and agrees to pay, perform, fulfill, and discharge all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from:

(i)    the employment (or termination of employment) of each Merck Retained Employee by the Merck Group prior to, on, or after the Distribution Date (including all Liabilities with respect to any such Merck Retained Employee to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from Employment Taxes, Employee Agreements or any Merck Benefit Plan);

(ii)    except as provided in Section 2.01(a)(ii) or (iv), the employment (or termination of employment) of each Former Employee and each Organon Employee unless and until such Organon Employee becomes a Transferred Employee (including all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from Employment Taxes, Employee Agreements or any Merck Benefit Plan);

(iii)    the retention of any individual who is, or was, an independent contractor, temporary employee, temporary service worker, consultant, freelancer, agency employee, leased employee, on-call worker, incidental worker, non-payroll worker or any other individual in any other similar relationship to the extent the services provided by any such individual were primarily related to the Merck Group or the Merck Business; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, address any Liabilities in respect of the services provided by consulting firms, investment advisory firms, valuation advisory firms, legal advisors or other third-party entities retained to provide advice with respect to or in connection with the Spin-Off; and

(iv)    Liabilities and responsibilities expressly retained or assumed by Merck pursuant to this Agreement.

(c)    Other Liabilities. To the extent that this Agreement does not cover particular Liabilities or responsibilities that relate to, arise out of, or result from employment (or termination of employment), Employment Taxes, Employee Agreements or any Benefit Plan and the Parties later determine that they should be allocated in connection with the Spin-Off, such Liabilities and responsibilities shall be handled in a manner similar to the manner in which this Agreement handles comparable Liabilities and responsibilities, subject to the mutual agreement of the Parties, as evidenced by the written consent of an authorized officer of each Party.

(d)    Labor Relations. To the extent required by applicable Law or any contract or arrangement with a labor union, works council or similar employee organization, Organon

 

9


shall provide notice, engage in consultation and take any similar action which may be required after the Distribution Date on its part in connection with the Spin-Off and shall fully indemnify each member of the Merck Group against any Liabilities arising from its failure to comply with such requirements.

Section 2.02    Employment with Organon.

(a)    Employment Transfers. The Parties intend for Organon Employees to transfer to the Organon Group and shall use their respective best efforts and cooperate with each other to effectuate this intent.

(i)    Except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties, as of each Organon Employee’s Transfer Date, the Organon Group shall: (A) continue to employ (on a basis consistent with Section 2.02(b)) each Organon Employee employed in a jurisdiction where employment continues automatically by operation of Law (and such individual does not object, where such right exists under applicable Law); (B) offer to employ (on a basis consistent with Section 2.02(b)) each Organon Employee employed in a jurisdiction where employment does not continue automatically by operation of Law; and (C) offer to employ (on a basis consistent with Section 2.02(b) or as otherwise required by applicable Law) each former Employee who would have been an Organon Employee had such former Employee been employed on the Distribution Date, and whose right to re-employment is protected by any applicable Law. Each Organon Employee who accepts an offer of employment with the Organon Group, or who continues employment with the Organon Group following his or her Transfer Date automatically by operation of Law (and does not object where such right exists under applicable Law), as the case may be, will be referred to in this Agreement as a “Transferred Employee.”

(ii)    The Merck Group may terminate the employment of any Organon Employee who does not become a Transferred Employee as of his or her intended Transfer Date, or, if such Organon Employee cannot be terminated in accordance with applicable Law or otherwise, then the Merck Group may terminate any other Employee of the Merck Group whose employment (in the sole judgment of Merck) is made redundant as a result of the continued retention of such Organon Employee. The Merck Group may also terminate the employment of any Organon Employee if retaining such Employee would constitute a violation of applicable Laws or the Merck Code of Conduct. Organon will be responsible for, and will indemnify the Merck Group from and against, any Liabilities incurred or payments made (including any severance payments made) in connection with the termination of an Organon Employee or any other Employee of the Merck Group pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)(ii) to the extent of any payment occurring on or after the Distribution Date.

(b)    Compensation and Benefits.

(i)    Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or in local Conveyance and Assumption Instruments, no Transferred Employee shall participate in any Merck Benefit Plan following the later of (i) the Distribution Date; and (ii) his or her Transfer Date.

 

10


(ii)    Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, as otherwise required by applicable Law or with respect to any Transferred Employee who experiences a change in primary country of employment as part of his or her transfer, from the applicable Transfer Date through December 31, 2022, the Organon Group shall provide to each Transferred Employee (A) at least the same rate of base salary as provided to that Transferred Employee immediately prior to the later of the Distribution Date and his or her Transfer Date (or if greater, as provided to that Transferred Employee pursuant to the terms of any Employee Agreement that becomes effective upon the consummation of or immediately following the Spin-Off), (B) at least the same cash incentive compensation opportunities and long-term incentive compensation opportunities as provided to that Transferred Employee immediately prior to the later of the Distribution Date and his or her Transfer Date (or if greater, as provided to that Transferred Employee pursuant to the terms of any Employee Agreement that becomes effective upon the consummation of or immediately following the Spin-Off), (C) Core Benefits under the Organon Benefit Plans that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to benefits provided under the corresponding Merck Benefit Plans immediately prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the date as of which the comparable Organon Benefit Plan is established or adopted by any member of the Organon Group (but, for the avoidance of doubt, Organon is not required to establish any particular types of plans (such as defined benefit pension plans) to satisfy this obligation), and (D) at least the same separation pay and comparable post-termination continuation of Health and Welfare Benefits providing Core Benefits (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, retiree healthcare and retiree life insurance benefits) as were provided to that Transferred Employee immediately prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the date as of which the comparable Organon Health and Welfare Benefits is established or adopted by any member of the Organon Group (or if greater, as provided to that Transferred Employee pursuant to the terms of any Employee Agreement that becomes effective upon the consummation of or immediately following the Spin-Off). Nothing in this Section 2.02(b)(ii) shall prevent the Organon Group from terminating the employment of any Transferred Employee or adopting, amending or terminating any Organon Benefit Plan.

(c)    Service Credit. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or to the extent it would result in a duplication of benefits, Organon and each Organon Benefit Plan shall, to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable Law, give each Transferred Employee credit for vesting, eligibility, and accrual purposes for all service with the Merck Group (except for defined benefit pension plans and post-employment welfare benefits and, solely if a Transferred Employee receives severance benefits in connection with his or her termination of employment with the Merck Group, for purpose of determining severance benefits under any Organon Benefit Plan that provides severance benefits) (other than as required by law)) and shall calculate such service as it would be calculated by Merck or under the corresponding Merck Benefit Plan as of the applicable Transfer Date.

 

11


Section 2.03    Establishment of Organon Plans.

(a)    Generally.

(i)    U.S. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Organon shall adopt Core Benefit Plans (and related trusts, if applicable, as determined by the Parties), with terms substantially comparable in the aggregate to those of the corresponding Merck Benefit Plans in the U.S., but excluding defined benefit pension plans, deferred compensation plans and post-employment welfare benefit plans; provided, however, that Organon may limit participation in any Organon Benefit Plan to Transferred Employees who participated in the corresponding Merck Benefit Plan immediately prior to the applicable Transfer Date.

(ii)    Non-U.S. (including Puerto Rico). On or prior to the Distribution Date, the Organon Group shall, except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties, adopt Core Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plans, with terms substantially comparable in the aggregate to those of the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plans immediately prior to the Distribution Date; provided, however, that Organon may limit participation in any such Core Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan to Non-U.S. Organon Employees who are Transferred Employees and who participated in the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan. As described in Article IV, or as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties from time to time, the Merck Group shall, or shall cause the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan’s related trust to, transfer to the Organon Group or the relevant Core Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan’s related trust, trust Assets, insurance reserves, and other Assets of each Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan. To the extent a Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan is not required to be funded by applicable Law or is not voluntarily funded, there shall be no transfer of assets by the Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan or by the Merck Group. As described in Article IV, or as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties from time to time, the Organon Group shall, or shall cause the relevant Core Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan to, assume the Liabilities of the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan with respect to all benefits accrued under that Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan by Non-U.S. Organon Employees who are Transferred Employees.

(b)    Plan Information and Operation. Merck shall provide Organon with information describing each Merck Benefit Plan election made by a Transferred Employee that may have application following the applicable Transfer Date. Organon shall determine, in its sole discretion (and in compliance with Code Section 409A to the extent applicable), whether to administer the Organon Benefit Plans using those elections or to require Transferred Employees to submit new elections with respect to the Organon Benefit Plans. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Distribution and the transfer of any Employee’s employment to the Organon Group shall not cause a distribution from or payment of benefits under any Merck Benefit Plan. Each Party shall, upon reasonable request, provide the other Party and the other Party’s respective Affiliates, agents, and vendors all information reasonably necessary to the other Party’s operation or administration of its Benefit Plans and to accommodate the transfer of benefits.

 

12


Section 2.04    Post-Distribution Organon Employees.

(a)    The following provisions shall apply to all Post-Distribution Organon Employees. During the period commencing on the Distribution Date and ending on the applicable Transfer Date, Merck or its appropriate Affiliate shall manage the employment of each Post-Distribution Organon Employee consistently with its management of the employment of similar Merck Employees in the ordinary course of business (including with respect to compensation, annual and other bonuses, and other compensation, subject to Sections 2.04(a)(iii)(E) and 6.02 below); provided that Merck and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to make any equity grant or provide any other equity incentive to any Post-Distribution Organon Employee on or after the Distribution Date, and Organon shall have no obligation to Merck or any of its Affiliates in respect of any equity grant or other equity incentive that is provided by Merck or its appropriate Affiliate to any Post-Distribution Organon Employee on or after the Distribution Date unless and except where the Parties have agreed, as evidenced by the written consent of an authorized officer of each Party, otherwise. Organon shall be responsible for all cash compensation and benefits liabilities arising with respect to such Post-Distribution Organon Employee during such period pursuant to the terms of the applicable Transaction Document. Merck shall until the time of the applicable Local Closing Transaction (or such other Transfer Date with respect to any other Post-Distribution Organon Employee):

(i)    provide Organon or its appropriate Affiliate with notice of (A) any material amendment to the Merck Code of Conduct to the extent applicable to the employment of a Post-Distribution Organon Employee or (B) the termination of any Post-Distribution Organon Employee due to a violation or potential violation of Law or the Merck Code of Conduct, or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.02(a)(ii);

(ii)    provide Organon or its appropriate Affiliate with at least 30 days’ advance written notice prior to (A) making any material substantive change to the Employee Agreement of a Post-Distribution Organon Employee unless such change is required by applicable Law; (B) making any material change to the base salary of a Post-Distribution Organon Employee, other than an increase in the ordinary course of business, any change required by Law or any contract existing as of the Distribution Date, or as otherwise approved by Organon; or (C) making any modification to a Merck Benefit Plan in which a Post-Distribution Organon Employee participates if such modification would result in a significant change in the cost of such plan to the employer or the participant unless such change is required by applicable Law; and

(iii)    consult with and request a recommendation from Organon or its appropriate Affiliate prior to (A) hiring any individual (other than in the ordinary course to replace any individual whose employment has terminated) who will be classified as an Organon Employee unless such headcount addition was authorized prior to the Distribution Date, (B) terminating any Post-Distribution Organon Employee, except due to a violation of Law or the Merck Code of Conduct, or otherwise pursuant to Section 2.02(a)(ii), (C) promoting any Post-Distribution Organon Employee to a compensation and career band of 700 or higher (other than in the ordinary course to replace any individual whose employment has terminated) unless such promotion was authorized prior to the Distribution Date, (D) demoting any Post-Distribution Organon Employee or

 

13


otherwise materially changing the role or responsibility of any Post-Distribution Organon Employee, or (E) establishing targets or goals for bonus and other incentive compensation awards granted to Post-Distribution Organon Employees by Merck or any member of the Merck Group. Organon will be responsible for, and will indemnify the Merck Group from and against, any Liabilities incurred or payments made (including any severance payments made) in connection with the termination of a Post-Distribution Organon Employee pursuant to this Section 2.04(a)(iii) to the extent of any amount owed on or after the Distribution Date in accordance with the terms of the applicable Transaction Document.

(b)    Except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties (including in a Conveyance and Assumption Instrument), if an Organon Employee’s transfer of employment to the Organon Group upon the consummation of a Local Closing Transaction or otherwise causes, at the time of such transfer, a forfeiture of awards granted under a Merck Stock Program (or successor thereto), Merck shall not have any obligation, Liability or responsibility to such Organon Employee with respect to such forfeited awards, and Organon shall equitably compensate the affected Organon Employee for such forfeited awards in a manner determined by Organon in its sole discretion. Merck shall inform Organon on a regular basis of any such forfeited awards. The foregoing sentence shall not preclude the Parties from making arrangements, if allowed by the Merck Stock Program (or successor thereto) and applicable Law, to permit affected Organon Employees to continue to hold, after the Local Closing Transaction or other Transfer Date, awards granted under a Merck Stock Program (or successor thereto).

Section 2.05    Collective Bargaining. Organon shall cause the appropriate member of the Organon Group to assume all Liabilities arising under any collective bargaining agreement (including but not limited to any national, sector or local collective bargaining agreement), works council agreement, or other similar agreement with respect to any Transferred Employee. To the extent necessary, Organon shall cause the appropriate member of the Organon Group to join any industrial, employer or similar association or federation if membership is required for the relevant collective bargaining, works council, or other similar agreement to continue to apply.

ARTICLE III

U.S. QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

Section 3.01    Pension Plan. The Merck Pension Plan shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of all Employees (including Transferred Employees) and Former Employees. No Employees of the Organon Group shall accrue any additional benefits under the Merck Pension Plan following the later of (i) the Distribution Date, and (ii) their applicable Transfer Date. The accrued benefits of Transferred Employees under the Merck Pension Plan shall become fully vested as of the later of (i) the Distribution Date, and (ii) their applicable Transfer Dates. In addition, until distributions commence under the Merck Pension Plan for a Transferred Employee, the Merck Pension Plan shall continue to credit service earned with Organon and its Affiliates for purposes of early retirement eligibility and subsidies under the Merck Pension Plan. Furthermore, Merck shall provide any pension service crediting bridges

 

14


offered under the Merck Separation Plan to any Transferred Employee who otherwise meets, on or prior to December 31, 2022, the age and service requirements for such pension service crediting bridges in the event that such Transferred Employee experiences a separation of employment from the Organon Group that would have entitled the Transferred Employee to benefits under the Merck Separation Plan prior to the Spin-Off (including satisfying any requirement to execute a release of claims against Merck and its affiliates).

Section 3.02    Savings Plan.

(a)    Establishment of Organon Savings Plan. Effective as of or prior to the Distribution Date, Organon shall establish the Organon Savings Plan. As of the Distribution Date, the Organon Savings Plan shall include provisions so that, subject to the applicable nondiscrimination rules under Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 401(m), the aggregate contributions during any plan year through at least December 31, 2022 for Transferred Employees shall be no less than the aggregate sum of such contributions under the Merck Savings Plan and the pay credits under the Merck Pension Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Distribution Date. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Organon shall provide Merck with (i) a copy of the Organon Savings Plan; and (ii) a copy of certified resolutions of the Organon Board (or its authorized committee or other delegate) evidencing adoption of the Organon Savings Plan and the related trust(s) and the acceptance by the Organon Savings Plan of the Liabilities described in Section 3.02(b) as and when rollovers occur.

(b)    Elective Rollovers of Account Balances. As soon as practicable after the later of (i) the Distribution Date, and (ii) the Transferred Employee’s applicable Transfer Date, Organon shall take all actions necessary to permit Transferred Employees to directly roll over their account balances in the Merck Savings Plan to the Organon Savings Plan. Such rollovers may be made in cash, promissory notes evidencing outstanding loans or any combination thereof, as elected by the Transferred Employee.

(c)    Organon Savings Plan Provisions. The Organon Savings Plan shall provide that:

(i)    Transferred Employees shall (A) be eligible to participate in the Organon Savings Plan as of the later of (i) the Distribution Date, and (ii) their applicable Transfer Date, to the extent they were eligible to participate in the Merck Savings Plan as of immediately prior to such date, and (B) receive credit for vesting and benefit accrual purposes for all service credited for that purpose under the Merck Savings Plan as of the later of (y) the Distribution Date, and (z) their applicable Transfer Date, as if that service had been rendered to Organon; and

(ii)    the Organon Savings Plan shall provide the opportunity to make up elective deferrals, and any employer contributions, required by USERRA for a Former Employee who is employed by the Organon Group following the Distribution Date pursuant to Section 2.02(a)(i)(C), including any amount that relates to the period of military leave that occurred prior to the Distribution Date.

 

15


(d)    Determination Letter Request. Unless the Organon Savings Plan may rely on a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, Organon shall submit an application to the Internal Revenue Service either prior to, or as soon as practicable following, the Distribution Date for a determination regarding the qualification of the Organon Savings Plan as of the Distribution Date and shall make any amendments reasonably requested by the Internal Revenue Service to receive a favorable determination letter regarding the Organon Savings Plan.

(e)    Merck Savings Plan after Distribution Date. From and after the Distribution Date the Merck Savings Plan shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of all Employees (including Transferred Employees) and Former Employees. From and after the later of (ii) the Distribution Date, and (ii) their applicable Transfer Date, no Employees of the Organon Group shall accrue any benefits under the Merck Savings Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Transferred Employees shall cease to be active participants in the Merck Savings Plan effective as of their applicable Transfer Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Merck Employees and Transferred Employees, until their respective Transfer Dates, shall accrue benefits under the Merck Savings Plan.

(f)    Plan Fiduciaries. For all periods whether before or after the Distribution Date, the Parties agree that the applicable fiduciaries of each of the Merck Savings Plan and the Organon Savings Plan, respectively, shall have the authority with respect to the Merck Savings Plan and the Organon Savings Plan, respectively, to determine the investment alternatives, the terms and conditions with respect to those investment alternatives and such other matters as are within the scope of their duties under ERISA Section 404. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Merck or its designate may recommend initial investment funds available under the Organon Savings Plan, which Organon shall be free to accept or reject in accordance with its fiduciary duties.

Section 3.03    Supplemental Pension Plan. The Merck SERP shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of all Employees (including Transferred Employees) and Former Employees accrued thereunder. No Employees of the Organon Group shall accrue any benefits under the Merck SERP following the later of the Distribution Date and their applicable Transfer Date, but the Merck SERP shall credit such Employee’s continuous service with the Organon Group following the Transfer Date for purposes of early retirement eligibility and early retirement subsidies. Except as otherwise provided by Code Section 409A, a Transferred Employee shall not be considered to have undergone a “separation from service” for purposes of Code Section 409A and the Merck SERP solely by reason of the Spin-Off, and, following his or her Transfer Date, the determination of whether a Transferred Employee has incurred a separation from service with respect to his or her benefit in the Merck SERP shall be based solely upon his performance of services for the Organon Group.

Section 3.04    Deferred Compensation Plan.

(a)    Establishment of Organon DCP. Effective as of or before the Distribution Date, Organon shall establish the Organon DCP to permit company credits to Organon Savings Plan participant accounts to the extent contributions cannot be made to the Organon Savings Plan by reason of the limits under the Code, such as Code Section 401(a)(17).

 

16


(b)    Merck DCP after Spin-Off. From and after the later of the Distribution Date and a Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date, such individual shall not actively participate in or accrue any benefits under the Merck DCP. The Merck DCP shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of all Employees (including Transferred Employees) and Former Employees. Except as otherwise provided by Code Section 409A, a Transferred Employee shall not be considered to have undergone a “separation from service” for purposes of Code Section 409A and the Merck DCP solely by reason of the Spin-Off, and, following his Transfer Date, the determination of whether a Transferred Employee has incurred a separation from service with respect to his or her benefit in the Merck DCP shall be based solely upon his or her performance of services for the Organon Group.

(c)    Adjustment of Merck Common-Stock-Denominated Investments (“Merck Phantom Shares”). Each Merck Phantom Share that remains outstanding in the Merck DCP as of immediately prior to the Distribution Date, regardless of by whom held shall be converted concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date into an “Adjusted Merck Phantom Share.” The number of units represented by an Adjusted Merck Phantom Share shall be equal to (1) the number of Merck Phantom Shares immediately prior to the Distribution Date, divided by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit.

Section 3.05    Failure to Notify of Employment Termination. Organon shall notify Merck of the “separation from service” (as determined pursuant to Section 409A of the Code) of any Transferred Employee by the 15th day of the calendar month following the calendar month of such Transferred Employee’s separation from service. At that time, Organon shall also notify Merck whether the Transferred Employee is a “specified employee” as determined pursuant to Code Section 409A. In the event that a distribution of benefits to a Transferred Employee is not made at the proper time pursuant to any Merck plan because Organon did not timely notify Merck of any such separation from service, or specified employee status, Organon shall reimburse Merck for all costs, including incidental and consequential damages incurred by Merck in connection therewith (including but not limited to additional benefit plan payments, legal fees, accounting fees and advisor fees, service provider fees, the costs of preparing and making any governmental filings, any “gross-up” Merck determines to pay to such Transferred Employee in connection with a violation of Code Section 409A) and any other amounts Merck reasonably determines would have been avoided if Organon had timely notified Merck of such separation from service or specified employee status.

ARTICLE IV

NON-U.S. RETIREMENT PLANS

Section 4.01    Establishment of Non-U.S. Retirement Plans and Transfers of Assets and Liabilities. Except as mutually agreed upon by the Parties or required under this Article IV, effective as of or before the Distribution Date, Organon or its appropriate Affiliate will establish pension and retirement plans (whether defined contribution or defined benefit pension plans) with terms that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those offered to Transferred Non-U.S. Employees immediately prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) their applicable Transfer Date.

 

17


(a)    Transfer of Non-U.S. Retirement Plan Assets and Liabilities. As soon as practicable following the establishment of a Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as mutually agreed upon by the Parties, the Assets and Liabilities (determined as of the date of the applicable local closing, whether occurring prior to, on or after the Distribution Date (such date, the “Applicable Closing Date”)) under the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan attributable to Transferred Non-U.S. Employees who are participants in such plan, along with any other Assets and Liabilities that Organon agrees to assume with respect to such plan, shall be transferred to such Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan. The Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan shall retain all Assets and Liabilities related to Merck Retained Employees, Former Employees and Post-Distribution Organon Employees (subject to Section 4.01(c)). Except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties, assets will be allocated between the plans based on the proportion of Liabilities borne by each plan. Except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties, such Liabilities will be valued using the projected benefit obligation based on plan provisions as in effect at the Applicable Closing Date and applying demographic and other assumptions used in the most recently completed valuation of the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan (and taking into account the requirements of ASC 715 as it exists as of the Applicable Closing Date); provided, however, that all economic assumptions will be updated as of the Applicable Closing Date. The transfer amount described above shall be credited or debited, as applicable, with a pro rata share of the actual investment earnings or losses allocable to the transfer amount for the period between the Applicable Closing Date and an assessment date set by Merck that is as close as practicable, taking into account the timing and reporting of valuation of the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan’s Assets, to the date upon which Assets equal in value to the transfer amount are actually transferred from the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan to the applicable Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan; provided that, if actual investment earnings or losses are not then determinable, Merck and Organon shall then agree on a reasonable alternative methodology (which may include expected or estimated returns used for other similar purposes by Merck in the ordinary course of business). During this period, benefits payable to Transferred Non-U.S. Employees shall be paid from the Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan. Except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Parties, the ultimate transfer amount shall be reduced by the amount of these benefits and credited or debited by the actual investment earnings or losses from the payment date to the assessment date set by Merck above. Any third party fees, costs or expenses incurred under the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan during the period from the Applicable Closing Date to the assessment date set by Merck shall be shared by the Parties based on the proportion of Liabilities borne by the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan and the applicable Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan. The Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish each transfer as soon as practicable on or following the Applicable Closing Date and to cooperate with each other to make such filings and disclosures and obtain such approvals as may be deemed necessary or advisable in accordance with applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan is not required to be funded by applicable Law or is not voluntarily funded, there shall be no transfer of Assets by the Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan or by the Merck Group in respect thereof.

 

18


(b)    Non-U.S. Organon Retirement Plan Provisions. Each Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan shall provide, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or local Conveyance and Assumption Instruments, that:

(i)    Transferred Non-U.S. Employees shall (A) be eligible to participate in the Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan to the extent they were eligible to participate in the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan, and (B) receive credit for vesting, eligibility and benefit service to the same extent recognized by Merck as of immediately prior to their Transfer Date for all service credited for those purposes under the corresponding Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan as if that service had been rendered to Organon;

(ii)    the compensation paid by the Merck Group to a Transferred Non-U.S. Employee that is recognized under the Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan shall be credited and recognized for all applicable purposes under the corresponding Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan as though it were compensation from the Organon Group; and

(iii)    the accrued benefit of each Transferred Non-U.S. Employee under the Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan that is transferred to the corresponding Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan pursuant to Section 4.01(a) shall be paid under such Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan in accordance with the terms of such Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan and applicable Law, with employment by the Merck Group treated as employment by the Organon Group under the Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan for purposes of determining eligibility for optional forms of benefit, early retirement benefits, or other benefit forms.

(c)    Subsequent Transfers. Periodically, at such times as agreed upon by the Parties after the initial transfer described in Section 4.01(a), Organon shall cause the applicable Non-U.S. Organon Benefit Plan to receive Assets and assume all Liabilities under the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan for Post-Distribution Organon Employees who become Transferred Employees (including Assets and Liabilities in respect of beneficiaries and/or alternate payees) and the applicable Non-U.S. Merck Benefit Plan shall transfer all such Assets and be relieved of such Liabilities. The amount of such Assets to be transferred shall be determined as provided in Section 4.01(a) (and shall include any employee contributions made by such Post-Distribution Organon Employee between the Distribution Date and the applicable Transfer Date) and shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 4.01(a).

(d)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if pension benefits are funded by individually linked insurance contracts, such contracts in respect of Transferred Employees shall be assigned to Organon or its applicable Subsidiary in lieu of the transfers of (and calculations of value with respect to) other Assets otherwise contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE V

WELFARE AND FRINGE BENEFIT PLANS

Section 5.01    Health and Welfare Plans.

(a)    Establishment of Organon Health and Welfare Plans. Effective as of or before the Distribution Date, Organon shall establish the Core Organon Health and Welfare Plans, with terms substantially comparable in the aggregate to those of the corresponding Core

 

19


Merck Health and Welfare Plans unless otherwise provided in this Article V. For the avoidance of doubt, Organon shall not be required to provide retiree medical benefits to any employee hired on or after the Distribution Date.

(b)    Waiver of Conditions; Benefit Maximums. Organon shall, to the extent commercially reasonable and permitted under applicable Law and, with respect to Non-U.S. Health and Welfare Plans, to the extent applicable, cause the Organon Health and Welfare Plans to:

(i)    with respect to initial enrollment (whether passive or active) prior to, as of or following an individual’s applicable Transfer Date:

(A)    waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions, and service conditions with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to any Transferred Employee, other than limitations that were in effect with respect to the Transferred Employee under the applicable Merck Health and Welfare Plan as of immediately prior to such individual’s Transfer Date;

(B)    waive any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement applicable to a Transferred Employee other than limitations or requirements that were in effect with respect to such Transferred Employee under the applicable Merck Health and Welfare Plan as of immediately prior to such individual’s Transfer Date;

(C)    with respect to aggregate annual, lifetime, or similar maximum benefits available under the Organon Health and Welfare Plans, recognize a Transferred Employee’s prior claim experience under the Merck Health and Welfare Plans and any Benefit Plan that provides leave benefits; and

(D)    cause any eligible expenses incurred by a Transferred Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the applicable Merck Health and Welfare Plan ending on the date that the Transferred Employee’s coverage commences under the Organon Health and Welfare Plan to be taken into account under such Organon Health and Welfare Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Transferred Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such Organon Health and Welfare Plan.

(c)    Allocation of Health and Welfare Assets and Liabilities.

(i)    General Principles. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof and except as otherwise agreed between the Parties, (A) Merck shall retain all Liabilities relating to Incurred Claims of Merck Retained Employees and Former Employees under the Merck Health and Welfare Plans, and shall also retain Assets (including, without limitation, Medicare reimbursements, pharmaceutical rebates, and similar items) associated with such Incurred Claims and (B) Organon shall be responsible for Incurred

 

20


Claims of Organon Employees from and after the applicable Transfer Date. Organon shall be responsible for all Liabilities relating to Incurred Claims under any Organon Health and Welfare Plan and shall also retain Assets (including, without limitation, Medicare reimbursements, pharmaceutical rebates, and similar items) associated with such Incurred Claims. Merck shall retain any Assets (including, without limitation, Medicare reimbursements, pharmaceutical rebates, and similar items) that are not associated with any specific Incurred Claim.

(ii)    Disability Benefits. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof and except as otherwise agreed between the Parties, (A) Merck shall be responsible for Incurred Claims (including ongoing benefit payments) of Merck Retained Employees and Former Employees for short- and long-term disability benefits, regardless of when the applicable Incurred Claim was incurred and (B) subject to the immediately following sentence, Organon shall be responsible for Incurred Claims (including ongoing benefit payments) of Organon Employees from and after the applicable Transfer Date for short-term disability benefits and long-term disability benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Organon Employee who is on short-term disability leave on the Transfer Date under a U.S. Health and Welfare Plan and who subsequently qualifies for long-term disability without an intervening new Incurred Claim shall receive long-term disability benefits from the Merck long-term disability plan, but all other benefits attributable to his or her disability (including continued pension accrual, if applicable, and participation in any medical or life insurance plan for disabled persons, if applicable) shall be provided by the applicable Organon Benefit Plan, if any, or otherwise be the responsibility of Organon, and if Organon does not sponsor a plan providing any such benefits, such Organon Employee shall not be entitled to such benefits from any Merck Benefit Plan.

(iii)    U.S. Flexible Spending Accounts. The Parties shall take all actions necessary to ensure that, effective as of the later of the Distribution Date and the applicable Employee’s Transfer Date, (A) the health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts of the applicable Transferred Employees (whether positive or negative) (the “Transferred Flexible Spending Account Balances”) under the applicable Merck Health and Welfare Plan shall be transferred to the corresponding Organon Health and Welfare Plan; (B) the elections, contribution levels and coverage of the Transferred Employees shall apply under the Organon Health and Welfare Plan in the same manner as under the corresponding Merck Health and Welfare Plan; and (C) the Transferred Employees shall be eligible for reimbursement from the Organon Health and Welfare Plan on the same basis and the same terms and conditions as under the corresponding Merck Health and Welfare Plan. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date (and any later Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date), and in any event within 30 business days after the amount of the Transferred Flexible Spending Account Balances is determined, Merck shall pay Organon the net aggregate amount of the Transferred Flexible Spending Account Balances, if such amount is positive, and Organon shall pay Merck the net aggregate amount of the Transferred Flexible Spending Account Balances, if such amount is negative.

(d)    Retiree Health Care Plan and Retiree Life Insurance. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof (or any other action taken by Merck and Organon on or prior to the

 

21


Distribution Date, including any assignment and assumption of Assets or Liabilities related thereto), Merck shall retain the Liabilities and responsibility for all obligations under the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan for benefits due to Merck Retained Employees, Transferred Employees and Former Employees, and shall also retain Assets, including, without limitation, Medicare reimbursements, pharmaceutical rebates, and similar items, associated with such benefits. For each Transferred Employee, Merck shall (i) cause the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan to credit service with Organon and its Affiliates after a Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date for purposes of benefit eligibility under the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan, and (ii) in the event of a separation of employment that occurs on or prior to December 31, 2022, that would have entitled the Transferred Employee to benefits under the Merck Separation Plan prior to the Spin-Off (including any requirement to execute a release of claims against Merck and its affiliates), provide any retiree medical bridges that would have been offered under the Merck Separation Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict the right of Merck to amend or terminate the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan at any time; provided, however, that Merck may not amend the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan in any manner that disproportionately, materially and adversely effects the rights of Organon Employees vis-à-vis the Merck Employees.

(e)    Merck Health and Welfare Plans after Distribution Date. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01, Transferred Employees shall cease to participate in the Merck Health and Welfare Plans effective as of their respective Transfer Dates.

Section 5.02    COBRA. Merck shall continue to be responsible for compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, and the corresponding provisions of the Merck Health and Welfare Plans with respect to any (a) Merck Retained Employees and any Former Employees (and their covered dependents) who incur a qualifying event under COBRA on, prior to, or following the Distribution Date, (b) Organon Employees who do not at any time become Transferred Employees (and their covered dependents) who incur a qualifying event under COBRA on, prior to, or following the Distribution Date, and (c) subject to Section 2.04, other Organon Employees (and their covered dependents), with respect to qualifying events under COBRA incurred prior to the applicable Transfer Date. Organon shall assume responsibility for compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA and the corresponding provisions of the Organon Health and Welfare Plans with respect to any Transferred Employees (and their covered dependents) who incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage under the Organon Health and Welfare Plans on or after their respective Transfer Dates. The Parties agree that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall not constitute a COBRA qualifying event for any purpose of COBRA.

Section 5.03    Vacation, Holidays and Leaves of Absence. Effective as of the applicable Transfer Date in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(i), Organon shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities to, or relating to, Transferred Employees in respect of vacation, holiday, personal days, sick days, annual leave or other leave of absence, and required payments related thereto (whether accruing prior to, on or after the applicable Transfer Date), including any such Liabilities, and any such required payments related thereto, reasonably determined by Merck in its sole discretion. Merck shall retain all Liabilities with respect to vacation, holiday, annual leave or other leave of absence, and required payments related thereto, for each Merck Retained Employee and Former Employee, as well as Organon Employees until the applicable Transfer Date of such Organon Employees.

 

22


Section 5.04    Severance and Unemployment Compensation. Effective as of the applicable Transfer Date, Organon shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities to, or relating to, Transferred Employees in respect of severance and unemployment compensation.    Transferred Employees shall receive credit for service with Merck as of the applicable Transfer Date as if that service had been rendered to Organon for determining severance entitlements subject to the limitations on service crediting in Section 2.02(c). Subject to any specific agreement to the contrary in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Transaction Document and subject to Sections 2.02(a)(ii) and 2.04 hereof, Merck shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities to, or relating to, Merck Retained Employees and Former Employees, as well as Organon Employees until an applicable Transfer Date occurs with respect to such Organon Employees, in respect of severance and unemployment compensation, regardless of whether the event giving rise to the Liability occurred prior to, on, or following the Distribution Date.

Section 5.05    Workers Compensation. Except as required by applicable Law or as otherwise determined jointly by the Parties as a result of the requirements of any Governmental Authority, all United States workers’ compensation Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from any claim shall be assumed, or retained as the case may be, by the Party (or its applicable Subsidiary) that employed such Employee as of the time of such claim. The Merck Group shall be responsible for all Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from any United States workers’ compensation claims incurred prior to an applicable Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date unless expressly specified otherwise in the immediately preceding sentence or as required by applicable Law. Each member of the Organon Group and the Merck Group shall cooperate with respect to any notification to appropriate governmental agencies of the disposition and the issuance of new, or the transfer of existing, workers’ compensation insurance policies and claims handling contracts.

ARTICLE VI

EQUITY, INCENTIVE, AND DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

Section 6.01    Equity Incentive Programs.

(a)    Options, PSUs and RSUs. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions necessary or appropriate so that each outstanding Merck Option, Merck PSU Award, and Merck RSU Award granted under a Merck Stock Program shall be adjusted or converted as set forth in this Section 6.01. This Section 6.01(a) shall not apply to grants made under the Merck Directors’ DCP (or any successor or predecessor plan), and the sole provisions with respect to the adjustment and conversion of those grants are set forth in Section 6.03.

(i)    Merck Options. Each Merck Option outstanding as of immediately prior to the Distribution Date, whether vested or unvested and regardless of by whom held shall be converted concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date into (x) an Adjusted Merck Option in the case of Merck Employees, Post-Distribution

 

23


Organon Employees and Former Employees or (y) an Organon Option in the case of Organon Employees (excluding any Post-Distribution Organon Employee). Each such adjusted or converted Option shall, except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.01, be subject to the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting) after the Distribution Date as applicable to such Merck Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date; provided, however, that upon such adjustment or conversion:

(A)    the number of Merck Common Shares subject to such Adjusted Merck Option (if any) shall be equal to (1) the number of Merck Common Shares subject to the Merck Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date, multiplied by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share;

(B)    the number of shares of Organon Common Stock subject to the Organon Option into which such Merck Option is converted (if any) shall be equal to (1) (xx) the number of Merck Common Shares subject to the Merck Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date multiplied by (yy) the Distribution Ratio, multiplied by (2) the Organon Conversion Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share;

(C)    the per share exercise price of each Adjusted Merck Option, shall be equal to (1) the per share exercise price of the Merck Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date divided by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded up to the nearest cent; and

(D)    the per share exercise price of each Organon Option, shall be equal to (1) the per share exercise price of the Merck Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date divided by (2) the Organon Conversion Ratio divided by (3) the Distribution Ratio, rounded up to the nearest cent;

provided, however, that the exercise price, the number of Merck Common Shares and the number of shares of Organon Common Stock subject to such options, and the terms and conditions of exercise of such options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

(ii)    Merck PSU Awards.

(A)    Merck Employees, Post-Distribution Organon Employees and Former Employees. Merck shall, concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date and notwithstanding the existing terms of such awards, cause the performance goals under each outstanding Merck PSU Award held by a Merck Employee, a Post-Distribution Organon Employee or a Former Employee to be equitably adjusted, as determined in its sole discretion. Each such Merck PSU Award held by a Merck Employee, a Post-Distribution Organon Employee or a Former Employee shall be converted concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date into an Adjusted Merck PSU Award. Such converted award shall be (in all other respects) subject to substantially the same terms and

 

24


conditions immediately following the Distribution Date as applicable immediately prior to the Distribution Date; provided, however, that the number of units represented by the Adjusted Merck PSU Award shall be equal to (1) the number of units subject to the Merck PSU Award immediately prior to the Distribution Date, multiplied by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest whole unit.

(B)    Organon Employees’ (other than Post-Distribution Organon Employees’) 2019 Merck PSU Awards. Effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on the Distribution Date, the Merck Compensation and Benefits Committee, pursuant to its authority under the applicable Merck Stock Program and notwithstanding the existing terms of such awards, shall determine and certify the level of attainment of all applicable performance goals under each outstanding Merck PSU Award with a 2019 to 2021 performance period that is held by an Organon Employee (other than a Post-Distribution Organon Employee), whether vested or unvested, as of immediately prior to the Distribution (with December 31, 2020 treated as the last day of the applicable performance period and such level of attained performance applied to 100% of the shares subject to the Merck PSU Award). Any such earned Merck PSU Award shall be converted, concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date, into an Organon RSU Award with respect to a number of shares of Organon Common Stock equal to (1) (xx) the number of units subject to the earned Merck PSU Award immediately prior to the Distribution Date (as determined pursuant to the foregoing sentence) multiplied by (yy) the Distribution Ratio, multiplied by (2) the Organon Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit. Such Organon RSU Award shall be (in all other respects, including time-based vesting) subject to substantially the same terms and conditions immediately following the Distribution Date as applicable to the Merck PSU Award from which it was converted. Any portion of such Merck PSU Award that is not earned shall be immediately forfeited as of the Distribution Date without the payment of any consideration therefore.

(C)    Organon Employees (other than Post-Distribution Organon Employees), 2020 and 2021 Merck PSU Awards. Effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on the Distribution Date, a number of shares equal to the target number of shares subject to each outstanding Merck PSU Award with a 2020 to 2022 performance period and each outstanding Merck PSU Award with a 2021 to 2023 performance period that is held by an Organon Employee (other than a Post-Distribution Organon Employee), whether vested or unvested, as of immediately prior to the Distribution shall be deemed earned. Any such earned Merck PSU Award shall be converted, concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date, into an Organon RSU Award with respect to a number of shares of Organon Common Stock equal to (1) (xx) the number of units subject to the earned Merck PSU Award immediately prior to the Distribution Date (as determined pursuant to the foregoing sentence) multiplied by (yy) the Distribution Ratio, multiplied by (2) the Organon Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit. Such Organon RSU Award shall be (in all other respects, including time-

 

25


based vesting) subject to substantially the same terms and conditions immediately following the Distribution Date as applicable to the Merck PSU Award from which it was converted. Any portion of such Merck PSU Award that is not earned shall be immediately forfeited as of the Distribution Date without the payment of any consideration therefore.

(iii)    Merck RSU Awards. Each Merck RSU Award that remains outstanding as of immediately prior to the Distribution Date, regardless of by whom held, whether vested or unvested, shall be converted concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date into (A) an Adjusted Merck RSU Award in the case of Merck Employees, Post-Distribution Organon Employees and Former Employees or (B) an Organon RSU Award in the case of Organon Employees (other than Post-Distribution Organon Employees). Except as set forth in this Section 6.01(a)(iii), all Adjusted Merck RSU Awards and Organon RSU Awards issued in accordance with this Section 6.01(a)(iii) shall be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting) immediately following the Distribution Date as applicable immediately prior to the Distribution Date for those Merck RSU Awards from which such Adjusted Merck RSU Awards and Organon RSU Awards were converted; provided, however, that upon such adjustment or conversion:

(A)    the number of units represented by an Adjusted Merck RSU Award shall be equal to (1) the number of units subject to the Merck RSU Award immediately prior to the Distribution Date, multiplied by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit; and

(B)    the number of units represented by an Organon RSU Award shall be equal to (1) (xx) the number of units subject to the Merck RSU Award immediately prior to the Distribution Date multiplied by (yy) the Distribution Ratio, multiplied by (2) the Organon Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit.

(iv)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties may mutually agree not to adjust (or to otherwise adjust as they deem appropriate) certain outstanding Merck equity-based awards pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01 to the extent such actions would create or trigger adverse legal, accounting, administrative, tax consequences or in order to comply with any Employee Agreement or similar agreement with any affected Employee.

(b)    Miscellaneous Award Terms. After the Distribution Date, Adjusted Merck Awards, regardless of by whom held, shall be settled by Merck, and Organon Awards, regardless of by whom held, shall be settled by Organon. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, with respect to grants described in this Section 6.01, no Transferred Employee (other than a Post-Distribution Organon Employee) shall be treated as having incurred a termination of employment or separation from service with respect to any Merck Award solely by reason of his or her transfer of employment. Following the Distribution Date, for any award adjusted or otherwise received in accordance with this Section 6.01, any reference to a “change in control,” “change of control” or similar definition in an award agreement, employment agreement or

 

26


Merck Stock Program applicable to such award (A) with respect to Adjusted Merck Awards, shall be deemed to refer to a “change in control,” “change of control” or similar defined term as set forth in the applicable award agreement, employment agreement or Merck Stock Program (a “Merck Change of Control”) and (B) with respect to Organon Awards, shall be deemed to refer to a “change in control,” “change of control” or similar defined term as set forth in the Organon Equity Plan (a “Organon Change of Control”). The Distribution shall not, in and of itself, be treated as either a Merck Change of Control or an Organon Change of Control.

(c)    Registration and Other Regulatory Requirements. As soon as possible following (or prior to) the Distribution Date, but in any case before the date of issuance of any shares of Organon Common Stock pursuant to the Organon Equity Plan, Organon agrees to file a Form S-8 Registration Statement (or such other registration statement as may be permitted in lieu thereof if a Form S-8 Registration Statement is not then available for any such awards to be granted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) with respect to, and to cause to be registered pursuant to the Securities Act, the shares of Organon Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Organon Equity Plan as required pursuant to the Securities Act. The Parties shall take such additional actions as are deemed necessary or advisable to effectuate the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, including compliance with securities Laws and other legal requirements associated with equity compensation awards in affected non-U.S. jurisdictions.

(d)    Merck Equity-Based Awards in Certain Non-U.S. Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, the Parties may mutually agree, in their sole discretion (including as set forth in Schedule 6.01(d)), not to adjust certain outstanding Merck equity-based awards pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, where those actions would create or trigger adverse legal, accounting or tax consequences for Merck, Organon, and/or the affected non-U.S. award holders. In such circumstances, Merck and/or Organon may take any action necessary or advisable to prevent any such adverse legal, accounting or tax consequences, including, but not limited to, agreeing that the outstanding Merck equity-based awards of the affected non-U.S. award holders shall terminate in accordance with the terms of the Merck Stock Programs and the underlying award agreements, in which case Organon or Merck, as applicable, shall equitably compensate the affected non-U.S. award holders in an alternate manner determined by Organon or Merck, as applicable, in its sole discretion, or apply an alternate adjustment method. Where and to the extent required by applicable Law or tax considerations outside the United States, the adjustments described in this Section 6.01 shall be deemed to have been effectuated immediately prior to the Distribution Date.

Section 6.02    Annual Bonus. The Organon Group shall be responsible for all annual bonus payments or other forms of cash incentive compensation (including commissions) payable to Transferred Employees (including Post-Distribution Organon Employees) the performance period for which ends after the applicable Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Merck Group shall have no obligation or responsibility to pay such amounts to such Transferred Employees (including Post-Distribution Employees) in respect of any portion of such performance period and annual bonus payments or other forms of cash incentive compensation (including commissions) for such full performance period shall be the sole obligation and responsibility of the Organon Group pursuant to the final applicable program

 

27


terms and conditions established and administered by the Organon Group. The Merck Group shall be responsible for any annual bonus payments or other forms of cash incentive compensation payable to Transferred Employees (including Post-Distribution Organon Employees) the performance period for which ends on or prior to the applicable Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date.

Section 6.03    Merck Deferred Stock Units. Each outstanding Merck Deferred Stock Unit shall be adjusted or converted as set forth in this Section 6.03. For the avoidance of doubt, the remainder of this Section 6.03 applies only to grants made under the Merck Directors’ DCP (or any successor or predecessor plan), while Section 6.01 is intended to apply to other programs included within the Merck Stock Programs. Each holder of a Merck Deferred Stock Unit that remains outstanding as of immediately prior to the Distribution Date (regardless of by whom held, whether vested or unvested), shall be converted concurrently with the Distribution on the Distribution Date into an Adjusted Merck Deferred Stock Unit Award. Except as set forth in this Section 6.03(a), all Adjusted Merck Deferred Stock Unit Awards issued in accordance with this Section 6.03(a) shall be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting) immediately following the Distribution Date as applicable immediately prior to the Distribution Date for those Merck Deferred Stock Units from which such Adjusted Merck Deferred Stock Unit Awards were converted; provided, however, that with respect to each Merck Deferred Stock Unit converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence the number of units represented by an Adjusted Merck RSU Award (if any) shall be equal to (1) the number of units subject to the Merck Deferred Stock Unit immediately prior to the Distribution Date, multiplied by (2) the Merck Conversion Ratio, rounded to the nearest unit. To the maximum extent permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h)(4), a member of the Merck Board who no longer serves on the Merck Board immediately following the Distribution Date shall be considered to have undergone a “separation from service” for purposes of Code Section 409A and the Merck Directors’ DCP.

Section 6.04    Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

(a)    Retention of Directors’ DCP Liabilities. Merck shall retain all of the Liabilities under the Merck Directors’ DCP following the Distribution Date. To the maximum extent permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h)(4), a member of the Merck Board who no longer serves on the Merck Board immediately following the Distribution Date shall be considered to have undergone a “separation from service” for purposes of Code Section 409A and the Merck Directors’ DCP.

(b)    Merck Directors’ DCP after Transfer Date. From and after the Distribution Date, each person who no longer serves on the Merck Board, as of immediately following the Distribution Date, shall not accrue any additional benefits under the Merck Directors’ DCP.

 

28


ARTICLE VII

POST-DISTRIBUTION COVENANTS

Section 7.01    Non-Hire; Non-Solicit..

(a)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from the Distribution Date through the first anniversary of the Distribution Date, Organon shall not, and shall cause the Organon Group not to, recruit, solicit or hire (whether as an employee, consultant, contractor or otherwise) any individual who was an Employee of the Merck Group as of or within six months prior to the Distribution Date and who both (i) rejected any offer of employment made by the Organon Group in connection with the Separation and Distribution and (ii) received severance payments in connection with the termination of their employment with the Merck Group, for a position that is the same as or similar to such previously rejected position.

(b)    Organon specifically acknowledges and agrees that this provision does not impede the Organon Group from competing in the marketplace or obtaining sufficient talent to effectively innovate, develop, grow, or sustain its business.

(c)    The Parties further specifically acknowledge and agree that any remedy at law for any breach of this Section 7.01 shall be inadequate and that in the event of any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7.01, the non-breaching party, in addition to any other relief available to it, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damage.

(d)    The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that an exception may be made to this provision at the sole discretion and with the written consent of Organon’s Chief Human Resources Officer. Any exception made shall not be used as precedent to compel or allow any further exceptions.

ARTICLE VIII

TAXES

Section 8.01    Reporting, Withholding and Deductions. Unless otherwise provided under this Agreement, the Party that has been allocated a Liability under this Agreement shall take responsibility for tax reporting and withholding (including paying any corresponding employer tax obligation and remitting both the employer taxes and the withheld taxes) with respect to that Liability, and shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any corresponding tax deductions on an applicable income tax return. The Party with responsibility for reporting and withholding shall prepare all associated Tax Returns (as defined in the Tax Matters Agreement) and shall be Liable and shall indemnify and hold harmless the other Party for any Taxes (as defined in the Tax Matters Agreement), including interest, penalties, additions to Tax, or additional amounts in respect of Taxes. The Party responsible for preparing and filing the required Tax Returns shall be determined as set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Tax Matters Agreement, and each Party shall provide to the other Party all information and assistance requested to fulfill the obligations set forth herein applying the standards set forth in Section 3.2 of the Tax Matters Agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, the allocation of Tax deductions in this Section 8.01 shall be taken into account for purposes of the allocation of Tax Attributes under Section 2.10 of the Tax Matters Agreement and for purposes of all other provisions of the Tax Matters Agreement relating to Income Taxes, including Section 2.2 (Allocation of Income Taxes), Section 2.6 (Determination of Tax Attributable to Merck Business and Organon Business), Section 2.9 (Carrybacks and Claims for Refund), and Article III (Tax Returns, Tax Contests, and Other Administrative Matters) of the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

29


(a)    Qualified Retirement Plans. Unless otherwise required by non-U.S. law, where applicable, Merck will report and withhold, as necessary, on distributions with respect to Liabilities it retains with respect to Merck Employees, Former Employees, and Organon Employees under the Merck Pension Plan under Section 3.01 of this Agreement. Merck shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any tax deductions for amounts it contributes to the Merck Pension Plan.

(b)    Nonqualified Retirement Plans. Unless otherwise required by non-U.S. law, where applicable, Merck will report and withhold, as necessary, on Merck SERP and Merck DCP distributions with respect to Liabilities it retains under Sections 3.03 and 3.04(b) with respect to Merck Employees, Former Employees, and Organon Employees. Merck shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any tax deductions with respect to the amounts paid under such plans.

(c)    Health and Welfare Plans. Unless otherwise required by non-U.S. law, where applicable, Merck shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any tax deductions with respect to amounts contributed to fund obligations to Transferred Employees and Former Employees under Section 5.01(d) under the Merck Retiree Health Care Plan on the applicable income tax return.

(d)    Equity Compensation. Unless otherwise required by non-U.S. law, where applicable, Merck shall report and withhold on any Adjusted Merck Options, Adjusted Merck PSU Awards, and Adjusted Merck RSU Awards and Organon shall report and withhold on any Organon Options and Organon RSU Awards. The entity that transfers its stock shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any tax deduction on any applicable income tax returns.

(e)    Annual Bonus. Unless otherwise required by non-U.S. law, where applicable, the 2021 annual bonuses paid to Transferred Employees by the Organon Group shall be reported and withheld upon by Organon. Organon shall be entitled to claim the benefit of any tax deduction of such payments on any applicable income tax returns.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01    Transfer of Records and Information. Merck shall transfer to Organon originals or copies of employment records and information with respect to Transferred Employees that are reasonably required by Organon to enable Organon properly to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Such transfer of records and information generally shall occur as soon as administratively practicable on or after the Distribution Date (or, if later, the applicable Transfer Date) and shall in each case be required and shall occur only to the extent permitted by applicable local Law; provided that it is understood and agreed that certain records required to effect the contemplated transfer of employment may be provided prior to the Transfer Date to the extent required by applicable local Law. Each Party will permit the other Party reasonable access to Employee records and information, to the extent reasonably necessary for such accessing Party to carry out its obligations hereunder.

 

30


Section 9.02    Cooperation. Each Party shall upon reasonable request provide the other Party and the other Party’s respective Affiliates, agents, and vendors all information reasonably necessary to the other Party’s performance of its obligations hereunder. The Parties agree to use their respective best efforts and to cooperate with each other in order to carry out their obligations hereunder and to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

Section 9.03    Employee Agreements. Effective as of the applicable Transfer Date of each Transferred Employee, or such earlier date as may be required by applicable Law, Merck and the applicable members of the Merck Group hereby assign to Organon or another member of the Organon Group, to the extent a Transferred Employee did not otherwise sign an Employee Agreement to affect his or her transfer to and hiring by the Organon Group, each Employee Agreement entered into between a member of the Merck Group and any Organon Employee, and all rights and obligations thereunder; provided, however, that Merck and the Merck Group shall retain all rights under each Employee Agreement to the extent that such rights are related to any continuing Liability of the Merck Group not assumed by Organon in connection with the Separation and Distribution.

Section 9.04    Recoupment Assets. Effective as of the Distribution Date, the Merck Group shall be entitled to all Employee Recoupment Assets in respect of Merck Retained Employees and all Former Employees. The Organon Group shall be entitled to all Employee Recoupment Assets in respect of Organon Employees, effective as of the applicable Transfer Date.

Section 9.05    Compliance. The agreements and covenants of the Parties hereunder shall at all times be subject to the requirements and limitations of applicable Law (including, for purposes of Article IV, local rules and customs relating to the treatment of pension plans) and collective bargaining, works council, or other similar agreements. Where an agreement or covenant of a Party hereunder cannot be effected in compliance with applicable Law or an applicable collective bargaining, works council, or other similar agreement, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith to modify such agreement or covenant to the least extent possible in keeping with the original agreement or covenant in order to comply with applicable Law or such applicable collective bargaining agreement. Each provision of this Agreement is subject to and qualified by this Section 9.05, whether or not such provision expressly states that it is subject to or limited by applicable Law or by applicable collective bargaining, works council, or other similar agreements. Each reference to the Code, ERISA, or the Securities Act or any other Law shall be deemed to include the rules, regulations, and guidance issued thereunder.

Section 9.06    Preservation of Rights. Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation on the right of the Merck Group or the Organon Group to (a) amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or (b) terminate the employment of any Employee.

Section 9.07    Reimbursement. The Parties acknowledge that the Merck Group, on the one hand, and the Organon Group, on the other hand, may incur costs and expenses

 

31


(including, without limitation, contributions to Benefit Plans and the payment of insurance premiums) which are, as set forth in this Agreement, the responsibility of the other Party. Accordingly, the Parties agree to reimburse each other for Liabilities and obligations for which such Party is responsible, and shall provide such reimbursement reasonably promptly and in accordance with the terms of any agreement between the Parties or their Affiliates expressly addressing such matters.

Section 9.08    Not a Change in Control. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement and this Agreement do not constitute a “change in control” or a “change of control” for purposes of any U.S. Benefit Plan.

Section 9.09    Incorporation by Reference. The following sections of the Separation and Distribution Agreement are hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference: Section 10.01. Counterparts, Entire Agreement, Corporate Power, Facsimile or Electronic Signatures; Section 10.02. Governing Law; Section 10.03. Assignability; Section 10.04. Third Party Beneficiaries; Section 10.05. Notices; Section 10.06. Severability; Section 10.07. Force Majeure; Section 10.08. No Set Off; Section 10.09. Responsibility for Expenses; Section 10.10. Headings; Section 10.11. Survival of Covenants; Section 10.12. Subsidiaries and Employees; Section 10.13. Waivers; Section 10.14. Amendments; Section 10.15. Interpretation; Section 10.16. Public Announcements; Section 10.17. Specific Performance; and Section 10.18. Mutual Drafting.

Section 9.10    Limitation on Enforcement. This Agreement is an agreement solely between the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to: (a) confer upon any current or former Employee of the Merck Group or the Organon Group, or any other person any rights or remedies, including, but not limited to any right to (i) employment or recall; (ii) continued employment or continued service for any specified period; or (iii) claim any particular compensation, benefit or aggregation of benefits, of any kind or nature; or (b) create, modify, or amend any Benefit Plan.

Section 9.11    Further Assurances and Consents. In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) execute and deliver such further instruments and documents and take such other actions as the other party may reasonably request to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and carry out the terms hereof; (b) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and agreements or otherwise to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any consents and approvals and to make any filings and applications necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that no Party shall be obligated to pay any consideration therefor (except for filing fees and other similar charges) to any third party from whom those consents, approvals and amendments are required or to take any action or omit to take any action if the taking of action or the omission to take action would be unreasonably burdensome to the Party or the business thereof.

 

32


Section 9.12    Third Party Consent. If the obligation of any Party under this Agreement depends on the consent of a third party, such as a vendor or insurance company, and that consent is withheld, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the applicable provisions of this Agreement to the fullest extent practicable. If any provision of this Agreement cannot be implemented due to the failure of a third party to consent, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to implement the provision in a mutually satisfactory manner, taking into account the original purposes of the provision in light of the Spin-Off and communications to affected individuals.

Section 9.13    Effect if Distribution Does Not Occur. If the Spin-Off does not occur, then all actions and events that are to be taken under this Agreement, or otherwise in connection with the Distribution, shall not be taken or occur, except to the extent specifically provided by Merck.

Section 9.14    Disputes. The Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve in an amicable manner any and all controversies, disputes and claims between them arising out of or related in any way to this Agreement. The Parties agree that any controversy, dispute or claim (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or related in any way to this Agreement that cannot be amicably resolved informally will be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution procedures set forth in Article VIII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

33


The Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their authorized representatives as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Merck & Co., Inc.
By:  

/s/ Robert Davis

Title:   President
Organon & Co.
By:  

/s/ Kevin Ali

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Employee Matters Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

MERCK TO ORGANON TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Transition Services Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 2, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between Organon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Organon”), and MSD International GmbH, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Switzerland (“Merck” and together with Organon, each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck Parent”), an Affiliate of Merck, has announced that it will be entering into a separation transaction (the “Separation”, and the separation and distribution agreement pursuant to which the Separation will be effected, the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”, and the date of consummation of the Separation, the “Separation Date”) pursuant to which, among other things, Merck Parent will transfer to Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, an Affiliate of Organon (“Organon Parent”), the business of developing, manufacturing, commercializing, distributing and selling Organon Products and ancillary and related operations with respect to the Organon Business; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Separation, (i) Merck and Organon desire to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which Merck will provide certain transitional services to Organon on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein, and (ii) Merck and Organon will enter into a separate agreement pursuant to which Organon will provide certain transitional services to Merck on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth therein.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions. For the purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the meaning set forth in this Section 1. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the applicable Transaction Document.

1.1 “Additional Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(i).

1.2 “Ad Hoc Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(i).

1.3 “Affiliate” means any Person which, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Party, for so long as such Person controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Party, and regardless of whether such Affiliate is or becomes an Affiliate on or after the Effective Date. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as used with respect to a Person means (i) direct or indirect ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities or other voting interest of any Person (including attribution from related parties), or (ii) 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, as a general partner, as a manager, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties agree that from and after the


Separation Date, neither Organon Parent nor any Organon Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Merck Parent or any Merck Subsidiary and neither Merck Parent nor any Merck Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Organon Parent or any Organon Subsidiary.

1.4 “Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.5 “Applicable Law” means applicable laws, rules, regulations, guidelines or other requirements of a Governmental Authority that may be in effect from time to time.

1.6 “Calendar Month” means a period commencing at the beginning of a day of one of the twelve (12) months of the year and ending immediately before the beginning of the corresponding day of the next month, provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Month of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the last day of the Calendar Month in which the Effective Date occurs and (ii) the last Calendar Month of this Agreement shall commence on the commencement of such Calendar Month and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.7 “Calendar Quarter” means each period of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31; provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Quarter of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the last day of the Calendar Quarter in which the Effective Date occurs and (ii) the last Calendar Quarter of this Agreement shall commence on the commencement of such Calendar Quarter and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.8 “Calendar Year” means each period during the Term commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of such calendar year; provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Year of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on December 31 of the same calendar year and (ii) the last Calendar Year of this Agreement shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year in which this Agreement terminates or expires and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.9 “Commercially Reasonable Efforts” means with respect to the efforts to be expended by a Party with respect to any objective, the reasonable, diligent, good faith efforts to accomplish such objective as a reasonable global pharmaceutical company would normally use to accomplish a similar objective under similar circumstances, it being understood that, unless otherwise set forth in the Transition Services Schedule or elsewhere in this Agreement, as related to the performance of Services, as applicable, Merck’s level of efforts shall be measured against and be no greater than and shall be in accordance with the efforts expended by Merck to accomplish such particular Service as Merck used during the twelve (12) month period prior to the commencement of such Service.

1.10 “Confidential Information” means all confidential information and data relating to a Party (including information regarding such Party’s and its Affiliates’ business, employees, development plans, programs, documentation, techniques, trade secrets, systems, and know-how) disclosed or provided by or on behalf of such Party to the other Party pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement. “Confidential Information” does not include any information or data: (i) rightfully previously known by a Party hereto, or acquired from a Third Party without

 

2


a continuing restriction on use (for clarity, excluding any such information or data possessed by Merck (or its Affiliate) prior to the Separation and assigned to Organon as part of the Separation, which shall be considered Confidential Information of Organon for purposes of this clause (i), as applicable); (ii) which is or becomes publicly known without breach of this Agreement; or (iii) which is independently developed without violating any obligations under this Agreement and without reference to the Confidential Information of the other Party. Any combination of features or disclosures shall not be deemed to fall within the foregoing exclusions merely because individual features are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party unless the combination itself and principle of operation are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party.

1.11 “Covered Personal Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.12 “Cutover Plan” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Interim Operating Agreement or Deferred Market Agreement.

1.13 “Data Protection Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.14 “Data Subject” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.15 “Deferred Market” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.16 “Deferred Market Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.17 “De Minimis Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.4.

1.18 “Dependent Service Element” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.2(i).

1.19 “Discards” means, with respect to any Organon Product (including any Samples (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement)), any and all discards (including write-offs) of such Organon Product that may arise as a result of, or otherwise in connection with the performance of activities by any Party under this Agreement or the Regulatory Agreement including any discards that arise as a result of expiration or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, “Discards” shall not include any discards to the extent expressly provided for pursuant to any supply, manufacturing or similar agreement between the Parties and/or their respective Affiliates.

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

1.21 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.22 “Exit Date” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Interim Operating Agreement or Deferred Market Agreement.

1.23 “Expense” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.

 

3


1.24 “Expense Activity” means any activity, support or work provided by Merck pursuant to Section 3.2.

1.25 “Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2.

1.26 “Governmental Authority” means any United States (federal, state or local), or any other foreign, government or political subdivision thereof, or any multinational governmental organization or authority, or any authority, agency or commission, in each case, entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power, any court or tribunal (or any department, bureau or division thereof), or any governmental arbitrator or arbitral body.

1.27 “Grace Period” means, with respect to each Organon Product, the six (6) month period following the Marketing Authorization Transfer Date (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement).

1.28 “Industry Code” means those codes adopted by industry associations which govern Merck’s business as of the Effective Date, including PhRMA, IFPMA, and corresponding national codes of other countries.

1.29 “Information” means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including studies, reports, records, books, subledgers, instruments, surveys, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, marketing plans, customer names, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data, including cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product data and literature, artwork, design, and quality records and reports; provided that “Information” does not include Merck Intellectual Property.

1.30 “In-Licensed IP” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.3.

1.31 “Interim Services Agreement” means an agreement entered into between an Affiliate of Merck and an Affiliate of Organon with respect to the provision of Services and payment of Expenses in a specific country.

1.32 “International Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.5.

1.33 “IOM Market” means an Interim Operating Model Market as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.34 “IP License Agreement” means any agreement entered into between Merck or an Affiliate of Merck, on the one hand, and Organon or an Affiliate of Organon, on the other hand, with respect to the license of any intellectual property in connection with the Separation.

1.35 “IT Applications” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.3(iv).

1.36 “Local Services Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.9.4.

 

4


1.37 “Longstop Date” means the date that is twelve (12) months after the Effective Date, except for Russia for which it shall mean the date that is twelve (12) months after the Russia Exit Date (as defined in the Deferred Market Agreement).

1.38 “Merck” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.39 “Merck Branded Organon Product” means Organon Product labeled with branding of Merck Parent or an Affiliate of Merck.

1.40 “Merck Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.

1.41 “Merck Intellectual Property means proprietary information, patents, know-how, data and other intellectual property, in any form, owned or otherwise controlled by Merck (or its Affiliate) and that either: (i) was used as of the Effective Date to provide any Service to Organon under this Agreement; or (ii) Merck or its Affiliate has determined to be reasonably necessary for Organon to receive any Service or Expense Activity hereunder.

1.42 “Merck Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.43 “Merck Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Merck Parent post-Separation (including Merck).

1.44 “Merck Transition Manager” means the “General Manager” designated by Merck to have general management responsibility for the provision of Services. The initial Transition Manager shall be designated on or prior to the Effective Date.

1.45 “Organon” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.46 “Organon Branded Product” means Organon Product labeled with branding of Organon Parent or an Affiliate of Organon.

1.47 “Organon Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.48 “Organon Improvements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.2.

1.49 “Organon Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.50 “Organon Products” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.51 “Organon Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Organon Parent post-Separation (including Organon).

1.52 “Organon Transition Manager” means the “General Manager” designated by Organon to have general management responsibility for the receipt of Services. The initial Transition Manager shall be designated on or prior to the Effective Date.

1.53 “Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

5


1.54 “Payment Claims” means any rebates, prompt payment discounts, chargebacks, shortage claims, retrospective pricing adjustments, reimbursements and similar items related to the prior sale of an Organon Product; provided that “Payment Claims” do not include payments in respect of returned products.

1.55 “Person” means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, limited liability entity or other entity or Governmental Authority, including any successor or permitted assignee, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing.

1.56 “Personal Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.57 “Personal Data Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.58 “Processing” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.59 “Records means Merck’s (or its Affiliate’s or Subcontractor’s, as applicable) records related to the provision of Services to be provided under this Agreement; provided, however, that with respect to records of existing Subcontractors as of the Effective Date, the term “Records” shall only include the records of a given existing Subcontractor to the extent that the agreement between Merck (or its Affiliate, as applicable) and such Subcontractor requires such Subcontractor to maintain such records and provide access to such records as set forth in this Agreement (provided, however, that this shall not relieve Merck or its Subcontractor, as applicable, of its obligations to comply with all Applicable Laws).

1.60 “Regulatory Agreement” means the Regulatory Agreement for Organon Products entered into between Merck Parent (or one of its Affiliates) and Organon Parent (or one of its Affiliates).

1.61 “Security Regulations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.1.

1.62 “Separation” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.63 “Separation and Distribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.64 “Separation Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.65 “Service Fee” means with respect to each Service set forth in the Transition Services Schedule, the agreed monthly service fee set forth opposite such Service in the Transition Services Schedule (as it may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and if so amended, restated modified or supplemented, as may be calculated and adjusted in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2 ).

1.66 “Service Fees Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

1.67 “Service Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.1.

 

6


1.68 “Service Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.3.

1.69 “Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

1.70 “STAIRS Plan” means the plan, as mutually agreed by Organon and Merck (or their respective Affiliates, as applicable), that details the transfer of Marketing Authorizations, the name change of the holder of the Marketing Authorizations, site name changes, legal entity name and address changes, and artwork changes in connection with the Separation (as such plan may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the Regulatory Agreement).

1.71 “Subcontractor” means any Person (other than a Party or an Affiliate of a Party) engaged by a Party (or its Affiliate) to perform any Service obligation or Expense Activity of such Party hereunder.

1.72 “Systems” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.1.

1.73 “Tangible Information” means Information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

1.74 “Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

1.75 “Third Party” means any Person other than Organon or Merck or any of their respective Affiliates.

1.76 “Third Party Agreement” means any agreement with a Third Party for the provision of goods, a service, lease or license relating to, or necessary for, the provision of the Services or Expense Activities whether entered into before or after the date of this Agreement.

1.77 “Third Party Claim” means any and all suits, claims, actions, proceedings or demands brought by a Third Party against Merck (or the Merck Indemnitees).

1.78 “Third Party Consent” means any permission, consent, agreement or authorization required from a Third Party, whether under a Third Party Agreement or otherwise, for the provision of the Services or Expense Activities by Merck, or the receipt of such Services or Expense Activities by Organon.

1.79 “Third Party Costs” means any payment or reimbursement made to a Subcontractor or other Third Party for services and/or goods provided in connection with the activities contemplated under this Agreement.

1.80 “Third Party Damages” means all losses, costs, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses payable to a Third Party by Merck (or the Merck Indemnitees) under a Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs of litigation in connection therewith).

1.81 “Third Party Supplier” means any Third Party providing goods, a service, lease or license under a Third Party Agreement, including any Subcontractor.

 

7


1.82 “Third Party In-License” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.3.

1.83 “Transaction Documents” means the Separation and Distribution Agreement and any other agreements entered into between Merck Parent (or any of its Affiliates) and Organon (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the Separation.

1.84 “Transition Managers” means the Organon Transition Manager and the Merck Transition Manager.

1.85 “Transition Services Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

1.86 “TSA Exit” means the transition or migration from the provision of a particular Service by Merck to Organon under this Agreement to performance of such Service by Organon or a Third Party designated by Organon or the end of a Service for which no such transition or migration is required.

1.87 “VAT” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.1.

2. Services.

2.1 Provision of Services. Subject to Section 2.2, commencing on the Effective Date, Merck agrees to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide (itself or through one or more of its Affiliates or Subcontractors) to Organon or its applicable Affiliates the services described in Schedule 1 (as such schedule may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “Transition Services Schedule”) for the respective periods and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule (the “Services”).

2.2 Additional Services.

2.2.1 Additional Services.

(i) Merck shall consider in good faith any reasonable written request by Organon or any of its Affiliates for new services that are not reflected in the Transition Services Schedule at the time of such request (the “Additional Services”). If Organon desires to request an Additional Service to be provided hereunder by Merck, the Organon Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the requested commencement date of such Additional Service, provide a written request thereof to the Merck Transition Manager describing such Additional Service and the anticipated commencement date thereof. For example, if an Additional Service is being requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Organon must request the Additional Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If an Additional Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Organon’s request for such Additional Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.1, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law, on whether such Additional Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and Service Fee for such Additional Service added, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.1(i) and 2.2.1(ii), respectively.

 

8


(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request for Additional Services, the Merck Transition Manager shall provide the Organon Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such Additional Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment as to whether the requested commencement or completion dates can be achieved. Following receipt by the Organon Transition Manager of the Merck Transition Manager’s response to the request for Additional Services, the terms and conditions, including the applicable commencement date, the Service Termination Date, and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Additional Services, if any, shall be provided by Merck, shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5.

(iii) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.1 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to add any such Additional Services and to reflect the Service Fee applicable to such Additional Services. Any agreed Additional Services so provided by Merck shall constitute Services under this Agreement and be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement as if fully set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the date hereof. It is understood that Merck may in its sole and absolute discretion decline to provide any such Additional Service and Organon acknowledges that Merck shall be under no obligation to provide, and may not have the resources, capabilities or capacity to provide, any Additional Service, and may determine not to do so for any reason or no reason; provided that if such Additional Service is required to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, and such Additional Service cannot be performed by Organon itself or cannot be provided by a Third Party, including outside advisors, Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide such Additional Service.

(iv) If, after the Effective Date Merck discovers that it, or its Affiliates, is performing any service for Organon that is not a Service in the Transition Services Schedule and is not a De Minimis Service as determined by Merck, and is not otherwise agreed to pursuant to Section 3.2, Merck shall inform Organon in writing and Organon may request Merck to add this service as an Additional Service pursuant to this Section 2.2.1. For clarity, if such service is not requested by Organon to be an Additional Service or the terms and conditions and applicable Service Fee are not mutually agreed to, Merck may stop performing such service.

2.2.2 Ad Hoc Services.

(i) The Transition Services Schedule contains a description of certain services that do not have an applicable Service Fee (“Ad Hoc Services”). Such Ad Hoc Services shall be provided by Merck upon the mutual agreement of the Parties pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.2.2 and in accordance with Section 5. If Organon desires that Merck provide an Ad Hoc Service hereunder, the Organon Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated commencement date of such Ad Hoc Service, provide a written request thereof to the Merck Transition Manager. For example, if an Ad Hoc Service is being

 

9


requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Organon must request such Ad Hoc Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If an Ad Hoc Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Organon’s request for such Ad Hoc Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law or for those certain Ad Hoc Services identified for expedited review in the Transition Services Schedule, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.2, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law or to support the business need for those certain Ad Hoc Service identified for expedited review in the Transition Services Schedule, on whether such Ad Hoc Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and Service Fee for such Ad Hoc Service to be implemented, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.2(i) and 2.2.2(ii), respectively.

(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request for Ad Hoc Services, the Merck Transition Manager shall provide the Organon Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such Ad Hoc Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2), and an assessment of whether the requested commencement or completion dates can be achieved. Following receipt by the Organon Transition Manager of the Merck Transition Manager’s response to the request for Ad Hoc Services, the additional terms and conditions, including the applicable commencement date, Service Termination Date, and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Ad Hoc Services, if any, shall be provided, shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree upon such additional terms and conditions, such Ad Hoc Services shall not be provided hereunder; provided further that any such agreed Ad Hoc Services shall only be provided by Merck until no later than the applicable Service Termination Date set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the Effective Date and if a longer period is requested by Organon, such Ad Hoc Services shall be treated as Additional Services in accordance with Section 2.2.1.

(iii) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.2 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be updated to reflect the Service Fee and any additional agreed upon terms and conditions applicable to such Ad Hoc Services. Any agreed Ad Hoc Services so provided by Merck shall constitute Services under this Agreement and be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement as if fully set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, there may be more than one request for the same Ad Hoc Service that is listed in the Transition Services Schedule, and each such request will be managed pursuant to this Section 2.2.2 and the same line item in the Transition Services Schedule.

2.2.3 Change in Scope of Service and Increase in Service Fee.

(i) The Parties agree and acknowledge that Merck may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the applicable Services if Merck is making similar changes in performing similar services for itself, its Affiliates or other Third Parties, if any; provided that if any such changes adversely affect the benefits to Organon of Merck’s provision or quality of such Service in any material respect or increase the Service Fee for such Service,

 

10


Merck shall provide a written description thereof to Organon and the Transition Managers shall mutually agree (unless such change is required by Applicable Law or a Governmental Authority, in which case such mutual agreement shall not be required) in writing in accordance with Section 5 to amend the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule to reflect such change and any corresponding increase, if applicable, in the applicable Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

(ii) Organon may request changes to the scope of Services being provided by Merck pursuant to the Transition Services Schedule. For example, an increase in the volume of activity related to a specific Service due to an acquisition of a company by Organon, would be a change in the scope of such Service. If Organon desires to request a change in the nature or manner of performing a particular Service or the level at which such Service is to be provided hereunder by Merck, the Organon Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated commencement date of such change in the scope of such Service, provide a written request thereof to the Merck Transition Manager describing such change. For example, if a change in scope of a Service is being requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Organon must request the change in scope of such Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If a change in scope of a Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Organon’s request for such change in scope of a Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.3, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law, on whether such change in scope of a Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and revised Service Fee, for any increase in scope, for such Service, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.3(ii) and 2.2.3(iii), respectively.

(iii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request from the Organon Transition Manager, the Merck Transition Manager shall provide the Organon Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth any applicable increase in the Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment of whether the requested commencement date for such change in scope can be achieved. Following receipt by the Organon Transition Manager of the Merck Transition Manager’s response to the request for a change in the scope of a particular Service, the new terms and conditions, including the commencement date for such change in scope and any applicable increase in the Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Service shall be provided shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree upon such new terms and conditions, the scope of such Service and the Service Fee shall not be amended hereunder.

(iv) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.3 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to reflect any changes to the scope of any such Services and any increase in the Service Fee applicable to such Services (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on

 

11


Schedule 2). Any reduction to the scope of a Service shall not reduce or otherwise change the applicable Service Fee and the Service Fee in effect prior to any such reduction shall remain in effect through the applicable Service Termination Date (unless otherwise subsequently modified in accordance with this Agreement) and Organon shall continue to be liable for paying the Service Fee related to any such reduced Service until the applicable Service Termination Date (unless otherwise subsequently modified in accordance with this Agreement); provided, however, that Organon shall be permitted, (a) once by no later than September 30, 2021, and (b) once by no later than March 31, 2022, to identify individual information technology applications (“IT Applications”) that it requests to move into an earlier or later completion “Wave” (as set forth in the Service Name on Schedule 1), which may include the creation of an Additional Service for a particular function’s IT Applications. In the event that the Transition Managers mutually agree to any such requested IT Application moves, the applicable Service Fee to be charged for each future Wave will be modified accordingly, whether increased or decreased, in an amount as determined solely by Merck, to reflect the Services provided after January 1, 2022, and July 1, 2022, respectively.

2.2.4 De Minimis Services. Without limiting any other provisions of this Section 2.2, Merck may, in its sole discretion, perform certain additional de minimis services that are incidental and not material in nature (and Merck shall consider any reasonable request by Organon or any of its Affiliates for such de minimis services) (the “De Minimis Services”); provided, however, that whether Merck will provide such De Minimis Services shall be in Merck’s sole discretion. The De Minimis Services, if any, shall constitute Services under this Agreement and shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) the De Minimis Services will not be reflected in the Transition Services Schedule and (ii) the De Minimis Services shall be provided at Merck’s sole cost and expense (i.e. there shall be no Service Fee with respect to any De Minimis Services). For the avoidance of doubt, any support provided by Merck to Organon pursuant to Section 3.2 shall not be considered De Minimis Services.

2.3 Information.

2.3.1 All Tangible Information supplied to Organon by Merck pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided in Merck’s standard format as in existence on the Effective Date. All Information will be supplied in its existing language without any translation required by Merck. Merck reserves the right to redact such Information where required. Merck reserves the right to change the format of the Information supplied to Organon to accommodate any upgrades or improvements in Merck’s existing systems, software or hardware or for other reasonable business reasons. Organon can request that Information be supplied in a format that is different from Merck’s standard format in existence on the Effective Date or the format as subsequently changed by Merck pursuant to the preceding sentence by providing a written request thereof to Merck, which written request shall contain Organon’s rationale for the requested change in format to a non-standard format. If Merck, in its sole discretion and upon the request of Organon, accommodates such request to provide Information in a non-standard format requested by Organon, the Expenses of any such provision of Information, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2, shall be the responsibility of Organon and Merck shall be reimbursed for any such Expenses incurred in connection with accommodating Organon’s request. Merck shall not be required to make any upgrade or improvements to its existing systems, software or hardware on behalf of Organon in order to provide any Services, Expense Activities or Information in any different format.

 

12


2.3.2 In connection with a TSA Exit, in accordance with the TSA Exit plan, Merck will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts and will cause its Affiliates to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to support any transfer of Records concerning the Organon Products and related to such Service to Organon in accordance with the applicable TSA Exit plan. If requested by Organon in connection with the prior sentence during the Term, Merck will deliver and will cause its Affiliates to deliver to Organon, within such time periods as the Parties may reasonably agree, all Records received or computed for the benefit of Organon related to such Service prior to the applicable Service Termination Date, the scope of such Records as mutually agreed, in electronic and/or hard copy form; provided, however, that (i) Merck will not have any obligation to provide or cause to provide Records in any format other than the current format Merck maintains, and (ii) the Expenses of any such provisions of Records, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2, shall be the responsibility of Organon and Merck shall be reimbursed for such Expenses incurred in connection with accommodating Organon’s request.

2.3.3 Upon the request of Organon, Merck shall provide any Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business; provided that, to the extent such Tangible Information is not being provided under a Service in the Transition Services Schedule, (i) requests for provision of Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business that is contained within unstructured or structured data in Merck Systems will be managed pursuant to Section 3.2.8, and (ii) requests for provision of Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business that is contained within physical records will be managed pursuant to Section 3.2.10.

2.3.4 Any Expenses incurred by Merck pursuant to this Section 2.3 for which Organon is responsible shall be invoiced by Merck to Organon in accordance with Section 3.3. For avoidance of doubt, such Expenses may include the reasonable costs of gathering, redacting where required, copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such Information.

2.3.5 Any requests for Records concerning the Services, or Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business after the Term shall be handled pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

2.4 Limitation on Service Obligations. Without limiting its obligations pursuant to Section 6.1, Merck shall be entitled to determine the manner in which it performs the Services and Expense Activities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Merck will in no case be obligated to (i) hire any additional employees or increase the scope of responsibilities of its existing employees, (ii) maintain the employment of any specific employee, (iii) purchase, lease or license any additional equipment or software, or (iv) expand its facilities, incur capital expenses or develop new business processes. In addition, Merck shall have no obligation to (i) upgrade, enhance or otherwise modify any computer hardware, software or network environment currently used by Organon or otherwise, or to provide any support or maintenance services for any computer hardware, software or network environment that has been upgraded, enhanced or otherwise modified by or on behalf of Organon, or (ii) provide to Organon any legal or tax advice or any assistance in negotiating any contracts or agreements that Organon will enter into.

 

13


2.5 Provision of Services. Organon acknowledges that Merck may be performing or providing services similar to the Services or Expense Activities (and/or services that involve the same resources as those used to provide the Services or Expense Activities) to its internal organizations, Affiliates and Third Parties. Merck reserves the right to modify the Services and Expense Activities to the extent the same changes are made to such similar services that it uses or provides to its internal organizations, Affiliates and Third Parties in the ordinary course of business. In no event shall Merck be required to make any customization to the Services or Expense Activity (or Merck’s Systems or processes) that is unique to Organon. Organon acknowledges that Merck is not in the business of providing services to Third Parties and that Merck is entering into this Agreement only in connection with the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

2.6 Necessary Suspension. Merck will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide the applicable Services and Expense Activities during the applicable periods during the Term. In the event, however, that Merck, in the normal course of the operations in accordance with the historical practice of the past twelve (12) months prior to commencement of a Service or Expense Activity, determines to suspend delivery of a Service or Expense Activity hereunder for purposes of computer system backups, inspections, maintenance, software patches, repair, replacement of equipment parts or structures, security, or other similar activities, Merck shall not be obligated to deliver such Services or Expense Activities during such periods; provided that (i) Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to inform Organon in writing prior to any scheduled interruption; and (ii) Merck will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to limit the disruption of Organon’s business caused by such suspension. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Merck may, from time to time and in its sole discretion, also perform additional information technology upgrades that may result in Service or Expense Activity outages or undertake other activities that may result in Service or Expense Activity outages (in each case, even if not in the normal course of the operations in accordance with the historical practice of the past twelve (12) months prior to commencement of a Service) and Merck may make such upgrades regardless of whether any such upgrade results in such an outage; provided that such information technology upgrades or other activities, as applicable, do not negatively affect Merck’s provision of the Services or Expense Activities in any material respect.

2.7 Subcontractors. Merck may subcontract or otherwise delegate the performance of all or any of its obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of the Schedules attached hereto) to any of Merck’s Affiliates or any Subcontractor solely to the extent such subcontract or delegation does not conflict with Applicable Law. If, in accordance with the foregoing, Merck exercises its rights or performs its obligations under this Agreement through an Affiliate or Subcontractor, then Merck shall remain solely responsible for the acts, omissions and performance of such Affiliate or Subcontractor as if such acts, omissions and performance had been provided by Merck itself under this Agreement. In addition, in each case where a Merck Affiliate has an obligation pursuant to this Agreement or performs an obligation pursuant to this Agreement: (i) Merck shall cause and compel such Affiliate to perform such obligation and comply with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) any breach of the terms or conditions of this Agreement by such Affiliate shall be deemed a breach by Merck of such terms

 

14


or conditions. Organon shall be responsible for any additional costs or expenses arising under this Section 2.7 in connection with the addition or use of any such Subcontractor to perform Services or Expense Activities hereunder or the change of any Subcontractor previously performing Services or Expense Activities hereunder and Merck shall have the right to pass-through such additional fees to Organon (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule and incorporated in the Service Fees Schedule shall be revised to include such fees, and the amount of any applicable Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be adjusted); provided, however, (x) to the extent that a Subcontractor is changed solely due to Merck’s preference (and, for clarity, not due to the previous Subcontractor’s inability to adequately provide a Service or Expense Activity) or (y) a new Subcontractor is utilized by Merck to provide a Service or Expense Activity that was previously provided to Organon using Merck’s internal resources, then, in each case, any additional fees shall not be Expenses for which Organon shall be responsible and Merck shall bear any such additional fees (and, for the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no change in the applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule).

2.8 Third Party Suppliers.

2.8.1 Third Party Consents.

(i) Merck shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain and maintain for the Term any Third Party Consents that are necessary for Merck’s provision to, and Organon’s receipt of, the Services and Expense Activities, except that Merck shall have no obligation to obtain any Third Party Consents in respect of any Covered Personal Data.

(ii) Organon shall provide Merck with such assistance as Merck may reasonably request to obtain Third Party Consents, including assistance with negotiating the terms of Third Party Consents with Third Party Suppliers.

(iii) Any Expenses imposed by a Third Party for the provision of any Third Party Consent that is required in respect of the Services or Expense Activities shall be borne by Organon and Merck shall have the right to pass-through such additional Expenses to Organon or, if applicable, adjust the applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule and incorporated in the Service Fees Schedule; provided that Merck shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to seek to minimize the Expenses imposed by a Third Party for the provision of such Third Party Consents that are required in respect of the Services or Expense Activity.

2.8.2 Dependence on Third Parties.

(i) Where a Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement is required in order for Merck to provide, or procure the provision of, any element of a Service or Expense Activity (a “Dependent Service Element”) but:

(a) such Third Party Consent either:

(1) has not been obtained; or

 

15


(2) has expired or been terminated or been revoked by the Third Party Supplier; or

(b) the obtaining of that Third Party Consent requires the payment of an Expense to the relevant Third Party Supplier that:

(1) is not expressly itemized in the Service Fee set forth on the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule; and

(2) Organon does not pay (without limiting Organon’s obligations under Section 2.8.1(iii)); or

(c) such Third Party Agreement either has been terminated or not extended or not renegotiated following expiration on substantially similar terms (including pricing terms and any terms related to performance thereunder),

then Merck shall not be obliged to provide, or procure the provision of, the Dependent Service Element.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the ability of Merck to provide each Service or Expense Activity hereunder shall be subject to the performance of any applicable Third Party Supplier and the terms, conditions and other provisions of any applicable Third Party Agreement. Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to enforce its rights under any applicable Third Party Agreement. Merck shall notify Organon in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable, upon it becoming aware of any threatened or actual failure to obtain revocation, termination or expiry of the relevant Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement if it will adversely impact the ability of Merck to provide the applicable Service to Organon or Expense Activity. Upon receiving such notification, Organon and Merck shall cooperate in good faith to obtain or renew any such Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement. Any increased cost associated with such new Third Party Consent or renewal, that is applicable or allocable to a Service or Expense Activity, shall be borne by Organon and Merck shall have the right to pass-through any such increased Expenses to Organon.

(iii) Upon Organon’s request, Merck shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to implement alternative arrangements providing substantially similar services in place of the Dependent Service Element. The cost of putting alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii) shall be borne by Organon and Merck shall have the right to pass-through such additional Expenses to Organon. The Parties shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to seek to minimize the cost of putting alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Merck shall not be required to put alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii) if Organon itself is able to perform the service or services comprising the Dependent Service Element or if Organon can procure the Dependent Service Element from a Third Party at a reasonable cost.

2.9 Intellectual Property.

2.9.1 Merck Intellectual Property. As between the Parties, Merck (or its Affiliate) shall own all right, title and interest in and to the Merck Intellectual Property (including

 

16


any and all information contained therein), and Organon is not acquiring any ownership interest in any Merck Intellectual Property (including any and all information contained therein) under this Agreement.

2.9.2 IP Generated from the Provision of Services. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document, all discoveries, improvements or inventions by Merck or any of its Affiliates, whether or not patentable, solely relating to an Organon Product and that directly result and arise from Merck’s or its Affiliates’ performance of the Services hereunder (“Organon Improvements”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of Organon and shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of Organon for purposes of this Agreement. Within thirty (30) days of becoming aware of any such Organon Improvement, Merck shall notify Organon, in writing, of the event and, upon Organon’s written request and at Organon’s sole expense, shall reasonably assist Organon in protecting Organon’s proprietary rights to such Organon Improvement. Merck and its Affiliates shall assign, and hereby does assign, its entire right, title and interest in and to the Organon Improvements to Organon.

2.9.3 In-Licensed IP; Third-Party In-Licensed IP. To the extent any software or intellectual property is provided as part of, or used to perform, any Service or Expense Activity and is licensed to Merck or any of its Affiliates by a Third Party (“In-Licensed IP”) pursuant to a contract to which such Third Party and Merck (or its Affiliate) are parties (a “Third Party In-License”), then: (i) to the extent the terms of such Third Party In-License are provided to or communicated to Organon or its Affiliates, Organon shall, and shall ensure its Affiliates, comply with the applicable obligations and other terms and restrictions of such Third Party In-License, (ii) Organon and its Affiliates shall only use the In-Licensed IP to the extent necessary in accordance with this Agreement, and (iii) Merck makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the In-Licensed IP and shall have no liability with respect to such In-Licensed IP other than to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to pass through to Organon and its Affiliates any rights and benefits under the Third Party In-License. Except as otherwise set out in this Agreement, Merck does not (and does not purport to) assign or grant any rights or licenses in the In-Licensed IP to Organon or its Affiliates and any proprietary rights vesting in the same shall continue to be held by the applicable Third Party or its licensors. If Organon or any of its Affiliates materially breaches the terms of a Third Party In-License, then Merck may, upon written notice to Organon and without liability to Merck or any of its Affiliates, suspend or terminate Organon’s or its Affiliates’ access to the applicable In-Licensed IP that is the subject of such Third Party In-License.

2.9.4 Licenses. Each Party shall grant to the other Party such rights and licenses to such intellectual property, documentation and Information as shall be necessary for the other Party to perform its respective obligations and to exercise its respective rights under this Agreement.

2.9.5 IP License Agreements. This Section 2.9 and the terms hereof shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any IP License Agreement and in the event of a conflict between this Section 2.9 and any IP License Agreement, such IP License Agreement shall control.

2.10 Services Recipient. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing, (i) only Organon and its Affiliates shall be entitled to have

 

17


access to the Services and Expense Activities under this Agreement, (ii) Organon shall not, directly or indirectly, resell or permit the use of any of the Services or Expense Activities to or by any other person or entity, and (iii) in no event shall Organon, its Affiliates or their respective employees, third-party technology consultants or other personnel be entitled to modify any Merck System or the Services or Expense Activities.

3. Payment.

3.1 Service Fees. In consideration for the provision of Services specified in the Transition Services Schedule by Merck, Organon will pay the applicable Service Fees to Merck pursuant to Schedule 3 (as amended or modified from time to time, including to add Service Fees for Calendar Months not included in the initial version of Schedule 3, the “Service Fees Schedule”). The Service Fees may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

3.1.1 Service Fees for Certain Quality-Related Services. For certain product quality-related Services that could have a duration of up to five (5) years, and are indicated as such in the Transition Services Schedule, the related Service Fees indicated in the Transition Services Schedule will be adjusted as follows beginning January 1, 2024.

 

   

For Calendar Year 2024, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2024, will be reduced twenty-five percent (25%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2023.

 

   

For Calendar Year 2025, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2025, will be reduced by thirty-three percent (33%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2024.

 

   

For the first half of Calendar Year 2026, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2026, will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2025.

If either Party believes that any of the above adjustments results in an aggregate of Service Fees for the total of all such Services pursuant to this Section 3.1.1 that is not representative of the costs associated with the total volume of activity associated with such Services in aggregate for a given Calendar Year, such Party may, prior to November 1st of the preceding Calendar Year, request discussion and review by the Transition Managers to determine if a different adjustment should be applied. Such determination shall be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree, the Service Fees for such Services shall be adjusted in accordance with the adjustments noted in this Section 3.1.1.

3.1.2 Reconciliation of Certain Service Fees. With respect to certain Services that are specifically designated as being subject to this Section 3.1.2 in the Transition Services Schedule as of the Effective Date, the actual expense of providing such Services will be reconciled at the end of each Calendar Quarter versus the Service Fees charged and any difference invoiced (or credited) to Organon in accordance with Section 3.3.

 

18


3.2 Expenses.

3.2.1 Additional Expenses. Subject to this Article 3, to the extent that Merck or its Affiliates incurs any internal or Third Party costs, fees, charges or expenses (each, an “Expense”) specifically related to the Organon Products or Organon Business that are not related to a Service (including pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.2.10, 3.6 and 3.8) or otherwise reimbursed pursuant to any other Transaction Document, Merck shall: (i) invoice such Expenses quarterly, including any applicable markup in accordance with Schedule 2, in the next relevant invoice issued to Organon; and (ii) upon the reasonable request of Organon, provide reasonable substantiation of all such Expenses to Organon. Invoicing and payment of such Expenses shall be in accordance with Section 3.3. Each such invoice shall set forth a reasonable description of such Expenses and the amount of such Expenses payable for such Calendar Quarter.

3.2.2 Third Party Fees. Organon shall be financially responsible for any Expenses, including filing fees, payable to any Governmental Authority or other Third Parties related to the Organon Products. If Merck or any of its Affiliates makes any payment of any such Expenses to a Governmental Authority or other Third Party on behalf of Organon, Organon shall reimburse Merck the amount of such Expenses paid.

3.2.3 STAIRS Plan Expenses Pursuant to Regulatory Agreement. Organon shall be financially responsible for any Expenses related to the STAIRS Plan for Organon Products. In addition to the payment of any applicable Service Fee hereunder, any Expenses incurred with respect to the planning and execution, including the costs associated with artwork and any resulting Discards related to Organon Products, of the STAIRS Plan pursuant to the Regulatory Agreement shall be borne by Organon and Merck shall have the right to charge such Expenses to Organon (such Expenses as calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

3.2.4 Recalls Expenses Pursuant to Regulatory Agreement. In addition to the payment of any applicable Service Fee hereunder, any Expenses incurred with respect to recalls or market withdrawal of Organon Products pursuant to the Regulatory Agreement shall be borne by Organon and Merck shall have the right to charge such Expenses to Organon (such Expenses as calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

3.2.5 Product Returns and Discards. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document and subject to Applicable Law:

(i) From the Effective Date and all times thereafter, Merck shall be responsible for handling, processing, providing refunds or replacements for, destroying, and otherwise administering all returns of Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Merck. In each case, such returns shall be handled in accordance with Merck’s then-current returned goods policy. Returns of Organon Product where the original selling entity is unknown shall not be accepted and credit will not be provided by Merck. In no event shall Merck process returns for Organon Branded Product. In no event shall Merck process returns for Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Organon.

 

19


(ii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Organon, to the extent legally authorized to do so, shall be responsible for handling, processing, providing refunds or replacements for, destroying and otherwise administering all returns of Organon Branded Product, Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Organon, and all cases where the original selling entity is unknown. In each case, such returns shall be handled in accordance with Organon’s then-current returned goods policy. Organon shall not be responsible for processing of returns of Merck Branded Organon Products that were sold by Merck.

(iii) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, Organon shall be financially responsible for all costs (including the costs of credits and replacements provided in connection with such returns) associated with Merck Branded Organon Product returns sold by Merck. From the Effective Date and all times thereafter, Organon shall be financially responsible for all costs (including the costs of credits and replacements provided in connection with such returns) associated with returns of Organon Branded Product and Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Organon and for any Organon Product where the original selling entity is unknown.

(iv) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date each Party: (a) shall promptly notify the other Party of receipt of any Organon Product incorrectly returned to that Party (with reference to the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to Applicable Law) and shall keep adequate records regarding such returned Organon Products; and (b) shall send back to the relevant customer any Organon Product that is returned to the incorrect entity, and direct such customer to return the Organon Product to the correct Party.

(v) If a Third Party contacts Organon regarding the return of any Merck Branded Organon Product that was sold by Merck, Organon shall refer such Third Party to Merck. If a Third Party contacts Merck regarding the return of any Merck Branded Organon Product that was sold by Organon, Merck shall refer such Third Party to Organon. If a Third Party contacts Merck regarding return of any Organon Branded Product, Merck shall refer such Third Party to Organon.

(vi) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, neither Organon nor Merck shall instruct, recommend or attempt to induce customers who have previously purchased Organon Product to return such Organon Product when that would not otherwise have been the case but for such Party’s instructions, recommendations or inducement, except in the event of recall, as required by Applicable Law.

(vii) For clarity, Third Parties that have purchased Merck Branded Organon Product on or prior to the Effective Date may continue to sell such Organon Product to customers in the ordinary course of business. Following the expiration of any Grace Period, Organon shall discard and destroy any remaining Merck Branded Organon Product and provide certificates of destruction, which shall, upon Merck’s request, be made available for inspection.

(viii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Organon shall be financially responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Discards of returned Organon Product sold by Organon, whether Merck Branded Organon Product or Organon Branded

 

20


Product (including the supply price for the underlying Organon Products). From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, Organon shall be financially responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Discards of returned Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Merck. For the avoidance of doubt, Organon shall at all times be financially responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Discards (including the supply price for the underlying Organon Products) of Organon Branded Product.

(ix) For the avoidance of doubt, the costs and expenses included in this Section 3.2.5 that are incurred by one Party but the responsibility of the other Party, shall be Expenses and reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3.

3.2.6 Payment Claims. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document and subject to Applicable Law:

(i) With respect to processing transactional data and government pricing data related to the sale of Organon Products, Merck and Organon agree to work in good faith to ensure compliance with commercial contracts, government programs and the related price reporting requirements in an accurate and timely manner.

(ii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Organon shall be operationally responsible for processing and financially responsible for paying all Payment Claims that are associated with all Organon Branded Product and Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Organon, and with all Merck Branded Organon Product for which it is not possible to identify whether the original selling entity was Merck or Organon.

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, from the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Merck shall be operationally responsible for processing and financially responsible for paying all Payment Claims that are associated with Merck Branded Organon Product sold by Merck.

(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, the costs and expenses included in this Section 3.2.6 that are incurred by one Party but the responsibility of the other Party, shall be Expenses and reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3.

3.2.7 Reimbursement of Expenses Related to IOM Market and Deferred Market Cutover Plans. For any support, with the exception of that for a COMET ERP Transition (as defined in Schedule 4), by Merck for Cutover Plans associated with IOM Markets and Deferred Markets (which support shall be consistent with the applicable agreed Cutover Plan (or completed after the Effective Date in preparation for such Cutover Plan), including an estimate of the Third Party related Expenses, for any such IOM Market or Deferred Market), Organon shall reimburse Merck for all related Third Party related Expenses, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2. Invoicing and payments for such Third Party related Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.2.7 for each such IOM Market Cutover Plan and Deferred Market Cutover Plan shall be included in the invoices and payments to be made in accordance with Section 3.3. Expenses associated with the COMET ERP Transition for each IOM Market and Deferred Market will be fixed in advance for each such country as indicated in Schedule 4, and Organon’s reimbursement obligation related to the COMET ERP Transition of each such IOM

 

21


Market and Deferred Market shall be limited to such quarterly amounts and durations (which may be extended by Merck if the Exit Date is delayed for such IOM Market or Deferred Market; provided that during such extension the quarterly amounts will be adjusted to include only Expenses applicable to the extension that were not included in the fixed quarterly amounts charged prior to such extension) indicated on Schedule 4 for each such country, and invoicing and payments of such Expense in accordance with Section 3.3 will initiate following the Effective Date, as applicable for a specific IOM Market or Deferred Market.

3.2.8 Reimbursement of Expenses Related to IT Projects. For any IT project support by Merck that is requested by Organon that is not included in any Service listed in the Transition Services Schedule, not related to a Cutover Plan for an IOM Market or a Deferred Market, and not related to a TSA Exit pursuant to Section 3.2.9, if Merck agrees to provide the requested support (which agreement shall not be required in the case of a request for Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business that is contained within unstructured or structured data in Merck Systems) then Merck shall provide an estimate of the Expenses for such support and the scope of work to be completed by Merck and the estimated duration for the completion of the support. If Organon agrees to proceed with such IT project, Merck shall complete the project work and be reimbursed for all related Expenses, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2. If, at any time, Merck determines that the actual Expenses for any such support provided under this Section 3.2.8 will exceed the estimated Expenses by greater than ten percent (10%), Merck shall inform Organon who may decide for Merck to continue such support or cease such support. If Organon decides to cease such support, Merck shall invoice, and Organon shall pay, for any Expenses incurred prior to the cessation of support and any related non-cancelable Expenses.

3.2.9 Reimbursement of Expenses Related to TSA Exits. For any support by Merck for TSA Exits (which support shall be consistent with the applicable agreed TSA Exit plan (or completed after the Effective Date in preparation for such TSA Exit plan), including an estimate of the Expenses, for such TSA Exit support), Organon shall reimburse Merck for all related Expenses, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2. Invoicing and payments for such Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.2.9 for each such TSA Exit shall be included in the invoices and payments to be made in accordance with Section 3.3. If, at any time, Merck determines that the actual Expenses for any such support provided under this Section 3.2.9 will exceed the estimated Expenses by greater than ten percent (10%), Merck shall inform Organon who may decide for Merck to continue such support or cease such support. If Organon decides to cease such support, Merck shall invoice, and Organon shall pay, for any Expenses incurred prior to the cessation of support and any related non-cancelable Expenses.

3.2.10 Expenses Related to Physical Records. The provision by Merck to Organon of any Tangible Information specifically related to the Organon Products or the Organon Business that is contained within physical records in response to a request from Organon, that is not being provided under a Service in the Transition Services Schedule, will follow the process outlined in Schedule 6. Organon shall reimburse Merck for the Expenses associated with providing such physical records with the amount of the Expenses to be reimbursed determined in accordance with Schedule 6. Invoicing and payments for such Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.2.10 shall be included in the invoices and payments to be made in accordance with Section 3.3.

 

22


3.3 Payment Timing.

3.3.1 Within thirty (30) days following the end of the Calendar Month that includes the Effective Date, and within thirty (30) days following each Calendar Month thereafter, Merck (or Merck’s Affiliate, as applicable) will deliver to Organon (or Organon’s Affiliate, as applicable) an invoice pursuant to the Service Fees Schedule for the global Services on the Transition Services Schedule and invoices for local Services on the Transition Services Schedule with such invoices for global and local Services being in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule during such Calendar Month. Each such invoice shall set forth a description of the Service Fees payable in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule. For the avoidance of doubt, such invoices shall not be limited to Service Fees related to the Calendar Month covered by such monthly invoice but may include Service Fees from Calendar Months prior to such Calendar Month.

3.3.2 Within thirty (30) days following the end of the Calendar Quarter that includes the Effective Date, and within thirty (30) days following each Calendar Quarter thereafter, Merck (or Merck’s Affiliate, as applicable) will deliver to Organon (or Organon’s Affiliate, as applicable) an invoice for global Expenses that are to be charged through to Organon in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and invoices for local Expenses that are to be charged through to Organon in accordance with the terms of this Agreement incurred during such Calendar Quarter. Each such invoice shall set forth a break-down of the applicable Expenses to be charged to Organon. For the avoidance of doubt, such invoices shall not be limited to Expenses related to the Calendar Months in the Calendar Quarter covered by such quarterly invoice but may include Expenses from Calendar Months prior to such Calendar Quarter.

3.3.3 Organon will pay to Merck, by wire transfer to an account specified in the invoice, such Service Fees and Expense amounts within thirty (30) days after Organon receives such invoice pursuant to Section 3.3.1 or Section 3.3.2, as applicable. All invoices issued by Merck under this Agreement and all payments to be made by Organon under this Agreement, with respect to Services, shall be made in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule.

3.4 Currency Conversion. The rate of exchange to be used in computing the currency equivalent in Dollars of any payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment to a Service Fee, the determination of a Service Fee for a new Service, or any Expense) due hereunder shall be made at the monthly rate of exchange utilized by Merck and its Affiliates in their worldwide accounting system.

3.5 Disputed Amounts. Any good faith dispute over an amount due pursuant to this Article 3 will be subject to the provisions of Section 12.3. Except as the Parties may expressly agree in writing, amounts due under this Agreement may not be offset by amounts due under any other agreement.

3.6 Taxes.

3.6.1 VAT; Similar Taxes. The Service Fees and Expenses shall be exclusive of any value added tax, sales tax or any other similar type of turnover tax (collectively, “VAT”) which may be due and payable by Merck or any of its Affiliates to a Governmental

 

23


Authority and Organon shall pay any such VAT in addition to the sums otherwise payable, at the rate in force at the due time for payment or such other time as is stipulated under the relevant VAT legislation; provided, however, that Organon shall not pay any such VAT unless and until Merck provides a correct invoice in accordance with the relevant VAT legislation. Merck shall be liable for other taxes such as rent, use, and personal property taxes and for taxes on any and all income or revenues received from Organon under this Agreement.

3.6.2 Withholding Taxes. In the event any payments made pursuant to this Agreement are or become subject to withholding taxes under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the Party making such payment shall be entitled to deduct and withhold the amount of such taxes for the account of the payee to the extent required by Applicable Laws and such amounts payable to the payee shall be reduced by the amount of taxes deducted and withheld. Any such withholding taxes required under Applicable Laws to be paid or withheld shall be an expense of, and borne solely by, the payee. If the Party making payment pursuant to this Agreement fails to deduct and withhold all or a portion of the amount of tax required by Applicable Law to be deducted and withheld and such Party is required by Applicable Law to pay all or a portion of such tax to a Governmental Authority for the account of the payee, payee shall, upon request from the other Party, immediately pay to the other Party an amount equal to the amount paid to such Governmental Authority for the account of the payee.

3.6.3 Tax Cooperation. To the extent that the Party making a payment is required to deduct and withhold taxes on any payments under this Agreement, the Party making such payment shall pay the amounts of such taxes to the proper Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Laws and in a timely manner transmit to the payee an official tax certificate or other evidence of such withholding as required by Applicable Law. It is the responsibility of the payee to provide any tax forms to the Party making such payment that may be reasonably necessary in order for such Party not to withhold tax or to withhold tax at a reduced rate under an applicable bilateral income tax treaty. The payee shall use reasonable efforts to provide any such tax forms to the Party making the payment at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date for any payments for which the payee desires that the Party making the payment apply a reduced withholding rate. Each Party shall provide the other with reasonable assistance to enable the recovery and reduction, as permitted by Applicable Laws, of withholding taxes, VAT, or similar obligations resulting from payments made under this Agreement, such recovery to be for the benefit of the Party (or Affiliate thereof) bearing such withholding tax or VAT.

3.7 Other Rights. Payment of an invoice or any other amounts hereunder shall not preclude Organon from exercising its audit rights under the terms of Article 10 of this Agreement, shall not be deemed a release of any potential claims against Merck, and shall not limit Organon from pursuing any other remedy available to Organon under this Agreement or under Applicable Laws.

3.8 Interest. Any payments under this Agreement that are not made on or before the thirty (30) days following the applicable due date shall bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (i) two percent (2%) per annum above the Prime Rate, as reported in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, on the date such payment was due or, if unavailable, on the latest date prior to the payment due date on which such rate is available, and (ii) the maximum rate permitted under Applicable Law, calculated on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed from the payment due date to the date of actual payment.

 

24


3.9 Submission of Invoices. Merck shall submit all invoices electronically to Organon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Organon and Merck may mutually agree: (i) to change the vehicle for electronic submission; or (ii) that Merck submit a hard copy of such invoices.

3.10 Interim Services Agreement. To the extent any Service or Expense Activity is provided hereunder by an Affiliate of Merck to an Affiliate of Organon within the same country, any applicable Service Fee or Expenses will be invoiced and payable in accordance with the applicable local Interim Services Agreement. Following the Effective Date, local Interim Services Agreements will remain effective only for invoicing such Service Fees or Expenses and any other terms and conditions in this Agreement supersede those in any local Interim Services Agreement.

3.11 No Double Counting. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Organon will not be charged more than once for the same service, activity, function or Expense that is performed or incurred by Merck or its Affiliates or Third Parties pursuant to this Agreement to the extent that Organon or its Affiliates are bearing the charges for such service, activity, function or Expense pursuant to another Transaction Document.

4. Term and Termination.

4.1 Term. This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and end on the earlier of (i) the date on which Merck’s obligation to perform any Services under this Agreement ceases due to their expiration or termination in full in accordance with Section 4.2 or Section 4.3.3 or (ii) the date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 4.3.1 or 4.3.2 (the “Term”).

4.2 Duration of Services.

4.2.1 General Duration. Each Service to be provided by Merck under this Agreement shall (i) commence to be provided from and after the Effective Date, unless a different commencement date is specified in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, and (ii) terminate (a) on the end date specified with respect to such Service in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule or the end date of any extension of such specified end date agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 4.2.2, or (b) on the date such Service is terminated in accordance with Section 4.3.1 or on the date such Service is terminated by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 4.3.3, (such end date, the “Service Termination Date”). The commencement date of any Service (and the corresponding Service Fee for such) that is tied to the Exit Date for an IOM Market or Deferred Market will be adjusted accordingly if such applicable Exit Date is changed.

4.2.2 Extension.

(i) The Service Termination Date specified with respect to a Service or Ad Hoc Service in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule can be extended by the mutual written agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this

 

25


Section 4.2.2 (including the markups noted for extended durations in Schedule 2) and Section 5. If Organon desires to request the extension of a Service Termination Date, the Organon Transition Manager shall, no later than ninety (90) days prior to the Service Termination Date (or such greater period as set forth in the applicable Section of the Transition Services Schedule or as necessary to comply with any Applicable Law before implementation of an extension, while providing for the thirty (30) day period for response from Merck subsequent to such a request being made, and time to reach agreement on extending the Service), provide a written request thereof to the Merck Transition Manager setting forth the desired extended Service Termination Date. Notwithstanding the ninety (90) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 4.2.2(i) and 4.2.2(ii), respectively, if a Service with a Service Termination Date tied to a Marketing Authorization Transfer Date (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement) needs to be extended due to a change in such Marketing Authorization Transfer Date due to an action or inaction by a Governmental Authority, and not as a result of the action or inaction of Organon, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 4.2.2 on whether the duration of such Service shall be extended, the new Service Termination Date, and the applicable Service Fee; provided that such new Service Termination Date shall not fall after Merck’s obligation to support transfer of such Transferred Marketing Authorization (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement) ceases in accordance with the Regulatory Agreement.

(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such extension request, the Merck Transition Manager shall provide the Organon Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such extended Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment as to whether the requested Service Termination Date can be achieved. Following receipt by the Organon Transition Manager of the Merck Transition Manager’s response to the extension request, the applicable Service Termination Date and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5. Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 4.2.2 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to change the applicable Service Termination Date and to reflect the Service Fee applicable to such extended Services.

4.3 Termination.

4.3.1 Material Breach. If either Party materially breaches this Agreement (or a given Schedule to the extent that the material breach relates solely to such Schedule), the non-breaching Party may give written notice to the other Party, specifying the nature of the material breach and, if such material breach is not remedied within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of such written notice (provided, however, that the cure period shall be suspended during any time that a Party seeks resolution of a dispute as to whether an alleged material breach occurred pursuant to any dispute resolution mechanisms under this Agreement), then the non-breaching Party shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to immediately terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the breaching Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such material breach relates only to a given Service, then the non-breaching Party shall only have the right to terminate the applicable Service to which such material breach relates and this Agreement, and all other Services shall not be affected by such termination.

 

26


4.3.2 Bankruptcy. This Agreement may be terminated by written notice given by a Party upon the occurrence of any of the following with respect the other Party: (i) such other Party becomes insolvent, or (ii) voluntary or involuntary proceedings by or against such other Party are instituted in bankruptcy or under any insolvency law, which proceedings, if involuntary, shall not have been dismissed within ninety (90) days after the date of filing, or (iii) a receiver or custodian is appointed for such other Party, or proceedings are instituted by or against such other Party for corporate reorganization or the dissolution of such other Party, which proceedings, if involuntary, shall not have been dismissed within ninety (90) days after the date of filing, or (iv) such other Party makes an assignment of substantially all of its assets for the benefit of its creditors, or substantially all of the assets of such other Party are seized or attached and not released within ninety (90) days thereafter.

4.3.3 Early Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Organon shall be entitled to request the termination of any Service at its convenience, in whole or in part (but only to the extent that such termination in part would not jeopardize the provision of any remaining parts of such Service), at any time (without terminating any other Service) prior to the applicable Service Termination Date, by the Organon Transition Manager giving the Merck Transition Manager ninety (90) days (or such greater period as set forth in the applicable Section of the Transition Services Schedule or as necessary to comply with any Applicable Law, while providing for the thirty (30) day period for response from Merck subsequent to such a request being made, and time to reach agreement on terminating the Service) prior written request (the “Service Termination Notice”), and upon receipt by the Merck Transition Manager of the Service Termination Notice from the Organon Transition Manager, the Merck Transition Manager shall provide a written response to such Service Termination Notice within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof, including any additional Expenses associated with such early termination, and, if the Merck Transition Manager accepts the request for termination set forth therein, the Transition Managers may mutually agree in writing to terminate such Service, including the new Service Termination Date and any additional Expenses to be charged to Organon, in accordance with Section 5; provided that (i) in the event of any such termination of a Service in whole, Organon shall continue to be liable for paying the Service Fee related to any such terminated Service until the end of the applicable Calendar Month in which the newly agreed upon end date of such Service falls (and such Service Fee shall no longer be payable in the subsequent Calendar Month), as well as all other non-cancelable Expenses (including any costs or penalties related to Third Party Agreements, wind-down costs, minimum volume make-up fees and any other costs associated with the Service that Merck cannot eliminate prior to the previously planned Service Termination Date; provided however Merck will not charge Organon for unamortized information technology related costs) incurred by Merck or any of its Affiliates in connection with any early terminated Service, and (ii) in the event of any such termination of a Service in part, Organon shall continue to be liable for paying the entire Service Fee related to such Service, as well as all other Expenses incurred by Merck or any of its Affiliates in connection with such Service, until such Service is fully terminated or expired hereunder; provided, however, any reduction in the scope of an IT Application-related Service as set forth in Section 2.2.3(iv) may result in a modification of the Service Fee as set forth therein.

4.4 Effect of Termination of Services; Survival. In the event of any termination with respect to one or more, but less than all, of the Services, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect with respect to any Services not so terminated and, as applicable, any Expenses

 

27


payable pursuant to Section 3.2. Upon the termination of any or all of the Services, Merck will cease, or cause its applicable Affiliates or Subcontractors to cease, providing the terminated Services. Upon each such termination, Organon will pay to Merck all Service Fees and Expenses accrued and incurred through the applicable Service Termination Date related to such terminated Service included in the subsequent monthly invoice provided by Merck to Organon with respect to such Service and Expenses in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 4.3. The terms, provisions, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement that by their sense and context are intended to survive the performance thereof by either Party or both Parties hereunder (including in Articles 1 (to the extent necessary to interpret other surviving provisions of this Agreement), 3 (as related to invoices and payments for Services provided and Expenses incurred prior to the expiration or termination of this Agreement), 7 (for a period of ten (10) years after the expiration or termination of this Agreement), 9, 10 (with respect to audits for Expenses), 11 and 12 and Sections 2.9.1, 2.9.2, 2.9.3, 2.9.5, 4.4 and 8.2), shall so survive the completion of performance, expiration or termination of this Agreement (or a given Service, as applicable). Upon the expiration of the Term or if this Agreement is terminated with respect to all of the Services pursuant to Section 4.3, Merck shall provide Organon a final invoice setting forth any and all accrued and unpaid Service Fees and Expenses related to the Services, including in accordance with Section 4.3, and Organon shall promptly pay such amounts set forth on such invoice.

5. Governance.

5.1 Designation of Transition Managers. Merck and Organon will each assign one person to act as that Party’s Transition Manager for the Services and Expenses. The Transition Managers will (i) represent and act for their respective Party for matters related to the Services and Expenses, and (ii) meet and/or confer on a regular basis (at mutually agreed times and locations) to review the activities under this Agreement (including progress with respect to the TSA Exits) and to discuss the status and progress of such activities. Either party may change its Transition Manager whenever it considers it appropriate and, in any such case, shall advise the other Party of such changes accordingly. In addition to the Transition Managers, each Party shall designate a functional representative for each function that is providing or receiving, as the case may be, a Service hereunder while such applicable Service is being provided and received.

5.2 Responsibilities of Transition Managers. Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1, during the Term, the Transition Managers shall serve as their respective Party’s primary contact for the other Party to manage and coordinate the provision of the Services and Expense Activities and payment of Service Fees and Expenses provided hereunder and the performance of the Parties’ other obligations hereunder, including any associated exchange of Information and transition of responsibilities related to the Services and Expense Activities. The Transition Managers shall be responsible for ensuring that, during the Term, both Parties appropriately prepare for the transition of responsibilities associated with the TSA Exits and that the Parties understand the tasks necessary to accomplish a smooth transition.

5.3 Decisions of Transition Managers. The Transition Managers shall promptly meet to discuss such matters submitted or communicated to them by the executives responsible for the transition management, including the completion of any TSA Exit and any amendment, supplement or modification of or to the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule, and reasonably and in good faith cooperate to reach agreement on mutually acceptable terms. All

 

28


changes to the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule shall be documented in writing in either a document, amendment or other instrument or in meeting minutes and mutually agreed upon by the Transition Managers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, each Transition Manager can only make decisions and agreements under this Agreement upon approval of, and receipt of the requisite authority to make such decision or enter into such agreement from, such Party’s established processes for such approval or authorization.

5.4 Issues Resolution. The Transition Managers and/or functional representatives will work together to resolve issues or potential disputes relating to this Agreement, with the intent of averting the escalation of such issues or potential disputes. Should escalation be required, the Transition Managers shall meet first with the Transition Management Office (TMO) Leads (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement). If not resolved the TMO Leads will meet with executives from each Party to resolve the escalation issue.

6. Transition Service Responsibilities.

6.1 Responsibilities of Merck. Subject to Sections 6.2 and 6.3 and the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide the Services, or cause the Services to be provided.

6.2 Responsibilities of Organon.

6.2.1 Organon will provide Merck with (i) such access to Organon’s facilities as is, in Merck’s reasonable good faith judgment, necessary for Merck or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services or Expense Activities required hereunder; (ii) such Information as is, in Merck’s reasonable good faith judgment, necessary for Merck or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services or Expense Activities required hereunder; and (iii) such reasonable access to resources and timely decisions, as reasonably requested by Merck in good faith from time to time, in order to permit Merck or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services and or Expense Activities required hereunder.

6.2.2 If Organon fails to perform, or procure the performance of, any of its obligations under this Section 6.2 and such failure impairs the provision of such element of the Services or Expense Activities, Merck shall not be obliged to provide, or procure the provision of, such element of the Services or Expense Activities; provided that Merck shall notify Organon as soon as reasonably practicable upon the occurrence of such failure.

6.3 Mutual Responsibilities. The Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate with each other in all matters relating to the provision and receipt of Services and to Expenses. Such cooperation will include (i) Merck designating a Merck Transition Manager for purposes of this Agreement, and Organon designating an Organon Transition Manager for purposes of this Agreement; (ii) exchanging information relevant to the performance of the Services to be provided hereunder and to Expenses; and (iii) good faith efforts to mitigate problems and issues interfering with the performance of the Services and or Expense Activities required hereunder.

6.4 Compliance. Each Party shall observe and comply with, and give all notices required by, Applicable Law and Industry Codes. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party

 

29


if it becomes aware of any noncompliance with Applicable Law or Industry Codes in connection with its activities under this Agreement, and shall take all appropriate action necessary to ensure compliance with Applicable Law and Industry Codes in connection with its activities under this Agreement. All activities performed and Services provided hereunder shall be performed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the other Transaction Documents, including the Regulatory Agreement, governing compliance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a representation or warranty by Merck that any Service, Expense Activity or other items provided in connection therewith is sufficient to satisfy Organon’s obligations under Applicable Laws or Industry Codes.

6.5 Security.

6.5.1 If either Party is given access to the other Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) computer systems or software (collectively, the “Systems”) or physical facilities in connection with the performance or receipt of the Services or Expense Activities, such Party shall comply with all of the other Party’s reasonable policies, procedures and requirements in relation to Systems or physical facilities (collectively, “Security Regulations”) and will not tamper with, compromise, attempt to circumvent or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by such other Party. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any Security Regulations, this Agreement will govern. Each Party shall access and use only those Systems of the other Party for which it has been granted the right to access and use, and only to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the provision or receipt, as applicable, of the Services and Expense Activities. Each Party shall be responsible for its employees’ compliance with the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement in connection with such access, including access to comingled or sensitive Information.

6.5.2 Each Party will ensure that only those of its personnel who are specifically authorized to have access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party (or its Affiliates) gain such access, and to prevent unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or other property contained therein, including notifying its personnel of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and of the Security Regulations.

6.5.3 If, at any time, either Party determines that (i) any of its personnel has sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations of the other Party, (ii) any unauthorized personnel of such Party has accessed the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party, or (iii) any of the personnel of such Party has engaged in activities that may lead or leads to the unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or software, such Party shall immediately terminate any such personnel’s access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party and immediately notify the other Party. In addition, each Party shall have the right to deny the personnel of the other Party access to any Systems or physical facilities upon written notice to the other Party in the event that such Party reasonably believes that such personnel have engaged in any of the activities set forth above in this Section 6.5 or otherwise pose a security concern. Each Party will cooperate with the other Party in investigating any apparent unauthorized access to the Systems or facilities of the other Party.

6.6 TSA Exit.

 

30


6.6.1 The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Services to be provided hereunder are transitional in nature and are intended to provide Organon with reasonable time to develop the internal resources and capacities (or to arrange for Third Parties) to provide such Services. Accordingly, at all times from and after the Effective Date, Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to make or obtain approvals, permits or licenses, implement any necessary systems, hire and train required employees or contractors, put in place agreements with Third Parties, and take, or cause to be taken, any and all other actions necessary or advisable so as to render receipt of the Services from Merck no longer necessary.

6.6.2 In the event and to the extent a plan for each TSA Exit has not been developed or finalized by Organon prior to the Effective Date, then, unless the timing is otherwise set forth in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, no later than six (6) months prior to each planned Service Termination Date in the Transition Services Schedule, Organon shall prepare a plan for the TSA Exit, which plan shall be provided to Merck for its review and, for any TSA Exit plan that includes requested support from Merck, its consent. Organon will have the sole, full responsibility for planning and, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 3.2.9, carrying out the TSA Exits prior to the expiration of the applicable Service Termination Date specified in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, and in no event will Merck be required to transfer or assign any contracts or agreements to Organon in connection with the expiration or termination of any Service or otherwise.

6.6.3 Organon functional representatives shall periodically and on a regularly scheduled basis, at minimum quarterly unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, deliver to Merck functional representatives a detailed written work plan describing its progress with respect to the TSA Exits and such plan and the progress against such plan shall be discussed by the functional representatives and/or Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5. Such written work plan shall address the following with respect to each of the Services: (i) phases of implementation, if applicable; (ii) any applicable milestones and expected Service Termination Date for a Service; and (iii) expected Merck involvement, as applicable and subject to Section 3.2.9.

7. Confidentiality; Data Privacy.

7.1 Disclosure of Confidential Information. Each Party hereto: (i) will retain in strict confidence the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the nature of the services provided) and the Confidential Information of the other Party; and (ii) will not disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the Confidential Information of the other Party to any other Third Party, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law or judicial or administrative process (in which case the provisions of Section 7.2.2 shall apply), without the other Party’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party (and its respective Affiliates) shall be permitted to disclose any terms of this Agreement to the extent required in connection with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in compliance with the rules of any securities or listing requirement.

7.2 Permitted Disclosures.

7.2.1 Notwithstanding Section 7.1, each Party shall be permitted to disclose Confidential Information of the other Party, if such Confidential Information:

 

31


(i) is disclosed by a Party (or its Affiliates) to a Governmental Authority in order to maintain or obtain regulatory approval to manufacture and/or market Organon Product, but such disclosure may be only to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain such approvals;

(ii) is disclosed by the receiving Party (or its Affiliates) to agent(s), consultant(s), and/or other Third Parties who are performing obligations of the receiving Party or exercising rights granted to the receiving Party under this Agreement on the condition that such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement;

(iii) is deemed necessary by counsel to the receiving Party to be disclosed to such Party’s attorneys, independent accountants or financial advisors for the sole purpose of enabling such attorneys, independent accountants or financial advisors to provide advice to the receiving Party, on the condition that such attorneys, independent accountants and financial advisors agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement; or

(iv) is disclosed in connection with a merger or acquisition of a given Party (or its Affiliate) or a divestiture of a portion of such Party’s business related to this Agreement (or a given Organon Product, as applicable), such Party shall have the further right to disclose the material financial terms of this Agreement (or such Organon Product, as applicable, to Third Parties involved in such merger or acquisition provided that such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement.

7.2.2 In addition, if a Party is required by judicial or administrative process or Applicable Law to disclose Confidential Information that is subject to the non-disclosure provisions of Section 7.1, such Party shall promptly inform the other Party of the disclosure that is being sought in order to provide the other Party an opportunity to challenge or limit the disclosure obligations. Confidential Information that is disclosed by judicial or administrative process or as required by Applicable Law shall remain otherwise subject to the confidentiality and non-use provisions of Section 7.1, and the Party disclosing Confidential Information pursuant to law or court order or as required by Applicable Law shall take all steps reasonably necessary, including obtaining an order of confidentiality, to ensure the continued confidential treatment of such Confidential Information.

7.3 Equitable Relief with respect to Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Parties hereto acknowledge that: (i) it would be impossible to measure the damages that would be suffered by the other Party if a Party failed to comply with this Section 7; and (ii) in the event of any such failure, there might not be adequate remedy at law. Therefore, each Party hereto shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights or remedies that it may have, to obtain specific performance by the other Party of the obligations of this Section 7, to obtain immediate injunctive relief without having to post a bond. Neither Party hereto will urge, as a defense to any proceeding for such specific performance or injunctive relief, that the other Party has an adequate remedy at law.

 

32


7.4 Return of Confidential Information. Upon the written request of the disclosing Party, the receiving Party shall immediately either return to the disclosing Party, or destroy, all Confidential Information of the disclosing Party, in accordance with the instructions of the disclosing Party, including all notes, summaries, and translations that have been made regarding such Confidential Information, and all copies of the foregoing. In the event destruction is requested by the disclosing Party, the receiving Party shall certify such destruction in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receiving Party may retain a copy for purposes of exercising any licenses under this Agreement (including any licenses that survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement) and may archive one (1) copy of Confidential Information for purposes of demonstrating its compliance with this Agreement, subject to confidentiality requirements of this Agreement.

7.5 Data Privacy.

7.5.1 Interpretation. In this Section 7.5, (i) “Data Protection Law” means, all applicable laws, rules and regulations (ii) “Data Subject”, “Personal Data”, “Personal Data Breach” and “Processing” will be construed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, and (iii) “Covered Personal Data” means Personal Data provided to or made available by Organon to Merck in order for Organon to receive the Services and Expense Activities.

7.5.2 Description of Processing. The Processing of Covered Personal Data shall be for the duration of this Agreement, for the purpose of providing the Services and or Expense Activities, and include the following categories of Personal Data of current and former employees (including dependents), customers, suppliers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and business partners of Organon: (i) name and contact information; (ii) personal characteristics (e.g., gender, marital status, citizenship, passport number); (iii) financial data (including compensation details for employees, and transfers of value to healthcare professionals); (iv) employment history and status, including job applications and resumes of unsuccessful candidates; (v) information relating to family members and dependents; (vi) information related to benefits administration; (vii) information related to performing a clinical trial shared with regulatory authorities; and (viii) special categories of data such as health and disability details, religion/ethnicity details, criminal allegation/defense details.

7.5.3 Organon’s Obligations. Organon shall ensure that at all times, (i) Organon has a lawful basis to provide or make available Covered Personal Data to Merck, and (ii) Organon’s instructions to Merck in respect of Covered Personal Data comply with Applicable Law.

7.5.4 Additional Processing Terms. When Processing Covered Personal Data on behalf of Organon, Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to: (i) only process Covered Personal Data on Organon’s written instructions unless required otherwise by Applicable Law; (ii) ensure that Merck personnel who have access to Covered Personal Data are subject to confidentiality obligations; (iii) implement and maintain technical and organizational measures designed to prevent a Personal Data Breach, and upon becoming aware of substantiated Personal Data Breach, Merck shall notify Organon without undue delay; (iv) taking into account the nature of the processing, at Organon’s cost and expense, assist Organon insofar as this is possible, to meet its obligations under Data Protection Law; and (v) upon request and at Organon’s cost and expense, make available information reasonably requested by Organon to demonstrate compliance with this Section 7.5, and allow for Organon to request an audit or inspection.

 

33


7.5.5 Cross-border Transfers. To the extent required by Applicable Law, the Standard Contractual Clauses in Schedule 5 shall apply to any transfer between Organon and Merck of Covered Personal Data from one jurisdiction to another (“International Transfer”). Without limiting Organon’s obligations under this Agreement, Organon shall, and shall procure that each Organon Affiliate shall, do all things reasonably necessary to ensure that any International Transfer complies with Applicable Law, including entering into any subsequent agreement(s) with Merck or a Merck Affiliate.

8. General Representations and Warranties; Disclaimer.

8.1 General Representations and Warranties. Each of Organon and Merck represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that, at all times during the Term, (i) it is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) it is qualified or licensed to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where such qualification or licensing is required, (iii) it has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (iv) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it, and (v) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligations of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, or general principles of equity.

8.2 Disclaimer. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES OR OTHERWISE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY SPECIFICALLY AND EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 8.2 SHALL OPERATE TO LIMIT OR INVALIDATE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY CONTAINED IN THE SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, ALL THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, SERVICES AND EXPENSE ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED BY MERCK “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND OTHER THAN THAT WHICH CAN BE PASSED THROUGH FROM THE APPLICABLE THIRD PARTY LICENSOR.

9. Indemnification.

9.1 By Organon. In addition to any other available remedies, Organon hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Merck and its Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members, partners, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, “Merck Indemnitees”) from and against all Third Party Damages based on a Third Party Claim imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of Merck

 

34


Indemnitees arising out of or relating to (i) Merck’s provision of Services or Expense Activities to Organon in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and that are not proximately caused by the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of Merck or its Affiliates or Subcontractors, or (ii) failure by Organon to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.

9.2 Procedure. Merck will notify Organon of any demand by Merck for indemnification from Organon that is based on any Third Party Claim and provide Organon with copies of any papers served on Merck relating to that Third Party Claim, but Merck’s failure to provide or delay in providing that notice or those copies will not release Organon from its obligations under Section 9.1, except to the extent that the failure or delay materially prejudices Organon. Organon has the exclusive right to conduct the defense of any such Third Party Claim and any negotiations for its settlement, except that (i) Organon may not enter into any compromise or settlement unless Merck consents to such compromise or settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and which consent shall be deemed given with respect to any compromise or settlement relating solely to the payment of money damages if such compromise or settlement includes as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by each claimant or plaintiff to the Merck Indemnitees of a release from all liability in respect of such claim, (ii) Merck may participate at its expense in Organon’s defense of or settlement negotiations for any Third Party Claim with counsel of Merck’s own selection, and (iii) Merck may, at its option and Organon’s expense, and on prior written notice to Organon, conduct the defense of and any settlement negotiations for any Third Party Claim in place of Organon if Organon fails to promptly defend the Third Party Claim as required in this Article 9. At Merck’s request and Organon’s expense, and in addition to Organon’s other obligations under this Agreement, Organon shall assist Merck with the defense of any Third Party Claim for which Merck conducts the defense under this Article 9.

9.3 Damages. EXCEPT FOR A BREACH OF A PARTY’S CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 7, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS FOR ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF REVENUES OR LOST PROFITS (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT), IN EACH CASE OF ANY KIND, NATURE OR DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER SUFFERED OR INCURRED BY SUCH PARTY ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR AS A RESULT OF ANY ACTIVITIES HEREUNDER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ARISING FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE OR IF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN REASONABLY FORESEEN. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 9.3 IS INTENDED TO OR SHALL LIMIT OR RESTRICT THE INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS OF MERCK OR OBLIGATIONS OF ORGANON WITH RESPECT TO ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 9.1.

9.4 Liability Cap. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, THE TOTAL AND AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF MERCK (AND ITS AFFILIATES) ARISING OUT OF, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT, INDEMNITY, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL NOT EXCEED SIX MILLION DOLLARS ($6,000,000).

 

35


10. Audit Rights.

10.1 Merck shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, prepare and maintain the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3, which shall be open to inspection and subject to audit and/or reproduction, during normal working hours, by an independent accounting firm or other appropriate Third Party representative selected by Organon, and reasonably acceptable to Merck (including entering into a reasonably acceptable confidentiality agreement), for (x) evaluation and verification of the provision of each Service, but, for the avoidance of doubt, not the Service Fee or associated cost of each Service, hereunder by Merck in accordance with the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule (excluding the Service Fee) with respect to the Records; and (y) evaluation and verification of the accuracy of any Expenses paid pursuant to Article 3 with respect to any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3; provided, however, that such right to conduct such audits and inspections and/or reproduction shall not occur (i) more frequently than one (1) time per Calendar Year, and (ii) with respect to such audits and inspections relating to any Expenses paid pursuant to Article 3, no later than the Calendar Year following the Calendar Year in which such Expense was paid, unless Organon has reasonable cause to believe that Merck is not complying with this Agreement.

10.2 The accounting firm or other Third Party representative shall have access to Merck’s facilities and shall be provided adequate and appropriate work space, in order to conduct audits in compliance with this Section 10.1. Organon shall give Merck at least forty-five (45) days’ prior notice of intent to audit. The accounting firm or other Third Party representative shall have access to the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 and Merck shall preserve the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 for a period of two (2) years following the date the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 were created, or for such longer period as may be required by Applicable Laws.

10.3 The right to audit and/or inspect the Records pursuant to this Article 10 shall terminate with respect to each Service to be provided by Merck under this Agreement on the applicable Service Termination Date. The right to audit and/or inspect any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 pursuant to this Article 10 shall terminate with respect to each such Expense at the end of the Calendar Year following the Calendar Year in which such Expense was paid by Organon to Merck.

10.4 If an audit, inspection or examination of any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 conducted in accordance with this Article 10 discloses overcharges (of any nature) by Merck to Organon or undercharges (of any nature), any undisputed adjustments and/or payments to Organon shall be made by Merck or Organon, as applicable, within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed ninety (90) days from presentation of Organon’s findings to Merck.

 

36


10.5 Organon shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by Organon in connection with any such audit or inspection; provided, however, that if any such audit or inspection correctly identifies any overcharges (of any nature) that are the fault of Merck in excess of the greater of (i) five percent (5%) of the amount actually payable by Organon and (ii) $500,000, then in such case Merck shall reimburse Organon for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Organon in connection with such audit or inspection.

11. Financial Controls.

11.1 During the Term, and until financial statements have been filed for the fiscal year following the end of the Term, Organon shall have the right once (and only once) per each fiscal quarter of Merck, subject to mutual agreement of an annual audit calendar, agreement by either party not to be unreasonably withheld at its own cost and expense, itself and/or through a designated third party auditor(s) selected by Organon, and reasonably acceptable to Merck, upon at least thirty (30) days advance written notice to Merck or any of its Affiliates and during Merck’s regular business hours and subject to Merck’s reasonable policies and procedures, to audit and inspect Information and processes and information technology systems, including internal audit reports, solely as such Information and reports relate to the Services and Expense Activities hereunder, solely (i) as necessary for Organon and its Affiliates to verify the accuracy of internal controls over information technology, reporting of financial data and related processes employed in connection with verifying compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or (ii) as required to enable Organon and its Affiliates and their respective accounting firm to complete an audit or review of their respective financial records and data; provided that, in each case, (x) such access shall not unreasonably interfere with any of the business or operations of Merck or any of its Affiliates or any audit or review of the consolidated financial statements of Merck or any of its Affiliates for any fiscal year or fiscal quarter and (y) in the event that Merck determines that providing such access would violate any Applicable Law or agreement or waive any attorney-client or similar privilege, then Merck and Organon shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit such access in a manner that avoids any such consequence.

11.2 Organon shall be responsible for its employees’ and representatives’ compliance with the confidentiality and Security provisions of this Agreement in connection with any such access to such Information. Any control remediations resulting from Organon’s audit of such Information pursuant to this Section 11 that are applicable to Merck shall not be charged to Organon; provided, however, that if there are differences in materiality that require additional work for Merck to maintain controls for Organon at a lower level of precision, any costs incurred by Merck in connection with such maintenance shall be charged to Organon as Expenses, which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2, or, if applicable, such additional work will treated as an Additional Service or a change in scope to an existing Service.

11.3 Merck shall notify Organon of changes in vendors providing Services only in the instance that the change in vendor impacts (i) the process or Service being provided, (ii) the configuration of the system used in the process, or (iii) the output provided by the process. In addition, Merck shall notify Organon of changes in any vendors for SOX systems or for which Organon requires SOC1 reports.

 

37


12. Miscellaneous.

12.1 Independent Contractor.

12.1.1 In the performance of Merck’s obligations under this Agreement, Merck shall at all times act as and be deemed an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to render Merck or any of its employees, agents, or officers, as an employee, joint venture, agent, or partner of Organon. Merck is not authorized to assume or create any obligations or responsibilities, express or implied, on behalf of or in the name of Organon. It is understood that the employees, methods, facilities, and equipment of Merck shall at all times be under Merck’s exclusive direction and control.

12.1.2 In the performance of Organon’s obligations under this Agreement, Organon shall at all times act as and be deemed an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to render Organon or any of its employees, agents, or officers, as an employee, joint venture, agent, or partner of Merck. Organon is not authorized to assume or create any obligations or responsibilities, express or implied, on behalf of or in the name of Merck. It is understood that the employees, methods, facilities, and equipment of Organon shall at all times be under Organon’s exclusive direction and control.

12.2 Force Majeure. No Party shall be liable for a failure or delay in performing any of its obligations under this Agreement (except for the payment of money) if, but only to the extent that, such failure or delay is due to causes beyond the reasonable control of the affected Party, including: (i) acts of God; (ii) fire or explosion (except to the extent caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the affected Party); (iii) unusually severe weather; (iv) war, invasion, riot or other civil unrest; (v) governmental laws, orders, restrictions, actions, embargoes, or blockages; (vi) national or regional emergency; (vii) injunctions, strikes, lockouts, labor trouble, or other industrial disturbances; and (viii) shortage of supply of non-commodity materials on a global basis (each, a “Force Majeure Event”); provided that the Party affected shall promptly notify the other of the Force Majeure Event and shall exert reasonable efforts to eliminate, cure, or overcome any such causes and to resume performance of its obligations as soon as practicable.

12.3 Governing Law; Dispute Resolution.

12.3.1 This Agreement shall be construed and governed under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principle of conflict of laws thereof.

12.3.2 All disputes between the Parties that may arise under this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process applicable to such disputes set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

12.4 No Waiver. Any Party’s failure to enforce any of the terms or conditions herein or to exercise any right or privilege pursuant hereto, or any Party’s waiver of any breach under this Agreement, shall not be construed to be a waiver of any other terms, conditions, or privileges, whether of a similar or different type.

 

38


12.5 Assignment.

12.5.1 Neither this Agreement nor any of the Services or Expense Activities hereunder may be assigned, in whole or in part, whether by operation of law or otherwise (however structured), without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided, however, that

(i) a Party shall have the right, without the prior consent of the other Party, to assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any Affiliate of such Party; and

(ii) a Party shall have the right, without the prior consent of the other Party, to assign this Agreement, in whole, to any Third Party in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such Party to which this Agreement relates whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or other similar transaction (including by operation of Applicable Law), in each case upon prior written notice to the other Party.

12.5.2 Any permitted assignee shall assume all obligations of its assignor under this Agreement; provided, however, that in the event of an assignment to an Affiliate, the assignor Party shall remain as principal obligor for all or any obligations and liabilities assigned to such Affiliate under the terms of this Agreement. No assignment shall relieve any Party of responsibility for the performance of any accrued obligation which such Party has hereunder as of the time of such assignment. Any other attempted assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 12.5 shall be null and void.

12.5.3 The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns

12.6 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to substitute a valid, legal, and enforceable provision that reflects the intent of such invalid or unenforceable provision.

12.7 Notices.

12.7.1 The term “notice” as used throughout this Agreement, shall mean written notice, except where specifically provided herein to the contrary. Notice shall be delivered by (i) certified mail, return receipt requested (or the equivalent); (ii) hand delivery with receipt acknowledged; or (iii) overnight courier service that provides a delivery receipt. Notices shall be delivered to the following addresses or to such other address or person as a Party may specify by notice given in accordance with this Section 12.7.1.

If to Merck:

MSD International GmbH

Weystrasse 20

6006 Lucerne 6

Switzerland

 

39


With a copy to:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

One Merck Drive Whitehouse Station, NJ, 08889

Attention: Sunil Patel, SVP, Business Development

If to Organon:

Organon LLC

30 Hudson St, 33rd floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

E-mail: secretaryoffice@organon.com

12.7.2 Notice given in accordance with Section 12.7.1 shall be deemed delivered when received, or upon refusal of receipt.

12.8 Cumulative Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no remedy referred to in this Agreement is intended to be exclusive, but each shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy available under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise available at law or in equity.

12.9 Entire Agreement/Amendments; Conflicts.

12.9.1 This Agreement, together with all Schedules and attachments hereto, and the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and shall supersede and take the place of any and all agreements, documents, minutes of meetings, or letters concerning the subject matter hereof that may, prior to the Effective Date, be in existence. This Agreement may only be amended by a statement in writing to that effect signed by duly authorized representatives of Organon and Merck.

12.9.2 The intent of this Agreement is to include items necessary for the proper execution and completion of the performance under this Agreement. The documents comprised by this Agreement are complementary, and what is required by any one shall be as binding as if required by all.

12.9.3 Except as set forth in Section 3.10 or as otherwise set forth in Section 12.9.4, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement (or any other agreements entered into between Merck Parent (or any of its Affiliates) and Organon (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the Separation) and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern with respect to the subject matter hereof.

12.9.4 A number of local country agreements have been or are being entered into prior to or on the Effective Date between the Parties and their respective Affiliates with respect to the provision of Services in anticipation of the Separation, including Interim Services Agreements, Interim Operating Agreements, Deferred Market Agreements, Schedule 5 of this Agreement, and other local agreements with respect to Services (each, a “Local Services Agreement”). The integration of such Local Services Agreements and this Agreement are addressed in this Section 12.9.4:

 

40


(i) This Agreement shall supersede each Interim Services Agreement with respect to the provision of Services performed pursuant to such Interim Services Agreement. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Interim Services Agreement relating to such Services, this Agreement shall control.

(ii) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Interim Operating Agreement, or to the extent that an Interim Operating Agreement expressly states that such Interim Operating Agreement controls, the Interim Operating Agreement shall control. In particular, the appointment of a Party or its Affiliate as agent of the other Party or its Affiliate pursuant to an Interim Operating Agreement shall not be superseded by Section 12.1 of this Agreement.

(iii) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Deferred Market Agreement, or such Deferred Market Agreement expressly states that such Deferred Market Agreement controls, the Deferred Market Agreement shall control. In particular, the appointment of a Party or its Affiliate as agent of the other Party or its Affiliate pursuant to a Deferred Market Agreement shall not be superseded by Section 12.1 of this Agreement.

(iv) To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and Schedule 5 of this Agreement as it relates specifically to data privacy issues addressed in Schedule 5, Schedule 5 shall control; provided however that the overall liability cap set forth in Section 9.4 of this Agreement continues to apply and shall control with respect to any activity under Schedule 5.

(v) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Local Services Agreement other than addressed in Sections 12.9.4(i) through (iv), this Agreement shall control unless such Local Services Agreement expressly states that such Local Services Agreement controls, in which case such Local Services Agreement shall control.

12.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In addition, this Agreement may be executed by facsimile or “PDF” and such facsimile or “PDF” signature shall be deemed to be an original.

12.11 Headings. The headings assigned to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not limit the scope and applicability of the Articles and Sections.

12.12 Further Assurances. Each Party agrees to execute such further papers, agreements, documents, instruments and the like as may be necessary or desirable to effect the purpose of this Agreement and to carry out its provisions.

12.13 English Language. If there exist versions of this Agreement, or any Schedules, attachments or any amendments hereto or thereto, in any language other than English,

 

41


the binding version of all of the foregoing shall be the English version, except as otherwise required by the Applicable Laws. All notices and other written documentation provided by a Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in English, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

12.14 Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Third Party, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

12.15 Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified, (i) “includes” and “including” and words of similar import shall mean includes and including without limitation; (ii) words denoting any gender shall include all genders; (iii) words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa; (iv) the Exhibits, Schedules, Addenda and other attachments form part of the operative provision of this Agreement and references to this Agreement shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include references to the Exhibits, Schedules, Addenda and attachments; (v) the word “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive; (vi) references to “Articles”, “Sections” and “subsections” in this Agreement shall be to Articles, Sections and subsections respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided; (vii) references to any Articles or Sections include Sections and subsections that are part of the reference Article or Section (e.g., a section numbered “Section 2.2(a)” would be part of “Section 2.2”, and references to “Article 2” or “Section 2.2” would refer to material contained in the subsection described as “Section 2.2(a)”); and (viii) “herein,” hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and other equivalent words shall refer to this Agreement as an entirety and not solely to the particular portion of this Agreement in which any such word is used. Words and abbreviations that have known or technical trade meanings are used in this Agreement in accordance with such recognized meanings.

12.16 Use of Affiliates. Either Party shall have the right to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this Agreement either itself or through any of its Affiliates, provided that such Party shall remain solely responsible for the acts, omissions and performance of such Affiliate as if such acts, omissions and performance had been provided by such Party itself under this Agreement. In addition, in each case where a Party’s Affiliate has an obligation pursuant to this Agreement or performs an obligation pursuant to this Agreement: (i) such Party shall cause and compel such Affiliate to perform such obligation and comply with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) any breach of the terms or conditions of this Agreement by such Affiliate shall be deemed a breach by such Party of such terms or conditions.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

42


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in its name and on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

ORGANON:
ORGANON LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

Name:  

Joseph Promo

Title:  

Treasurer

 

MERCK:
MSD INTERNATIONAL GMBH
By:  

/s/ Franz Escherich

Name:  

Franz Escherich

Title:  

Director

[Signature Page to Merck To Organon Transition Services Agreement]

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION VERSION

ORGANON TO MERCK TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Transition Services Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 2, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a New Jersey corporation (“Merck”), and Organon International GmbH, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Switzerland (“Organon” and together with Merck, each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck Parent”), an Affiliate of Merck, has announced that it will be entering into a separation transaction (the “Separation”, and the separation and distribution agreement pursuant to which the Separation will be effected, the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”, and the date of consummation of the Separation, the “Separation Date”) pursuant to which, among other things, Merck Parent will transfer to Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, an Affiliate of Organon (“Organon Parent”), the business of developing, manufacturing, commercializing, distributing and selling Organon Products (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement) and ancillary and related operations with respect to the Organon Business (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Separation, (i) Merck and Organon desire to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which Organon will provide certain transitional services to Merck on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein, and (ii) Merck and Organon will enter into a separate agreement pursuant to which Merck will provide certain transitional services to Organon on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth therein.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions. For the purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the meaning set forth in this Section 1. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the applicable Transaction Document.

1.1 “Additional Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(i).

1.2 “Ad Hoc Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(i).

1.3 “Affiliate” means any Person which, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Party, for so long as such Person controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Party, and regardless of whether such Affiliate is or becomes an Affiliate on or after the Effective Date. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as used with respect to a Person means (i) direct or indirect ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities or other voting interest of any Person (including attribution from related parties), or (ii) 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, as a general partner, as a


manager, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties agree that from and after the Separation Date, neither Organon Parent nor any Organon Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Merck Parent or any Merck Subsidiary and neither Merck Parent nor any Merck Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Organon Parent or any Organon Subsidiary.

1.4 “Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.5 “Applicable Law” means applicable laws, rules, regulations, guidelines or other requirements of a Governmental Authority that may be in effect from time to time.

1.6 “Calendar Month” means a period commencing at the beginning of a day of one of the twelve (12) months of the year and ending immediately before the beginning of the corresponding day of the next month, provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Month of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the last day of the Calendar Month in which the Effective Date occurs and (ii) the last Calendar Month of this Agreement shall commence on the commencement of such Calendar Month and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.7 “Calendar Quarter” means each period of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31; provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Quarter of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the last day of the Calendar Quarter in which the Effective Date occurs and (ii) the last Calendar Quarter of this Agreement shall commence on the commencement of such Calendar Quarter and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.8 “Calendar Year” means each period during the Term commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of such calendar year; provided, however, that (i) the first Calendar Year of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on December 31 of the same calendar year and (ii) the last Calendar Year of this Agreement shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year in which this Agreement terminates or expires and end on the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

1.9 “Commercially Reasonable Efforts” means with respect to the efforts to be expended by a Party with respect to any objective, the reasonable, diligent, good faith efforts to accomplish such objective as a reasonable global pharmaceutical company would normally use to accomplish a similar objective under similar circumstances, it being understood that, unless otherwise set forth in the Transition Services Schedule or elsewhere in this Agreement, as related to the performance of Services, as applicable, Organon’s level of efforts shall be measured against and be no greater than and shall be in accordance with the efforts expended by Merck to accomplish such particular Service as Merck used during the twelve (12) month period prior to the Effective Date.

1.10 “Confidential Information” means all confidential information and data relating to a Party (including information regarding such Party’s and its Affiliates’ business, employees, development plans, programs, documentation, techniques, trade secrets, systems, and know-how) disclosed or provided by or on behalf of such Party to the other Party pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement. “Confidential Information” does not include any information

 

2


or data: (i) rightfully previously known by a Party hereto, or acquired from a Third Party without a continuing restriction on use (for clarity, excluding any such information or data possessed by Merck (or its Affiliate) prior to the Separation and assigned to Organon as part of the Separation, which shall be considered Confidential Information of Organon for purposes of this clause (i), as applicable); (ii) which is or becomes publicly known without breach of this Agreement; or (iii) which is independently developed without violating any obligations under this Agreement and without reference to the Confidential Information of the other Party. Any combination of features or disclosures shall not be deemed to fall within the foregoing exclusions merely because individual features are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party unless the combination itself and principle of operation are published or available to the general public or in the rightful possession of the receiving Party.

1.11 “Covered Personal Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.12 “Data Protection Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.13 “Data Subject” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.14 “Deferred Market Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.15 “De Minimis Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.4.

1.16 “Dependent Service Element” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.2(i).

1.17 “Discards” means, with respect to any Merck Product (including any Samples (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement)), any and all discards (including write-offs) of such Merck Product that may arise as a result of, or otherwise in connection with the performance of activities by any Party under this Agreement or the Regulatory Agreement including any discards that arise as a result of expiration or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, “Discards” shall not include any discards to the extent expressly provided for pursuant to any supply, manufacturing or similar agreement between the Parties and/or their respective Affiliates.

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

1.19 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.20 “Expense” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1.

1.21 “Expense Activity” means any activity, support or work provided by Organon pursuant to Section 3.2.

1.22 “Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2.

1.23 “Governmental Authority” means any United States (federal, state or local), or any other foreign, government or political subdivision thereof, or any multinational governmental organization or authority, or any authority, agency or commission, in each case,

 

3


entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power, any court or tribunal (or any department, bureau or division thereof), or any governmental arbitrator or arbitral body.

1.24 “Industry Code” means those codes adopted by industry associations which govern Merck’s business as of the Effective Date, including PhRMA, IFPMA, and corresponding national codes of other countries.

1.25 “Information” means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including studies, reports, records, books, subledgers, instruments, surveys, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, marketing plans, customer names, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data, including cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product data and literature, artwork, design, and quality records and reports; provided that “Information” does not include Organon Intellectual Property.

1.26 “In-Licensed IP” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.3.

1.27 “Interim Services Agreement” means an agreement entered into between an Affiliate of Organon and an Affiliate of Merck with respect to the provision of Services and payment of Expenses in a specific country.

1.28 “International Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.5.

1.29 “IP License Agreement” means any agreement entered into between Merck or an Affiliate of Merck, on the one hand, and Organon or an Affiliate of Organon, on the other hand, with respect to the license of any intellectual property in connection with the Separation.

1.30 “Local Services Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.9.4.

1.31 “Longstop Date” means the date that is twelve (12) months after the Effective Date.

1.32 “Merck” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.33 “Merck Branded Product” means Merck Product labeled with branding of Merck Parent or an Affiliate of Merck.

1.34 “Merck Business” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.35 “Merck Improvements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.2.

1.36 “Merck Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

4


1.37 “Merck Products” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

1.38 “Merck Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Merck Parent post-Separation (including Merck).

1.39 “Merck Transition Manager” means the “General Manager” designated by Merck to have general management responsibility for the receipt of Services. The initial Transition Manager shall be designated on or prior to the Effective Date.

1.40 “Organon” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.41 “Organon Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.

1.42 “Organon Intellectual Property means proprietary information, patents, know-how, data and other intellectual property, in any form, owned or otherwise controlled by Organon (or its Affiliate) and that either: (i) was used as of the Effective Date to provide any Service to Merck under this Agreement; or (ii) Organon or its Affiliate has determined to be reasonably necessary for Merck to receive any Service or Expense Activity hereunder.

1.43 “Organon Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.44 “Organon Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Organon Parent post-Separation (including Organon).

1.45 “Organon Transition Manager” means the “General Manager” designated by Organon to have general management responsibility for the provision of Services. The initial Transition Manager shall be designated on or prior to the Effective Date.

1.46 “Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

1.47 “Payment Claims” means any rebates, prompt payment discounts, chargebacks, shortage claims, retrospective pricing adjustments, reimbursements and similar items related to the prior sale of a Merck Product; provided that “Payment Claims” do not include payments in respect of returned products.

1.48 “Person” means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, limited liability entity or other entity or Governmental Authority, including any successor or permitted assignee, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing.

1.49 “Personal Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.50 “Personal Data Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

1.51 “Processing” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1.

 

5


1.52 “Records means Organon’s (or its Affiliate’s or Subcontractor’s, as applicable) records related to the provision of Services to be provided under this Agreement; provided, however, that with respect to records of existing Subcontractors as of the Effective Date, the term “Records” shall only include the records of a given existing Subcontractor to the extent that the agreement between Organon (or its Affiliate, as applicable) and such Subcontractor requires such Subcontractor to maintain such records and provide access to such records as set forth in this Agreement (provided, however, that this shall not relieve Organon or its Subcontractor, as applicable, of its obligations to comply with all Applicable Laws).

1.53 “Regulatory Agreement” means the Regulatory Agreement for Specified Merck Products entered into between Merck Parent (or one of its Affiliates) and Organon Parent (or one of its Affiliates).

1.54 “Security Regulations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.1.

1.55 “Separation” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.56 “Separation and Distribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.57 “Separation Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

1.58 “Service Fee” means with respect to each Service set forth in the Transition Services Schedule, the agreed monthly service fee set forth opposite such Service in the Transition Services Schedule (as it may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and if so amended, restated modified or supplemented, as may be calculated and adjusted in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

1.59 “Service Fees Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

1.60 “Service Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.1.

1.61 “Service Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.3.

1.62 “Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

1.63 “STAIRS Plan” means the plan, as mutually agreed by Organon and Merck (or their respective Affiliates, as applicable), that details the transfer of Marketing Authorizations, the name change of the holder of the Marketing Authorizations, site name changes, legal entity name and address changes, and artwork changes in connection with the Separation (as such plan may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the Regulatory Agreement).

1.64 “Subcontractor” means any Person (other than a Party or an Affiliate of a Party) engaged by a Party (or its Affiliate) to perform any Service obligation or Expense Activity of such Party hereunder.

 

6


1.65 “Systems” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.1.

1.66 “Tangible Information” means Information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

1.67 “Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

1.68 “Third Party” means any Person other than Organon or Merck or any of their respective Affiliates.

1.69 “Third Party Agreement” means any agreement with a Third Party for the provision of goods, a service, lease or license relating to, or necessary for, the provision of the Services or Expense Activities whether entered into before or after the date of this Agreement.

1.70 “Third Party Claim” means any and all suits, claims, actions, proceedings or demands brought by a Third Party against Organon (or the Organon Indemnitees).

1.71 “Third Party Consent” means any permission, consent, agreement or authorization required from a Third Party, whether under a Third Party Agreement or otherwise, for the provision of the Services or Expense Activities by Organon, or the receipt of such Services or Expense Activities by Merck.

1.72 “Third Party Costs” means any payment or reimbursement made to a Subcontractor or other Third Party for services and/or goods provided in connection with the activities contemplated under this Agreement.

1.73 “Third Party Damages” means all losses, costs, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses payable to a Third Party by Organon (or the Organon Indemnitees) under a Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs of litigation in connection therewith).

1.74 “Third Party Supplier” means any Third Party providing goods, a service, lease or license under a Third Party Agreement, including any Subcontractor.

1.75 “Third Party In-License” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.3.

1.76 “Transaction Documents” means the Separation and Distribution Agreement and any other agreements entered into between Merck Parent (or any of its Affiliates) and Organon (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the Separation.

1.77 “Transition Managers” means the Organon Transition Manager and the Merck Transition Manager.

1.78 “Transition Services Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

1.79 “TSA Exit” means the transition or migration from the provision of a particular Service by Organon to Merck under this Agreement to performance of such Service by Merck or a Third Party designated by Merck or the end of a Service for which no such transition or migration is required.

 

7


1.80 “VAT” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.1.

2. Services.

2.1 Provision of Services. Subject to Section 2.2, commencing on the Effective Date, Organon agrees to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide (itself or through one or more of its Affiliates or Subcontractors) to Merck or its applicable Affiliates the services described in Schedule 1 (as such schedule may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “Transition Services Schedule”) for the respective periods and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule (the “Services”).

2.2 Additional Services.

2.2.1 Additional Services.

(i) Organon shall consider in good faith any reasonable written request by Merck or any of its Affiliates for new services that are not reflected in the Transition Services Schedule at the time of such request (the “Additional Services”). If Merck desires to request an Additional Service to be provided hereunder by Organon, the Merck Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the requested commencement date of such Additional Service, provide a written request thereof to the Organon Transition Manager describing such Additional Service and the anticipated commencement date thereof. For example, if an Additional Service is being requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Merck must request the Additional Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If an Additional Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Merck’s request for such Additional Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.1, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law, on whether such Additional Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and Service Fee for such Additional Service added, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.1(i) and 2.2.1(ii), respectively.

(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request for Additional Services, the Organon Transition Manager shall provide the Merck Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such Additional Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment as to whether the requested commencement or completion dates can be achieved. Following receipt by the Merck Transition Manager of the Organon Transition Manager’s response to the request for Additional Services, the terms and conditions, including the applicable commencement date, the Service Termination Date, and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Additional Services, if any, shall be provided by Organon, shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5.

 

8


(iii) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.1 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to add any such Additional Services and to reflect the Service Fee applicable to such Additional Services. Any agreed Additional Services so provided by Organon shall constitute Services under this Agreement and be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement as if fully set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the date hereof. It is understood that Organon may in its sole and absolute discretion decline to provide any such Additional Service and Merck acknowledges that Organon shall be under no obligation to provide, and may not have the resources, capabilities or capacity to provide, any Additional Service, and may determine not to do so for any reason or no reason; provided that if such Additional Service is required to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, and such Additional Service cannot be performed by Merck itself or cannot be provided by a Third Party, including outside advisors, Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide such Additional Service.

(iv) If, after the Effective Date Organon discovers that it, or its Affiliates, is performing any service for Merck that is not a Service in the Transition Services Schedule and is not a De Minimis Service as determined by Organon, and is not otherwise agreed to pursuant to Section 3.2, Organon shall inform Merck in writing and Merck may request Organon to add this service as an Additional Service pursuant to this Section 2.2.1. For clarity, if such service is not requested by Merck to be an Additional Service or the terms and conditions and applicable Service Fee are not mutually agreed to, Organon may stop performing such service.

2.2.2 Ad Hoc Services.

(i) The Transition Services Schedule contains a description of certain services that do not have an applicable Service Fee (“Ad Hoc Services”). Such Ad Hoc Services shall be provided by Organon upon the mutual agreement of the Parties pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.2.2 and in accordance with Section 5. If Merck desires that Organon provide an Ad Hoc Service hereunder, the Merck Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated commencement date of such Ad Hoc Service, provide a written request thereof to the Organon Transition Manager. For example, if an Ad Hoc Service is being requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Merck must request such Ad Hoc Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If an Ad Hoc Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Merck’s request for such Ad Hoc Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law or for those certain Ad Hoc Services identified for expedited review in the Transition Services Schedule, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.2, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law or to support the business need for those certain Ad Hoc Service identified for expedited review in the Transition Services Schedule, on whether such Ad Hoc Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and Service Fee for such Ad Hoc Service to be implemented, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.2(i) and 2.2.2(ii), respectively.

 

9


(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request for Ad Hoc Services, the Organon Transition Manager shall provide the Merck Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such Ad Hoc Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2), and an assessment of whether the requested commencement or completion dates can be achieved. Following receipt by the Merck Transition Manager of the Organon Transition Manager’s response to the request for Ad Hoc Services, the additional terms and conditions, including the applicable commencement date, Service Termination Date, and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Ad Hoc Services, if any, shall be provided, shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree upon such additional terms and conditions, such Ad Hoc Services shall not be provided hereunder; provided further that any such agreed Ad Hoc Services shall only be provided by Organon until no later than the applicable Service Termination Date set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the Effective Date and if a longer period is requested by Merck, such Ad Hoc Services shall be treated as Additional Services in accordance with Section 2.2.1.

(iii) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.2 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be updated to reflect the Service Fee and any additional agreed upon terms and conditions applicable to such Ad Hoc Services. Any agreed Ad Hoc Services so provided by Organon shall constitute Services under this Agreement and be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement as if fully set forth in the Transition Services Schedule as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, there may be more than one request for the same Ad Hoc Service that is listed in the Transition Services Schedule, and each such request will be managed pursuant to this Section 2.2.2 and the same line item in the Transition Services Schedule.

2.2.3 Change in Scope of Service and Increase in Service Fee.

(i) The Parties agree and acknowledge that Organon may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the applicable Services if Organon is making similar changes in performing similar services for itself, its Affiliates or other Third Parties, if any; provided that if any such changes adversely affect the benefits to Merck of Organon’s provision or quality of such Service in any material respect or increase the Service Fee for such Service, Organon shall provide a written description thereof to Merck and the Transition Managers shall mutually agree (unless such change is required by Applicable Law or a Governmental Authority, in which case such mutual agreement shall not be required) in writing in accordance with Section 5 to amend the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule to reflect such change and any corresponding increase, if applicable, in the applicable Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

(ii) Merck may request changes to the scope of Services being provided by Organon pursuant to the Transition Services Schedule. For example, an increase in the volume of activity related to a specific Service due to an acquisition of a company by Merck, would be a change in the scope of such Service. If Merck desires to request a change in the nature or manner of performing a particular Service or the level at which such Service is to be provided

 

10


hereunder by Organon, the Merck Transition Manager shall, no later than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated commencement date of such change in the scope of such Service, provide a written request thereof to the Organon Transition Manager describing such change. For example, if a change in scope of a Service is being requested to begin on June 1, 2022, then Merck must request the change in scope of such Service no later than April 2, 2022 (sixty (60) days prior to June 1, 2022). If a change in scope of a Service is requested that needs to commence within less than sixty (60) days from Merck’s request for such change in scope of a Service, including to comply with a request from a Governmental Authority or any Applicable Law, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 2.2.3, in an expedited manner to satisfy the request of the Governmental Authority or to comply with Applicable Law, on whether such change in scope of a Service will be provided and the terms and conditions and revised Service Fee, for any increase in scope, for such Service, notwithstanding the sixty (60) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 2.2.3(ii) and 2.2.3(iii), respectively.

(iii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such request from the Merck Transition Manager, the Organon Transition Manager shall provide the Merck Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth any applicable increase in the Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment of whether the requested commencement date for such change in scope can be achieved. Following receipt by the Merck Transition Manager of the Organon Transition Manager’s response to the request for a change in the scope of a particular Service, the new terms and conditions, including the commencement date for such change in scope and any applicable increase in the Service Fee (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) on which such Service shall be provided shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree upon such new terms and conditions, the scope of such Service and the Service Fee shall not be amended hereunder.

(iv) Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 2.2.3 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to reflect any changes to the scope of any such Services and any increase in the Service Fee applicable to such Services (which increase in the Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2). Any reduction to the scope of a Service shall not reduce or otherwise change the applicable Service Fee and the Service Fee in effect prior to any such reduction shall remain in effect through the applicable Service Termination Date (unless otherwise subsequently modified in accordance with this Agreement) and Merck shall continue to be liable for paying the Service Fee related to any such reduced Service until the applicable Service Termination Date (unless otherwise subsequently modified in accordance with this Agreement).

2.2.4 De Minimis Services. Without limiting any other provisions of this Section 2.2, Organon may, in its sole discretion, perform certain additional de minimis services that are incidental and not material in nature (and Organon shall consider any reasonable request by Merck or any of its Affiliates for such de minimis services) (the “De Minimis Services”); provided, however, that whether Organon will provide such De Minimis Services shall be in Organon’s sole discretion. The De Minimis Services, if any, shall constitute Services under this Agreement and

 

11


shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) the De Minimis Services will not be reflected in the Transition Services Schedule and (ii) the De Minimis Services shall be provided at Organon’s sole cost and expense (i.e. there shall be no Service Fee with respect to any De Minimis Services). For the avoidance of doubt, any support provided by Organon to Merck pursuant to Section 3.2 shall not be considered De Minimis Services.

2.3 Information.

2.3.1 All Tangible Information supplied to Merck by Organon pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided in Organon’s standard format as in existence on the Effective Date. All Information will be supplied in its existing language without any translation required by Organon. Organon reserves the right to redact such Information where required. Organon reserves the right to change the format of the Information supplied to Merck to accommodate any upgrades or improvements in Organon’s existing systems, software or hardware or for other reasonable business reasons. Merck can request that Information be supplied in a format that is different from Organon’s standard format in existence on the Effective Date or the format as subsequently changed by Organon pursuant to the preceding sentence by providing a written request thereof to Organon, which written request shall contain Merck’s rationale for the requested change in format to a non-standard format. If Organon, in its sole discretion and upon the request of Merck, accommodates such request to provide Information in a non-standard format requested by Merck, the Expenses of any such provision of Information, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2, shall be the responsibility of Merck and Organon shall be reimbursed for any such Expenses incurred in connection with accommodating Merck’s request. Organon shall not be required to make any upgrade or improvements to its existing systems, software or hardware on behalf of Merck in order to provide any Services, Expense Activities or Information in any different format.

2.3.2 In connection with a TSA Exit, in accordance with the TSA Exit plan, Organon will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts and will cause its Affiliates to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to support any transfer of Records concerning the Merck Products and related to such Service to Merck in accordance with the applicable TSA Exit plan. If requested by Merck in connection with the prior sentence during the Term, Organon will deliver and will cause its Affiliates to deliver to Merck, within such time periods as the Parties may reasonably agree, all Records received or computed for the benefit of Merck related to such Service prior to the applicable Service Termination Date, the scope of such Records as mutually agreed, in electronic and/or hard copy form; provided, however, that (i) Organon will not have any obligation to provide or cause to provide Records in any format other than the current format Organon maintains, and (ii) the Expenses of any such provisions of Records, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2, shall be the responsibility of Merck and Organon shall be reimbursed for such Expenses incurred in connection with accommodating Merck’s request.

2.3.3 Upon the request of Merck, Organon shall provide any Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business; provided that, to the extent such Tangible Information is not being provided under a Service in the Transition Services Schedule, (i) requests for provision of Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business that is contained within unstructured or structured data in Organon Systems will be managed pursuant to Section 3.2.7 and (ii) requests for provision of Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business that is contained within physical records will be managed pursuant to Section 3.2.9.

 

12


2.3.4 Any Expenses incurred by Organon pursuant to this Section 2.3 for which Merck is responsible shall be invoiced by Organon to Merck in accordance with Section 3.3. For avoidance of doubt, such Expenses may include the reasonable costs of gathering, redacting where required, copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such Information.

2.3.5 Any requests for Records concerning the Services, or Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business after the Term shall be handled pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

2.4 Limitation on Service Obligations. Without limiting its obligations pursuant to Section 6.1, Organon shall be entitled to determine the manner in which it performs the Services and Expense Activities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Organon will in no case be obligated to (i) hire any additional employees or increase the scope of responsibilities of its existing employees, (ii) maintain the employment of any specific employee, (iii) purchase, lease or license any additional equipment or software, or (iv) expand its facilities, incur capital expenses or develop new business processes. In addition, Organon shall have no obligation to (i) upgrade, enhance or otherwise modify any computer hardware, software or network environment currently used by Merck or otherwise, or to provide any support or maintenance services for any computer hardware, software or network environment that has been upgraded, enhanced or otherwise modified by or on behalf of Merck, or (ii) provide to Merck any legal or tax advice or any assistance in negotiating any contracts or agreements that Merck will enter into.

2.5 Provision of Services. Merck acknowledges that Organon may be performing or providing services similar to the Services or Expense Activities (and/or services that involve the same resources as those used to provide the Services or Expense Activities) to its internal organizations, Affiliates and Third Parties. Organon reserves the right to modify the Services and Expense Activities to the extent the same changes are made to such similar services that it uses or provides to its internal organizations, Affiliates and Third Parties in the ordinary course of business. In no event shall Organon be required to make any customization to the Services or Expense Activity (or Organon’s Systems or processes) that is unique to Merck. Merck acknowledges that Organon is not in the business of providing services to Third Parties and that Organon is entering into this Agreement only in connection with the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

2.6 Necessary Suspension. Organon will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide the applicable Services and Expense Activities during the applicable periods during the Term. In the event, however, that Organon, in the normal course of the operations in accordance with the historical practice of the past twelve (12) months prior to commencement of a Service or Expense Activity, determines to suspend delivery of a Service or Expense Activity hereunder for purposes of computer system backups, inspections, maintenance, software patches, repair, replacement of equipment parts or structures, security, or other similar activities, Organon shall

 

13


not be obligated to deliver such Services or Expense Activities during such periods; provided that (i) Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to inform Merck in writing prior to any scheduled interruption; and (ii) Organon will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to limit the disruption of Merck’s business caused by such suspension. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Organon may, from time to time and in its sole discretion, also perform additional information technology upgrades that may result in Service or Expense Activity outages or undertake other activities that may result in Service or Expense Activity outages (in each case, even if not in the normal course of the operations in accordance with the historical practice of the past twelve (12) months prior to commencement of a Service) and Organon may make such upgrades regardless of whether any such upgrade results in such an outage; provided that such information technology upgrades or other activities, as applicable, do not negatively affect Organon’s provision of the Services or Expense Activities in any material respect.

2.7 Subcontractors. Organon may subcontract or otherwise delegate the performance of all or any of its obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of the Schedules attached hereto) to any of Organon’s Affiliates or any Subcontractor solely to the extent such subcontract or delegation does not conflict with Applicable Law. If, in accordance with the foregoing, Organon exercises its rights or performs its obligations under this Agreement through an Affiliate or Subcontractor, then Organon shall remain solely responsible for the acts, omissions and performance of such Affiliate or Subcontractor as if such acts, omissions and performance had been provided by Organon itself under this Agreement. In addition, in each case where an Organon Affiliate has an obligation pursuant to this Agreement or performs an obligation pursuant to this Agreement: (i) Organon shall cause and compel such Affiliate to perform such obligation and comply with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) any breach of the terms or conditions of this Agreement by such Affiliate shall be deemed a breach by Organon of such terms or conditions. Merck shall be responsible for any additional costs or expenses arising under this Section 2.7 in connection with the addition or use of any such Subcontractor to perform Services or Expense Activities hereunder or the change of any Subcontractor previously performing Services or Expense Activities hereunder and Organon shall have the right to pass-through such additional fees to Merck (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule and incorporated in the Service Fees Schedule shall be revised to include such fees, and the amount of any applicable Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be adjusted); provided, however, (x) to the extent that a Subcontractor is changed solely due to Organon’s preference (and, for clarity, not due to the previous Subcontractor’s inability to adequately provide a Service or Expense Activity) or (y) a new Subcontractor is utilized by Organon to provide a Service or Expense Activity that was previously provided to Merck using Organon’s internal resources, then, in each case, any additional fees shall not be Expenses for which Merck shall be responsible and Organon shall bear any such additional fees (and, for the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no change in the applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule).

2.8 Third Party Suppliers.

2.8.1 Third Party Consents.

(i) Organon shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain and maintain for the Term any Third Party Consents that are necessary for Organon’s

 

14


provision to, and Merck’s receipt of, the Services and Expense Activities, except that Organon shall have no obligation to obtain any Third Party Consents in respect of any Covered Personal Data.

(ii) Merck shall provide Organon with such assistance as Organon may reasonably request to obtain Third Party Consents, including assistance with negotiating the terms of Third Party Consents with Third Party Suppliers.

(iii) Any Expenses imposed by a Third Party for the provision of any Third Party Consent that is required in respect of the Services or Expense Activities shall be borne by Merck and Organon shall have the right to pass-through such additional Expenses to Merck or, if applicable, adjust the applicable Service Fee(s) set forth on the Transition Services Schedule and incorporated in the Service Fees Schedule; provided that Organon shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to seek to minimize the Expenses imposed by a Third Party for the provision of such Third Party Consents that are required in respect of the Services or Expense Activity.

2.8.2 Dependence on Third Parties.

(i) Where a Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement is required in order for Organon to provide, or procure the provision of, any element of a Service or Expense Activity (a “Dependent Service Element”) but:

(a) such Third Party Consent either:

(1) has not been obtained; or

(2) has expired or been terminated or been revoked by the Third Party Supplier; or

(b) the obtaining of that Third Party Consent requires the payment of an Expense to the relevant Third Party Supplier that:

(1) is not expressly itemized in the Service Fee set forth on the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule; and

(2) Merck does not pay (without limiting Merck’s obligations under Section 2.8.1(iii)); or

(c) such Third Party Agreement either has been terminated or not extended or not renegotiated following expiration on substantially similar terms (including pricing terms and any terms related to performance thereunder),

then Organon shall not be obliged to provide, or procure the provision of, the Dependent Service Element.

 

15


(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the ability of Organon to provide each Service or Expense Activity hereunder shall be subject to the performance of any applicable Third Party Supplier and the terms, conditions and other provisions of any applicable Third Party Agreement. Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to enforce its rights under any applicable Third Party Agreement. Organon shall notify Merck in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable, upon it becoming aware of any threatened or actual failure to obtain revocation, termination or expiry of the relevant Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement if it will adversely impact the ability of Organon to provide the applicable Service to Merck or Expense Activity. Upon receiving such notification, Merck and Organon shall cooperate in good faith to obtain or renew any such Third Party Consent or Third Party Agreement. Any increased cost associated with such new Third Party Consent or renewal, that is applicable or allocable to a Service or Expense Activity, shall be borne by Merck and Organon shall have the right to pass-through any such increased Expenses to Merck.

(iii) Upon Merck’s request, Organon shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to implement alternative arrangements providing substantially similar services in place of the Dependent Service Element. The cost of putting alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii) shall be borne by Merck and Organon shall have the right to pass-through such additional Expenses to Merck. The Parties shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to seek to minimize the cost of putting alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Organon shall not be required to put alternative arrangements in place under this Section 2.8.2(ii) if Merck itself is able to perform the service or services comprising the Dependent Service Element or if Merck can procure the Dependent Service Element from a Third Party at a reasonable cost.

2.9 Intellectual Property.

2.9.1 Organon Intellectual Property. As between the Parties, Organon (or its Affiliate) shall own all right, title and interest in and to the Organon Intellectual Property (including any and all information contained therein), and Merck is not acquiring any ownership interest in any Organon Intellectual Property (including any and all information contained therein) under this Agreement.

2.9.2 IP Generated from the Provision of Services. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document, all discoveries, improvements or inventions by Organon or any of its Affiliates, whether or not patentable, solely relating to a Merck Product and that directly result and arise from Organon’s or its Affiliates’ performance of the Services hereunder (“Merck Improvements”), shall be the sole and exclusive property of Merck and shall be deemed to be Confidential Information of Merck for purposes of this Agreement. Within thirty (30) days of becoming aware of any such Merck Improvement, Organon shall notify Merck, in writing, of the event and, upon Merck’s written request and at Merck’s sole expense, shall reasonably assist Merck in protecting Merck’s proprietary rights to such Merck Improvement. Organon and its Affiliates shall assign, and hereby does assign, its entire right, title and interest in and to the Merck Improvements to Merck.

2.9.3 In-Licensed IP; Third-Party In-Licensed IP. To the extent any software or intellectual property is provided as part of, or used to perform, any Service or Expense Activity and is licensed to Organon or any of its Affiliates by a Third Party (“In-Licensed IP”) pursuant to a contract to which such Third Party and Organon (or its Affiliate) are parties (a “Third

 

16


Party In-License”), then: (i) to the extent the terms of such Third Party In-License are provided to or communicated to Merck or its Affiliates, Merck shall, and shall ensure its Affiliates, comply with the applicable obligations and other terms and restrictions of such Third Party In-License, (ii) Merck and its Affiliates shall only use the In-Licensed IP to the extent necessary in accordance with this Agreement, and (iii) Organon makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the In-Licensed IP and shall have no liability with respect to such In-Licensed IP other than to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to pass through to Merck and its Affiliates any rights and benefits under the Third Party In-License. Except as otherwise set out in this Agreement, Organon does not (and does not purport to) assign or grant any rights or licenses in the In-Licensed IP to Merck or its Affiliates and any proprietary rights vesting in the same shall continue to be held by the applicable Third Party or its licensors. If Merck or any of its Affiliates materially breaches the terms of a Third Party In-License, then Organon may, upon written notice to Merck and without liability to Organon or any of its Affiliates, suspend or terminate Merck’s or its Affiliates’ access to the applicable In-Licensed IP that is the subject of such Third Party In-License.

2.9.4 Licenses. Each Party shall grant to the other Party such rights and licenses to such intellectual property, documentation and Information as shall be necessary for the other Party to perform its respective obligations and to exercise its respective rights under this Agreement.

2.9.5 IP License Agreements. This Section 2.9 and the terms hereof shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any IP License Agreement and in the event of a conflict between this Section 2.9 and any IP License Agreement, such IP License Agreement shall control.

2.10 Services Recipient. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing, (i) only Merck and its Affiliates shall be entitled to have access to the Services and Expense Activities under this Agreement, (ii) Merck shall not, directly or indirectly, resell or permit the use of any of the Services or Expense Activities to or by any other person or entity, and (iii) in no event shall Merck, its Affiliates or their respective employees, third-party technology consultants or other personnel be entitled to modify any Organon System or the Services or Expense Activities.

3. Payment.

3.1 Service Fees. In consideration for the provision of Services specified in the Transition Services Schedule by Organon, Merck will pay the applicable Service Fees to Organon pursuant to Schedule 3 (as amended or modified from time to time, including to add Service Fees for Calendar Months not included in the initial version of Schedule 3, the “Service Fees Schedule”). The Service Fees may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

3.1.1 Service Fees for Certain Quality-Related Services. For certain product quality-related Services that could have a duration of up to five (5) years, and are indicated as such in the Transition Services Schedule, the related Service Fees indicated in the Transition Services Schedule will be adjusted as follows beginning January 1, 2024.

 

17


   

For Calendar Year 2024, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2024, will be reduced twenty-five percent (25%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2023.

 

   

For Calendar Year 2025, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2025, will be reduced by thirty-three percent (33%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2024.

 

   

For the first half of Calendar Year 2026, the monthly Service Fee, effective starting January 1, 2026, will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) from the monthly Service Fee in effect for December 2025.

If either Party believes that any of the above adjustments results in an aggregate of Service Fees for the total of all such Services pursuant to this Section 3.1.1 that is not representative of the costs associated with the total volume of activity associated with such Services in aggregate for a given Calendar Year, such Party may, prior to November 1st of the preceding Calendar Year, request discussion and review by the Transition Managers to determine if a different adjustment should be applied. Such determination shall be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5; provided that if the Transition Managers do not mutually agree, the Service Fees for such Services shall be adjusted in accordance with the adjustments noted in this Section 3.1.1.

3.2 Expenses.

3.2.1 Additional Expenses. Subject to this Article 3, to the extent that Organon or its Affiliates incurs any internal or Third Party costs, fees, charges or expenses (each, an “Expense”) specifically related to the Merck Products or Merck Business that are not related to a Service (including pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.8, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.6 and 3.8) or otherwise reimbursed pursuant to any other Transaction Document, Organon shall: (i) invoice such Expenses quarterly, including any applicable markup in accordance with Schedule 2, in the next relevant invoice issued to Merck; and (ii) upon the reasonable request of Merck, provide reasonable substantiation of all such Expenses to Merck. Invoicing and payment of such Expenses shall be in accordance with Section 3.3. Each such invoice shall set forth a reasonable description of such Expenses and the amount of such Expenses payable for such Calendar Quarter.

3.2.2 Third Party Fees. Merck shall be financially responsible for any Expenses, including filing fees, payable to any Governmental Authority or other Third Parties related to the Merck Products. If Organon or any of its Affiliates makes any payment of any such Expenses to a Governmental Authority or other Third Party on behalf of Merck, Merck shall reimburse Organon the amount of such Expenses paid.

3.2.3 STAIRS Plan Expenses Pursuant to Regulatory Agreement. Merck shall be financially responsible for any Expenses related to the STAIRS Plan for Merck Products. In addition to the payment of any applicable Service Fee hereunder, any Expenses incurred with respect to the planning and execution, including the costs associated with artwork and any resulting Discards related to Merck Products, of the STAIRS Plan pursuant to the Regulatory Agreement shall be borne by Merck and Organon shall have the right to charge such Expenses to Merck (such Expenses as calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

 

18


3.2.4 Recalls Expenses Pursuant to Regulatory Agreement. In addition to the payment of any applicable Service Fee hereunder, any Expenses incurred with respect to recalls or market withdrawal of Merck Products pursuant to the Regulatory Agreement shall be borne by Merck and Organon shall have the right to charge such Expenses to Merck (such Expenses as calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2).

3.2.5 Product Returns and Discards. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document and subject to Applicable Law:

(i) From the Effective Date and all times thereafter, Organon shall be responsible for handling, processing, providing refunds or replacements for, destroying, and otherwise administering all returns of Merck Product sold before or after the Effective Date by a legal entity that has conveyed to Organon as part of the Separation. In each case, such returns shall be handled in accordance with Organon’s then-current returned goods policy. Returns of Merck Product where the original selling entity is unknown shall not be accepted and credit will not be provided by Organon. In no event shall Merck process returns for Organon Product.

(ii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Merck, to the extent legally authorized to do so, shall be responsible for handling, processing, providing refunds or replacements for, destroying and otherwise administering all returns of Merck Product sold by a Merck entity that has not conveyed to Organon, and all cases where the original selling entity is unknown. In each case, such returns shall be handled in accordance with Merck’s then-current returned goods policy. Notwithstanding the rest of this Section 3.2.5(ii), Merck shall not be responsible for processing of returns of Merck Products that were sold before or after the Effective Date by legal entities that conveyed to Organon as part of the Separation.

(iii) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, Merck shall be financially responsible for all costs (including the costs of credits and replacements provided in connection with such returns) associated with Merck Product returns sold before or after the Effective Date by a legal entity that has conveyed to Organon as part of the Separation. From the Effective Date and all times thereafter, Merck shall be financially responsible for all costs (including the costs of credits and replacements provided in connection with such returns) associated with returns of Merck Product sold by a Merck entity that has not conveyed to Organon and for any Merck Product where the original selling entity is unknown.

(iv) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date each Party: (a) shall promptly notify the other Party of receipt of any Merck Product incorrectly returned to that Party (with reference to the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to Applicable Law) and shall keep adequate records regarding such returned Merck Products; and (b) shall send back to the relevant customer any Merck Product that is returned to the incorrect entity, and direct such customer to return the Merck Product to the correct Party.

(v) If a Third Party contacts Merck regarding the return of any Merck Product that was sold before or after the Effective Date by a legal entity that has conveyed

 

19


to Organon as part of the Separation, Merck shall refer such Third Party to Organon. If a Third Party contacts Organon regarding the return of any Merck Product that was sold by a Merck entity that has not conveyed to Organon, Organon shall refer such Third Party to Merck. If a Third Party contacts Merck regarding return of any Organon Product, Merck shall refer such Third Party to Organon.

(vi) From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, neither Merck nor Organon shall instruct, recommend or attempt to induce customers who have previously purchased Merck Product to return such Merck Product when that would not otherwise have been the case but for such Party’s instructions, recommendations or inducement, except in the event of recall, as required by Applicable Law.

(vii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Merck shall be financially responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Discards of returned Merck Product sold by a Merck entity that has not conveyed to Organon or where the selling entity is unknown (including the supply price for the underlying Merck Products). From the Effective Date until the Longstop Date, Merck shall be financially responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Discards of returned Merck Product sold before or after the Effective Date by a legal entity that has conveyed to Organon as part of the Separation.

(viii) For the avoidance of doubt, the costs and expenses included in this Section 3.2.5 that are incurred by one Party but the responsibility of the other Party, shall be Expenses and reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3.

3.2.6 Payment Claims. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties or as otherwise set forth in any Transaction Document and subject to Applicable Law:

(i) With respect to processing transactional data and government pricing data related to the sale of Merck Products, Organon and Merck agree to work in good faith to ensure compliance with commercial contracts, government programs and the related price reporting requirements in an accurate and timely manner.

(ii) From the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Merck shall be operationally responsible for processing and financially responsible for paying all Payment Claims that are associated with all Merck Product sold by a Merck entity that has not conveyed to Organon, and with all Merck Product for which it is not possible to identify whether the original selling entity was Organon or Merck.

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, from the Effective Date and at all times thereafter, Organon shall be operationally responsible for processing and financially responsible for paying all Payment Claims that are associated with Merck Product sold before or after the Effective Date by a legal entity that has conveyed to Organon as part of the Separation.

(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, the costs and expenses included in this Section 3.2.6 that are incurred by one Party but the responsibility of the other Party, shall be Expenses and reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3.

 

20


3.2.7 Reimbursement of Expenses Related to IT Projects. For any IT project support by Organon that is requested by Merck that is not included in any Service listed in the Transition Services Schedule and not related to a TSA Exit pursuant to Section 3.2.8, if Organon agrees to provide the requested support (which agreement shall not be required in the case of a request for Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business that is contained within unstructured or structured data in Organon Systems) then Organon shall provide an estimate of the Expenses for such support and the scope of work to be completed by Organon and the estimated duration for the completion of the support. If Merck agrees to proceed with such IT project, Organon shall complete the project work and be reimbursed for all related Expenses, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2. If, at any time, Organon determines that the actual Expenses for any such support provided under this Section 3.2.7 will exceed the estimated Expenses by greater than ten percent (10%), Organon shall inform Merck who may decide for Organon to continue such support or cease such support. If Merck decides to cease such support, Organon shall invoice, and Merck shall pay, for any Expenses incurred prior to the cessation of support and any related non-cancelable Expenses.

3.2.8 Reimbursement of Expenses Related to TSA Exits. For any support by Organon for TSA Exits (which support shall be consistent with the applicable agreed TSA Exit plan (or completed after the Effective Date in preparation for such TSA Exit plan), including an estimate of the Expenses, for such TSA Exit support), Merck shall reimburse Organon for all related Expenses, calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2. Invoicing and payments for such Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.2.8 for each such TSA Exit shall be included in the invoices and payments to be made in accordance with Section 3.3. If, at any time, Organon determines that the actual Expenses for any such support provided under this Section 3.2.8 will exceed the estimated Expenses by greater than ten percent (10%), Organon shall inform Merck who may decide for Organon to continue such support or cease such support. If Merck decides to cease such support, Organon shall invoice, and Merck shall pay, for any Expenses incurred prior to the cessation of support and any related non-cancelable Expenses.

3.2.9 Expenses Related to Physical Records. The provision by Organon to Merck of any Tangible Information specifically related to the Merck Products or the Merck Business that is contained within physical records in response to a request from Merck, that is not being provided under a Service in the Transition Services Schedule, will follow the process outlined in Schedule 5. Merck shall reimburse Organon for the Expenses associated with providing such physical records with the amount of the Expenses to be reimbursed determined in accordance with Schedule 5. Invoicing and payments for such Expenses to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.2.9 shall be included in the invoices and payments to be made in accordance with Section 3.3.

3.3 Payment Timing.

3.3.1 Within thirty (30) days following the end of the Calendar Month that includes the Effective Date, and within thirty (30) days following each Calendar Month thereafter, Organon (or Organon’s Affiliate, as applicable) will deliver to Merck (or Merck’s Affiliate, as applicable) an invoice pursuant to the Service Fees Schedule for the global Services on the Transition Services Schedule and invoices for local Services on the Transition Services Schedule with such invoices for global and local Services being in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule during such Calendar Month. Each such invoice shall set forth a description of the

 

21


Service Fees payable in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule. For the avoidance of doubt, such invoices shall not be limited to Service Fees related to the Calendar Month covered by such monthly invoice but may include Service Fees from Calendar Months prior to such Calendar Month.

3.3.2 Within thirty (30) days following the end of the Calendar Quarter that includes the Effective Date, and within thirty (30) days following each Calendar Quarter thereafter, Organon (or Organon’s Affiliate, as applicable) will deliver to Merck (or Merck’s Affiliate, as applicable) an invoice for global Expenses that are to be charged through to Merck in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and invoices for local Expenses that are to be charged through to Merck in accordance with the terms of this Agreement incurred during such Calendar Quarter. Each such invoice shall set forth a break-down of the applicable Expenses to be charged to Merck. For the avoidance of doubt, such invoices shall not be limited to Expenses related to the Calendar Months in the Calendar Quarter covered by such quarterly invoice but may include Expenses from Calendar Months prior to such Calendar Quarter.

3.3.3 Merck will pay to Organon, by wire transfer to an account specified in the invoice, such Service Fees and Expense amounts within thirty (30) days after Merck receives such invoice pursuant to Section 3.3.1 or Section 3.3.2, as applicable. All invoices issued by Organon under this Agreement and all payments to be made by Merck under this Agreement, with respect to Services, shall be made in accordance with the Service Fees Schedule.

3.4 Currency Conversion. The rate of exchange to be used in computing the currency equivalent in Dollars of any payment (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustment to a Service Fee, the determination of a Service Fee for a new Service, or any Expense) due hereunder shall be made at the monthly rate of exchange utilized by Organon and its Affiliates in their worldwide accounting system.

3.5 Disputed Amounts. Any good faith dispute over an amount due pursuant to this Article 3 will be subject to the provisions of Section 11.3. Except as the Parties may expressly agree in writing, amounts due under this Agreement may not be offset by amounts due under any other agreement.

3.6 Taxes.

3.6.1 VAT; Similar Taxes. The Service Fees and Expenses shall be exclusive of any value added tax, sales tax or any other similar type of turnover tax (collectively, “VAT”) which may be due and payable by Organon or any of its Affiliates to a Governmental Authority and Merck shall pay any such VAT in addition to the sums otherwise payable, at the rate in force at the due time for payment or such other time as is stipulated under the relevant VAT legislation; provided, however, that Merck shall not pay any such VAT unless and until Organon provides a correct invoice in accordance with the relevant VAT legislation. Organon shall be liable for other taxes such as rent, use, and personal property taxes and for taxes on any and all income or revenues received from Merck under this Agreement.

 

22


3.6.2 Withholding Taxes. In the event any payments made pursuant to this Agreement are or become subject to withholding taxes under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the Party making such payment shall be entitled to deduct and withhold the amount of such taxes for the account of the payee to the extent required by Applicable Laws and such amounts payable to the payee shall be reduced by the amount of taxes deducted and withheld. Any such withholding taxes required under Applicable Laws to be paid or withheld shall be an expense of, and borne solely by, the payee. If the Party making payment pursuant to this Agreement fails to deduct and withhold all or a portion of the amount of tax required by Applicable Law to be deducted and withheld and such Party is required by Applicable Law to pay all or a portion of such tax to a Governmental Authority for the account of the payee, payee shall, upon request from the other Party, immediately pay to the other Party an amount equal to the amount paid to such Governmental Authority for the account of the payee.

3.6.3 Tax Cooperation. To the extent that the Party making a payment is required to deduct and withhold taxes on any payments under this Agreement, the Party making such payment shall pay the amounts of such taxes to the proper Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Laws and in a timely manner transmit to the payee an official tax certificate or other evidence of such withholding as required by Applicable Law. It is the responsibility of the payee to provide any tax forms to the Party making such payment that may be reasonably necessary in order for such Party not to withhold tax or to withhold tax at a reduced rate under an applicable bilateral income tax treaty. The payee shall use reasonable efforts to provide any such tax forms to the Party making the payment at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date for any payments for which the payee desires that the Party making the payment apply a reduced withholding rate. Each Party shall provide the other with reasonable assistance to enable the recovery and reduction, as permitted by Applicable Laws, of withholding taxes, VAT, or similar obligations resulting from payments made under this Agreement, such recovery to be for the benefit of the Party (or Affiliate thereof) bearing such withholding tax or VAT.

3.7 Other Rights. Payment of an invoice or any other amounts hereunder shall not preclude Merck from exercising its audit rights under the terms of Article 10 of this Agreement, shall not be deemed a release of any potential claims against Organon, and shall not limit Merck from pursuing any other remedy available to Merck under this Agreement or under Applicable Laws.

3.8 Interest. Any payments under this Agreement that are not made on or before the thirty (30) days following the applicable due date shall bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (i) two percent (2%) per annum above the Prime Rate, as reported in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, on the date such payment was due or, if unavailable, on the latest date prior to the payment due date on which such rate is available, and (ii) the maximum rate permitted under Applicable Law, calculated on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed from the payment due date to the date of actual payment.

3.9 Submission of Invoices. Organon shall submit all invoices electronically to Merck. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Merck and Organon may mutually agree: (i) to change the vehicle for electronic submission; or (ii) that Organon submit a hard copy of such invoices.

3.10 Interim Services Agreement. To the extent any Service or Expense Activity is provided hereunder by an Affiliate of Organon to an Affiliate of Merck within the same country, any applicable Service Fee or Expenses will be invoiced and payable in accordance with the

 

23


applicable local Interim Services Agreement. Following the Effective Date, local Interim Services Agreements will remain effective only for invoicing such Service Fees or Expenses and any other terms and conditions in this Agreement supersede those in any local Interim Services Agreement.

3.11 No Double Counting. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Merck will not be charged more than once for the same service, activity, function or Expense that is performed or incurred by Organon or its Affiliates or Third Parties pursuant to this Agreement to the extent that Merck or its Affiliates are bearing the charges for such service, activity, function or Expense pursuant to another Transaction Document.

4. Term and Termination.

4.1 Term. This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and end on the earlier of (i) the date on which Organon’s obligation to perform any Services under this Agreement ceases due to their expiration or termination in full in accordance with Section 4.2 or Section 4.3.3 or (ii) the date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 4.3.1 or 4.3.2 (the “Term”).

4.2 Duration of Services.

4.2.1 General Duration. Each Service to be provided by Organon under this Agreement shall (i) commence to be provided from and after the Effective Date, unless a different commencement date is specified in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, and (ii) terminate (a) on the end date specified with respect to such Service in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule or the end date of any extension of such specified end date agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 4.2.2, or (b) on the date such Service is terminated in accordance with Section 4.3.1 or on the date such Service is terminated by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 4.3.3, (such end date, the “Service Termination Date”).

4.2.2 Extension.

(i) The Service Termination Date specified with respect to a Service or Ad Hoc Service in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule can be extended by the mutual written agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 4.2.2 (including the markups noted for extended durations in Schedule 2) and Section 5. If Merck desires to request the extension of a Service Termination Date, the Merck Transition Manager shall, no later than ninety (90) days prior to the Service Termination Date (or such greater period as set forth in the applicable Section of the Transition Services Schedule or as necessary to comply with any Applicable Law before implementation of an extension, while providing for the thirty (30) day period for response from Organon subsequent to such a request being made, and time to reach agreement on extending the Service), provide a written request thereof to the Organon Transition Manager setting forth the desired extended Service Termination Date. Notwithstanding the ninety (90) day and thirty (30) day references in Sections 4.2.2(i) and 4.2.2(ii), respectively, if a Service with a Service Termination Date tied to a Marketing Authorization Transfer Date (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement) needs to be extended due to a change in such Marketing

 

24


Authorization Transfer Date due to an action or inaction by a Governmental Authority, and not as a result of the action or inaction of Merck, the Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assess and make final determination pursuant to this Section 4.2.2 on whether the duration of such Service shall be extended, the new Service Termination Date, and the applicable Service Fee; provided that such new Service Termination Date shall not fall after Organon’s obligation to support transfer of such Transferred Marketing Authorization (as defined in the Regulatory Agreement) ceases in accordance with the Regulatory Agreement.

(ii) Within thirty (30) days following the receipt of such extension request, the Organon Transition Manager shall provide the Merck Transition Manager with a written response to such request setting forth the applicable Service Fee for such extended Services (which Service Fee shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) and an assessment as to whether the requested Service Termination Date can be achieved. Following receipt by the Merck Transition Manager of the Organon Transition Manager’s response to the extension request, the applicable Service Termination Date and the Service Fee (which shall be calculated in accordance with the principles set forth on Schedule 2) shall be as mutually agreed upon in writing by the Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5. Upon agreement of the Transition Managers in accordance with this Section 4.2.2 and Section 5, the Transition Services Schedule and the Service Fees Schedule shall be amended or updated by the Transition Managers to change the applicable Service Termination Date and to reflect the Service Fee applicable to such extended Services.

4.3 Termination.

4.3.1 Material Breach. If either Party materially breaches this Agreement (or a given Schedule to the extent that the material breach relates solely to such Schedule), the non-breaching Party may give written notice to the other Party, specifying the nature of the material breach and, if such material breach is not remedied within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of such written notice (provided, however, that the cure period shall be suspended during any time that a Party seeks resolution of a dispute as to whether an alleged material breach occurred pursuant to any dispute resolution mechanisms under this Agreement), then the non-breaching Party shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to immediately terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the breaching Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such material breach relates only to a given Service, then the non-breaching Party shall only have the right to terminate the applicable Service to which such material breach relates and this Agreement, and all other Services shall not be affected by such termination.

4.3.2 Bankruptcy. This Agreement may be terminated by written notice given by a Party upon the occurrence of any of the following with respect the other Party: (i) such other Party becomes insolvent, or (ii) voluntary or involuntary proceedings by or against such other Party are instituted in bankruptcy or under any insolvency law, which proceedings, if involuntary, shall not have been dismissed within ninety (90) days after the date of filing, or (iii) a receiver or custodian is appointed for such other Party, or proceedings are instituted by or against such other Party for corporate reorganization or the dissolution of such other Party, which proceedings, if involuntary, shall not have been dismissed within ninety (90) days after the date of filing, or (iv) such other Party makes an assignment of substantially all of its assets for the benefit of its creditors, or substantially all of the assets of such other Party are seized or attached and not released within ninety (90) days thereafter.

 

25


4.3.3 Early Termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Merck shall be entitled to request the termination of any Service at its convenience, in whole or in part (but only to the extent that such termination in part would not jeopardize the provision of any remaining parts of such Service), at any time (without terminating any other Service) prior to the applicable Service Termination Date, by the Merck Transition Manager giving the Organon Transition Manager ninety (90) days (or such greater period as set forth in the applicable Section of the Transition Services Schedule or as necessary to comply with any Applicable Law, while providing for the thirty (30) day period for response from Organon subsequent to such a request being made, and time to reach agreement on terminating the Service) prior written request (the “Service Termination Notice”), and upon receipt by the Organon Transition Manager of the Service Termination Notice from the Merck Transition Manager, the Organon Transition Manager shall provide a written response to such Service Termination Notice within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof, including any additional Expenses associated with such early termination, and, if the Organon Transition Manager accepts the request for termination set forth therein, the Transition Managers may mutually agree in writing to terminate such Service, including the new Service Termination Date and any additional Expenses to be charged to Merck, in accordance with Section 5; provided that (i) in the event of any such termination of a Service in whole, Merck shall continue to be liable for paying the Service Fee related to any such terminated Service until the end of the applicable Calendar Month in which the newly agreed upon end date of such Service falls (and such Service Fee shall no longer be payable in the subsequent Calendar Month), as well as all other non-cancelable Expenses (including any costs or penalties related to Third Party Agreements, wind-down costs, minimum volume make-up fees and any other costs associated with the Service that Organon cannot eliminate prior to the previously planned Service Termination Date; provided however Organon will not charge Merck for unamortized information technology related costs) incurred by Organon or any of its Affiliates in connection with any early terminated Service, and (ii) in the event of any such termination of a Service in part, Merck shall continue to be liable for paying the entire Service Fee related to such Service, as well as all other Expenses incurred by Organon or any of its Affiliates in connection with such Service, until such Service is fully terminated or expired hereunder.

4.4 Effect of Termination of Services; Survival. In the event of any termination with respect to one or more, but less than all, of the Services, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect with respect to any Services not so terminated and, as applicable, any Expenses payable pursuant to Section 3.2. Upon the termination of any or all of the Services, Organon will cease, or cause its applicable Affiliates or Subcontractors to cease, providing the terminated Services. Upon each such termination, Merck will pay to Organon all Service Fees and Expenses accrued and incurred through the applicable Service Termination Date related to such terminated Service included in the subsequent monthly invoice provided by Organon to Merck with respect to such Service and Expenses in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 4.3. The terms, provisions, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement that by their sense and context are intended to survive the performance thereof by either Party or both Parties hereunder (including in Articles 1 (to the extent necessary to interpret other surviving provisions of this Agreement), 3 (as related to invoices and payments for Services provided and Expenses incurred prior to the expiration or termination of this Agreement), 7 (for a period of ten (10) years after the

 

26


expiration or termination of this Agreement), 9, 10 (with respect to audits for Expenses), and 11 and Sections 2.9.1, 2.9.2, 2.9.3, 2.9.5, 4.4 and 8.2), shall so survive the completion of performance, expiration or termination of this Agreement (or a given Service, as applicable). Upon the expiration of the Term or if this Agreement is terminated with respect to all of the Services pursuant to Section 4.3, Organon shall provide Merck a final invoice setting forth any and all accrued and unpaid Service Fees and Expenses related to the Services, including in accordance with Section 4.3, and Merck shall promptly pay such amounts set forth on such invoice.

5. Governance.

5.1 Designation of Transition Managers. Merck and Organon will each assign one person to act as that Party’s Transition Manager for the Services and Expenses. The Transition Managers will (i) represent and act for their respective Party for matters related to the Services and Expenses, and (ii) meet and/or confer on a regular basis (at mutually agreed times and locations) to review the activities under this Agreement (including progress with respect to the TSA Exits) and to discuss the status and progress of such activities. Either party may change its Transition Manager whenever it considers it appropriate and, in any such case, shall advise the other Party of such changes accordingly. In addition to the Transition Managers, each Party shall designate a functional representative for each function that is providing or receiving, as the case may be, a Service hereunder while such applicable Service is being provided and received.

5.2 Responsibilities of Transition Managers. Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1, during the Term, the Transition Managers shall serve as their respective Party’s primary contact for the other Party to manage and coordinate the provision of the Services and Expense Activities and payment of Service Fees and Expenses provided hereunder and the performance of the Parties’ other obligations hereunder, including any associated exchange of Information and transition of responsibilities related to the Services and Expense Activities. The Transition Managers shall be responsible for ensuring that, during the Term, both Parties appropriately prepare for the transition of responsibilities associated with the TSA Exits and that the Parties understand the tasks necessary to accomplish a smooth transition.

5.3 Decisions of Transition Managers. The Transition Managers shall promptly meet to discuss such matters submitted or communicated to them by the executives responsible for the transition management, including the completion of any TSA Exit and any amendment, supplement or modification of or to the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule, and reasonably and in good faith cooperate to reach agreement on mutually acceptable terms. All changes to the Transition Services Schedule or the Service Fees Schedule shall be documented in writing in either a document, amendment or other instrument or in meeting minutes and mutually agreed upon by the Transition Managers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, each Transition Manager can only make decisions and agreements under this Agreement upon approval of, and receipt of the requisite authority to make such decision or enter into such agreement from, such Party’s established processes for such approval or authorization.

5.4 Issues Resolution. The Transition Managers and/or functional representatives will work together to resolve issues or potential disputes relating to this Agreement, with the intent of averting the escalation of such issues or potential disputes. Should escalation be required, the Transition Managers shall meet first with the Transition Management Office (TMO) Leads (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement). If not resolved the TMO Leads will meet with executives from each Party to resolve the escalation issue.

 

27


6. Transition Service Responsibilities.

6.1 Responsibilities of Organon. Subject to Sections 6.2 and 6.3 and the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide the Services, or cause the Services to be provided.

6.2 Responsibilities of Merck.

6.2.1 Merck will provide Organon with (i) such access to Merck’s facilities as is, in Organon’s reasonable good faith judgment, necessary for Organon or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services or Expense Activities required hereunder; (ii) such Information as is, in Organon’s reasonable good faith judgment, necessary for Organon or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services or Expense Activities required hereunder; and (iii) such reasonable access to resources and timely decisions, as reasonably requested by Organon in good faith from time to time, in order to permit Organon or any of its Affiliates to perform the Services and or Expense Activities required hereunder.

6.2.2 If Merck fails to perform, or procure the performance of, any of its obligations under this Section 6.2 and such failure impairs the provision of such element of the Services or Expense Activities, Organon shall not be obliged to provide, or procure the provision of, such element of the Services or Expense Activities; provided that Organon shall notify Merck as soon as reasonably practicable upon the occurrence of such failure.

6.3 Mutual Responsibilities. The Parties will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate with each other in all matters relating to the provision and receipt of Services and to Expenses. Such cooperation will include (i) Organon designating an Organon Transition Manager for purposes of this Agreement, and Merck designating a Merck Transition Manager for purposes of this Agreement; (ii) exchanging information relevant to the performance of the Services to be provided hereunder and to Expenses; and (iii) good faith efforts to mitigate problems and issues interfering with the performance of the Services and or Expense Activities required hereunder.

6.4 Compliance. Each Party shall observe and comply with, and give all notices required by, Applicable Law and Industry Codes (including all applicable sample accountability rules, regulations and requirements). Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party if it becomes aware of any noncompliance with Applicable Law or Industry Codes in connection with its activities under this Agreement, and shall take all appropriate action necessary to ensure compliance with Applicable Law and Industry Codes in connection with its activities under this Agreement. All activities performed and Services provided hereunder shall be performed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the other Transaction Documents, including the Regulatory Agreement, governing compliance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a representation or warranty by Organon that any Service, Expense Activity or other items provided in connection therewith is sufficient to satisfy Merck’s obligations under Applicable Laws or Industry Codes.

 

28


6.5 Security.

6.5.1 If either Party is given access to the other Party’s (or its Affiliate’s) computer systems or software (collectively, the “Systems”) or physical facilities in connection with the performance or receipt of the Services or Expense Activities, such Party shall comply with all of the other Party’s reasonable policies, procedures and requirements in relation to Systems or physical facilities (collectively, “Security Regulations”) and will not tamper with, compromise, attempt to circumvent or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by such other Party. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any Security Regulations, this Agreement will govern. Each Party shall access and use only those Systems of the other Party for which it has been granted the right to access and use, and only to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the provision or receipt, as applicable, of the Services and Expense Activities. Each Party shall be responsible for its employees’ compliance with the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement in connection with such access, including access to comingled or sensitive Information.

6.5.2 Each Party will ensure that only those of its personnel who are specifically authorized to have access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party (or its Affiliates) gain such access, and to prevent unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or other property contained therein, including notifying its personnel of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and of the Security Regulations.

6.5.3 If, at any time, either Party determines that (i) any of its personnel has sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations of the other Party, (ii) any unauthorized personnel of such Party has accessed the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party, or (iii) any of the personnel of such Party has engaged in activities that may lead or leads to the unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of Information or software, such Party shall immediately terminate any such personnel’s access to the Systems or physical facilities of the other Party and immediately notify the other Party. In addition, each Party shall have the right to deny the personnel of the other Party access to any Systems or physical facilities upon written notice to the other Party in the event that such Party reasonably believes that such personnel have engaged in any of the activities set forth above in this Section 6.5 or otherwise pose a security concern. Each Party will cooperate with the other Party in investigating any apparent unauthorized access to the Systems or facilities of the other Party.

6.6 TSA Exit.

6.6.1 The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Services to be provided hereunder are transitional in nature and are intended to provide Merck with reasonable time to develop the internal resources and capacities (or to arrange for Third Parties) to provide such Services. Accordingly, at all times from and after the Effective Date, Merck shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to make or obtain approvals, permits or licenses, implement any necessary systems, hire and train required employees or contractors, put in place agreements with Third Parties, and take, or cause to be taken, any and all other actions necessary or advisable so as to render receipt of the Services from Organon no longer necessary.

6.6.2 In the event and to the extent a plan for each TSA Exit has not been developed or finalized by Merck prior to the Effective Date, then, unless the timing is otherwise set

 

29


forth in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, no later than six (6) months prior to each planned Service Termination Date in the Transition Services Schedule, Merck shall prepare a plan for the TSA Exit, which plan shall be provided to Organon for its review and, for any TSA Exit plan that includes requested support from Organon, its consent. Merck will have the sole, full responsibility for planning and, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 3.2.8, carrying out the TSA Exits prior to the expiration of the applicable Service Termination Date specified in the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule, and in no event will Organon be required to transfer or assign any contracts or agreements to Merck in connection with the expiration or termination of any Service or otherwise.

6.6.3 Merck functional representatives shall periodically and on a regularly scheduled basis, at minimum quarterly unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, deliver to Organon functional representatives a detailed written work plan describing its progress with respect to the TSA Exits and such plan and the progress against such plan shall be discussed by the functional representatives and/or Transition Managers in accordance with Section 5. Such written work plan shall address the following with respect to each of the Services: (i) phases of implementation, if applicable; (ii) any applicable milestones and expected Service Termination Date for a Service; and (iii) expected Organon involvement, as applicable and subject to Section 3.2.8.

7. Confidentiality; Data Privacy.

7.1 Disclosure of Confidential Information. Each Party hereto: (i) will retain in strict confidence the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the nature of the services provided) and the Confidential Information of the other Party; and (ii) will not disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the Confidential Information of the other Party to any other Third Party, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law or judicial or administrative process (in which case the provisions of Section 7.2.2 shall apply), without the other Party’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party (and its respective Affiliates) shall be permitted to disclose any terms of this Agreement to the extent required in connection with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in compliance with the rules of any securities or listing requirement.

7.2 Permitted Disclosures.

7.2.1 Notwithstanding Section 7.1, each Party shall be permitted to disclose Confidential Information of the other Party, if such Confidential Information:

(i) is disclosed by a Party (or its Affiliates) to a Governmental Authority in order to maintain or obtain regulatory approval to manufacture and/or market Merck Product, but such disclosure may be only to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain such approvals;

(ii) is disclosed by the receiving Party (or its Affiliates) to agent(s), consultant(s), and/or other Third Parties who are performing obligations of the receiving Party or exercising rights granted to the receiving Party under this Agreement on the condition that such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement;

 

30


(iii) is deemed necessary by counsel to the receiving Party to be disclosed to such Party’s attorneys, independent accountants or financial advisors for the sole purpose of enabling such attorneys, independent accountants or financial advisors to provide advice to the receiving Party, on the condition that such attorneys, independent accountants and financial advisors agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement; or

(iv) is disclosed in connection with a merger or acquisition of a given Party (or its Affiliate) or a divestiture of a portion of such Party’s business related to this Agreement (or a given Merck Product, as applicable), such Party shall have the further right to disclose the material financial terms of this Agreement (or such Merck Product, as applicable, to Third Parties involved in such merger or acquisition provided that such Third Parties agree to be bound by confidentiality and non-use obligations that substantially are no less stringent than those confidentiality and non-use provisions contained in this Agreement.

7.2.2 In addition, if a Party is required by judicial or administrative process or Applicable Law to disclose Confidential Information that is subject to the non-disclosure provisions of Section 7.1, such Party shall promptly inform the other Party of the disclosure that is being sought in order to provide the other Party an opportunity to challenge or limit the disclosure obligations. Confidential Information that is disclosed by judicial or administrative process or as required by Applicable Law shall remain otherwise subject to the confidentiality and non-use provisions of Section 7.1, and the Party disclosing Confidential Information pursuant to law or court order or as required by Applicable Law shall take all steps reasonably necessary, including obtaining an order of confidentiality, to ensure the continued confidential treatment of such Confidential Information.

7.3 Equitable Relief with respect to Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Parties hereto acknowledge that: (i) it would be impossible to measure the damages that would be suffered by the other Party if a Party failed to comply with this Section 7; and (ii) in the event of any such failure, there might not be adequate remedy at law. Therefore, each Party hereto shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights or remedies that it may have, to obtain specific performance by the other Party of the obligations of this Section 7, to obtain immediate injunctive relief without having to post a bond. Neither Party hereto will urge, as a defense to any proceeding for such specific performance or injunctive relief, that the other Party has an adequate remedy at law.

7.4 Return of Confidential Information. Upon the written request of the disclosing Party, the receiving Party shall immediately either return to the disclosing Party, or destroy, all Confidential Information of the disclosing Party, in accordance with the instructions of the disclosing Party, including all notes, summaries, and translations that have been made regarding such Confidential Information, and all copies of the foregoing. In the event destruction is requested by the disclosing Party, the receiving Party shall certify such destruction in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receiving Party may retain a copy for purposes of exercising any licenses under this Agreement (including any licenses that survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement) and may archive one (1) copy of Confidential Information for purposes of demonstrating its compliance with this Agreement, subject to confidentiality requirements of this Agreement.

 

31


7.5 Data Privacy.

7.5.1 Interpretation. In this Section 7.5, (i) “Data Protection Law” means, all applicable laws, rules and regulations (ii) “Data Subject”, “Personal Data”, “Personal Data Breach” and “Processing” will be construed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, and (iii) “Covered Personal Data” means Personal Data provided to or made available by Merck to Organon in order for Merck to receive the Services and Expense Activities.

7.5.2 Description of Processing. The Processing of Covered Personal Data shall be for the duration of this Agreement, for the purpose of providing the Services and or Expense Activities, and include the following categories of Personal Data of current and former employees (including dependents), customers, suppliers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and business partners of Merck: (i) name and contact information; (ii) personal characteristics (e.g., gender, marital status, citizenship, passport number); (iii) financial data (including compensation details for employees, and transfers of value to healthcare professionals); (iv) employment history and status, including job applications and resumes of unsuccessful candidates; (v) information relating to family members and dependents; (vi) information related to benefits administration; (vii) information related to performing a clinical trial shared with regulatory authorities; and (viii) special categories of data such as health and disability details, religion/ethnicity details, criminal allegation/defense details.

7.5.3 Merck’s Obligations. Merck shall ensure that at all times, (i) Merck has a lawful basis to provide or make available Covered Personal Data to Organon, and (ii) Merck’s instructions to Organon in respect of Covered Personal Data comply with Applicable Law.

7.5.4 Additional Processing Terms. When Processing Covered Personal Data on behalf of Merck, Organon shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to: (i) only process Covered Personal Data on Merck’s written instructions unless required otherwise by Applicable Law; (ii) ensure that Organon personnel who have access to Covered Personal Data are subject to confidentiality obligations; (iii) implement and maintain technical and organizational measures designed to prevent a Personal Data Breach, and upon becoming aware of substantiated Personal Data Breach, Organon shall notify Merck without undue delay; (iv) taking into account the nature of the processing, at Merck’s cost and expense, assist Merck insofar as this is possible, to meet its obligations under Data Protection Law; and (v) upon request and at Merck’s cost and expense, make available information reasonably requested by Merck to demonstrate compliance with this Section 7.5, and allow for Merck to request an audit or inspection.

7.5.5 Cross-border Transfers. To the extent required by Applicable Law, the Standard Contractual Clauses in Schedule 4 shall apply to any transfer between Merck and Organon of Covered Personal Data from one jurisdiction to another (“International Transfer”). Without limiting Merck’s obligations under this Agreement, Merck shall, and shall procure that each Merck Affiliate shall, do all things reasonably necessary to ensure that any International Transfer complies with Applicable Law, including entering into any subsequent agreement(s) with Organon or an Organon Affiliate.

 

32


8. General Representations and Warranties; Disclaimer.

8.1 General Representations and Warranties. Each of Organon and Merck represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that, at all times during the Term, (i) it is a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) it is qualified or licensed to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where such qualification or licensing is required, (iii) it has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (iv) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it, and (v) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligations of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, or general principles of equity.

8.2 Disclaimer. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES OR OTHERWISE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY SPECIFICALLY AND EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 8.2 SHALL OPERATE TO LIMIT OR INVALIDATE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY CONTAINED IN THE SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, ALL THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE, SERVICES AND EXPENSE ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED BY ORGANON “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND OTHER THAN THAT WHICH CAN BE PASSED THROUGH FROM THE APPLICABLE THIRD PARTY LICENSOR.

9. Indemnification.

9.1 By Merck. In addition to any other available remedies, Merck hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Organon and its Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members, partners, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, “Organon Indemnitees”) from and against all Third Party Damages based on a Third Party Claim imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of Organon Indemnitees arising out of or relating to (i) Organon’s provision of Services or Expense Activities to Merck in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and that are not proximately caused by the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of Organon or its Affiliates or Subcontractors, or (ii) failure by Merck to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.

9.2 Procedure. Organon will notify Merck of any demand by Organon for indemnification from Merck that is based on any Third Party Claim and provide Merck with copies of any papers served on Organon relating to that Third Party Claim, but Organon’s failure to provide or delay in providing that notice or those copies will not release Merck from its obligations under Section 9.1, except to the extent that the failure or delay materially prejudices Merck. Merck has the exclusive right to conduct the defense of any such Third Party Claim and any negotiations

 

33


for its settlement, except that (i) Merck may not enter into any compromise or settlement unless Organon consents to such compromise or settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and which consent shall be deemed given with respect to any compromise or settlement relating solely to the payment of money damages if such compromise or settlement includes as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by each claimant or plaintiff to the Organon Indemnitees of a release from all liability in respect of such claim, (ii) Organon may participate at its expense in Merck’s defense of or settlement negotiations for any Third Party Claim with counsel of Merck’s own selection, and (iii) Organon may, at its option and Merck’s expense, and on prior written notice to Merck, conduct the defense of and any settlement negotiations for any Third Party Claim in place of Merck if Merck fails to promptly defend the Third Party Claim as required in this Article 9. At Organon’s request and Merck’s expense, and in addition to Merck’s other obligations under this Agreement, Merck shall assist Organon with the defense of any Third Party Claim for which Organon conducts the defense under this Article 9.

9.3 Damages. EXCEPT FOR A BREACH OF A PARTY’S CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 7, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS FOR ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF REVENUES OR LOST PROFITS (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT), IN EACH CASE OF ANY KIND, NATURE OR DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER SUFFERED OR INCURRED BY SUCH PARTY ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR AS A RESULT OF ANY ACTIVITIES HEREUNDER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ARISING FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE OR IF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN REASONABLY FORESEEN. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 9.3 IS INTENDED TO OR SHALL LIMIT OR RESTRICT THE INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS OF ORGANON OR OBLIGATIONS OF MERCK WITH RESPECT TO ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 9.1.

9.4 Liability Cap. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, THE TOTAL AND AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF ORGANON (AND ITS AFFILIATES) ARISING OUT OF, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT, INDEMNITY, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000).

10. Audit Rights.

10.1 Organon shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, prepare and maintain the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3, which shall be open to inspection and subject to audit and/or reproduction, during normal working hours, by an independent accounting firm or other appropriate Third Party representative selected by Merck, and reasonably acceptable to Organon (including entering into a reasonably acceptable confidentiality agreement), for (x) evaluation and verification of the provision of each Service,

 

34


but, for the avoidance of doubt, not the Service Fee or associated cost of each Service, hereunder by Organon in accordance with the applicable section of the Transition Services Schedule (excluding the Service Fee) with respect to the Records and (y) evaluation and verification of the accuracy of any Expenses paid pursuant to Article 3 with respect to any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3; provided, however, that such right to conduct such audits and inspections and/or reproduction shall not occur (i) more frequently than one (1) time per Calendar Year, and (ii) with respect to such audits and inspections relating to any Expenses paid pursuant to Article 3, no later than the Calendar Year following the Calendar Year in which such Expense was paid, unless Merck has reasonable cause to believe that Organon is not complying with this Agreement.

10.2 The accounting firm or other Third Party representative shall have access to Organon’s facilities and shall be provided adequate and appropriate work space, in order to conduct audits in compliance with this Section 10.1. Merck shall give Organon at least forty-five (45) days’ prior notice of intent to audit. The accounting firm or other Third Party representative shall have access to the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 and Organon shall preserve the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 for a period of two (2) years following the date the Records and any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 were created, or for such longer period as may be required by Applicable Laws.

10.3 The right to audit and/or inspect the Records pursuant to this Article 10 shall terminate with respect to each Service to be provided by Organon under this Agreement on the applicable Service Termination Date. The right to audit and/or inspect any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 pursuant to this Article 10 shall terminate with respect to each such Expense at the end of the Calendar Year following the Calendar Year in which such Expense was paid by Merck to Organon.

10.4 If an audit, inspection or examination of any records relating to the payment of Expenses pursuant to Article 3 conducted in accordance with this Article 10 discloses overcharges (of any nature) by Organon to Merck or undercharges (of any nature), any undisputed adjustments and/or payments to Merck shall be made by Organon or Merck, as applicable, within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed ninety (90) days from presentation of Merck’s findings to Organon.

10.5 Merck shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by Merck in connection with any such audit or inspection; provided, however, that if any such audit or inspection correctly identifies any overcharges (of any nature) that are the fault of Organon in excess of the greater of (i) five percent (5%) of the amount actually payable by Merck and (ii) $500,000, then in such case Organon shall reimburse Merck for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Merck in connection with such audit or inspection.

 

35


11. Miscellaneous.

11.1 Independent Contractor.

11.1.1 In the performance of Organon’s obligations under this Agreement, Organon shall at all times act as and be deemed an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to render Organon or any of its employees, agents, or officers, as an employee, joint venture, agent, or partner of Merck. Organon is not authorized to assume or create any obligations or responsibilities, express or implied, on behalf of or in the name of Merck. It is understood that the employees, methods, facilities, and equipment of Organon shall at all times be under Organon’s exclusive direction and control.

11.1.2 In the performance of Merck’s obligations under this Agreement, Merck shall at all times act as and be deemed an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to render Merck or any of its employees, agents, or officers, as an employee, joint venture, agent, or partner of Organon. Merck is not authorized to assume or create any obligations or responsibilities, express or implied, on behalf of or in the name of Organon. It is understood that the employees, methods, facilities, and equipment of Merck shall at all times be under Merck’s exclusive direction and control.

11.2 Force Majeure. No Party shall be liable for a failure or delay in performing any of its obligations under this Agreement (except for the payment of money) if, but only to the extent that, such failure or delay is due to causes beyond the reasonable control of the affected Party, including: (i) acts of God; (ii) fire or explosion (except to the extent caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the affected Party); (iii) unusually severe weather; (iv) war, invasion, riot or other civil unrest; (v) governmental laws, orders, restrictions, actions, embargoes, or blockages; (vi) national or regional emergency; (vii) injunctions, strikes, lockouts, labor trouble, or other industrial disturbances; and (viii) shortage of supply of non-commodity materials on a global basis (each, a “Force Majeure Event”); provided that the Party affected shall promptly notify the other of the Force Majeure Event and shall exert reasonable efforts to eliminate, cure, or overcome any such causes and to resume performance of its obligations as soon as practicable.

11.3 Governing Law; Dispute Resolution.

11.3.1 This Agreement shall be construed and governed under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principle of conflict of laws thereof.

11.3.2 All disputes between the Parties that may arise under this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process applicable to such disputes set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

11.4 No Waiver. Any Party’s failure to enforce any of the terms or conditions herein or to exercise any right or privilege pursuant hereto, or any Party’s waiver of any breach under this Agreement, shall not be construed to be a waiver of any other terms, conditions, or privileges, whether of a similar or different type.

 

36


11.5 Assignment.

11.5.1 Neither this Agreement nor any of the Services or Expense Activities hereunder may be assigned, in whole or in part, whether by operation of law or otherwise (however structured), without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided, however, that

(i) a Party shall have the right, without the prior consent of the other Party, to assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any Affiliate of such Party; and

(ii) a Party shall have the right, without the prior consent of the other Party, to assign this Agreement, in whole, to any Third Party in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such Party to which this Agreement relates whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or other similar transaction (including by operation of Applicable Law), in each case upon prior written notice to the other Party.

11.5.2 Any permitted assignee shall assume all obligations of its assignor under this Agreement; provided, however, that in the event of an assignment to an Affiliate, the assignor Party shall remain as principal obligor for all or any obligations and liabilities assigned to such Affiliate under the terms of this Agreement. No assignment shall relieve any Party of responsibility for the performance of any accrued obligation which such Party has hereunder as of the time of such assignment. Any other attempted assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 11.5 shall be null and void.

11.5.3 The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns

11.6 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to substitute a valid, legal, and enforceable provision that reflects the intent of such invalid or unenforceable provision.

11.7 Notices.

11.7.1 The term “notice” as used throughout this Agreement, shall mean written notice, except where specifically provided herein to the contrary. Notice shall be delivered by (i) certified mail, return receipt requested (or the equivalent); (ii) hand delivery with receipt acknowledged; or (iii) overnight courier service that provides a delivery receipt. Notices shall be delivered to the following addresses or to such other address or person as a Party may specify by notice given in accordance with this Section 11.7.1.

If to Merck:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

One Merck Drive

Whitehouse Station, NJ, 08889

Attn: Sunil Patel, SVP, Business Development

 

37


With a copy to:

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

One Merck Drive

Whitehouse Station, NJ, 08889

E-mail: office.secretary@merck.com

If to Organon:

Organon International GmbH

Weystrasse 20

Lucerne 6006

Switzerland

With a copy to:

Organon LLC

30 Hudson St, 33rd floor

Jersey City, NJ 07302

E-mail: secretaryoffice@organon.com

11.7.2 Notice given in accordance with Section 11.7.1 shall be deemed delivered when received, or upon refusal of receipt.

11.8 Cumulative Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no remedy referred to in this Agreement is intended to be exclusive, but each shall be cumulative and in addition to any other remedy available under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise available at law or in equity.

11.9 Entire Agreement/Amendments; Conflicts.

11.9.1 This Agreement, together with all Schedules and attachments hereto, and the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and shall supersede and take the place of any and all agreements, documents, minutes of meetings, or letters concerning the subject matter hereof that may, prior to the Effective Date, be in existence. This Agreement may only be amended by a statement in writing to that effect signed by duly authorized representatives of Organon and Merck.

11.9.2 The intent of this Agreement is to include items necessary for the proper execution and completion of the performance under this Agreement. The documents comprised by this Agreement are complementary, and what is required by any one shall be as binding as if required by all.

11.9.3 Except as set forth in Section 3.10 or as otherwise set forth in Section 11.9.4, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement (or any other agreements entered into between Merck Parent (or any of its Affiliates) and Organon (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the Separation) and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

38


11.9.4 A number of local country agreements have been or are being entered into prior to or on the Effective Date between the Parties and their respective Affiliates with respect to the provision of Services in anticipation of the Separation, including Interim Services Agreements, Interim Operating Agreements, Deferred Market Agreements, Schedule 4 of this Agreement and other local agreements with respect to Services (each, a “Local Services Agreement”). The integration of such Local Services Agreements and this Agreement are addressed in this Section 11.9.4:

(i) This Agreement shall supersede each Interim Services Agreement with respect to the provision of Services performed pursuant to such Interim Services Agreement. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Interim Services Agreement relating to such Services, this Agreement shall control.

(ii) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Interim Operating Agreement, or to the extent that an Interim Operating Agreement expressly states that such Interim Operating Agreement controls, the Interim Operating Agreement shall control. In particular, the appointment of a Party or its Affiliate as agent of the other Party or its Affiliate pursuant to an Interim Operating Agreement shall not be superseded by Section 11.1 of this Agreement.

(iii) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Deferred Market Agreement, or such Deferred Market Agreement expressly states that such Deferred Market Agreement controls, the Deferred Market Agreement shall control. In particular, the appointment of a Party or its Affiliate as agent of the other Party or its Affiliate pursuant to a Deferred Market Agreement shall not be superseded by Section 11.1 of this Agreement.

(iv) To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and Schedule 4 of this Agreement as it relates specifically to data privacy issues addressed in Schedule 4, Schedule 4 shall control; provided however that the overall liability cap set forth in Section 9.4 of this Agreement continues to apply and shall control with respect to any activity under Schedule 4.

(v) To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this Agreement and any Local Services Agreement other than addressed in Sections 11.9.4(i) through (iv), this Agreement shall control unless such Local Services Agreement expressly states that such Local Services Agreement controls, in which case such Local Services Agreement shall control.

11.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In addition, this Agreement may be executed by facsimile or “PDF” and such facsimile or “PDF” signature shall be deemed to be an original.

 

39


11.11 Headings. The headings assigned to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not limit the scope and applicability of the Articles and Sections.

11.12 Further Assurances. Each Party agrees to execute such further papers, agreements, documents, instruments and the like as may be necessary or desirable to effect the purpose of this Agreement and to carry out its provisions.

11.13 English Language. If there exist versions of this Agreement, or any Schedules, attachments or any amendments hereto or thereto, in any language other than English, the binding version of all of the foregoing shall be the English version, except as otherwise required by the Applicable Laws. All notices and other written documentation provided by a Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in English, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

11.14 Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Third Party, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

11.15 Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified, (i) “includes” and “including” and words of similar import shall mean includes and including without limitation; (ii) words denoting any gender shall include all genders; (iii) words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa; (iv) the Exhibits, Schedules, Addenda and other attachments form part of the operative provision of this Agreement and references to this Agreement shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include references to the Exhibits, Schedules, Addenda and attachments; (v) the word “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive; (vi) references to “Articles”, “Sections” and “subsections” in this Agreement shall be to Articles, Sections and subsections respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided; (vii) references to any Articles or Sections include Sections and subsections that are part of the reference Article or Section (e.g., a section numbered “Section 2.2(a)” would be part of “Section 2.2”, and references to “Article 2” or “Section 2.2” would refer to material contained in the subsection described as “Section 2.2(a)”); and (viii) “herein,” hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and other equivalent words shall refer to this Agreement as an entirety and not solely to the particular portion of this Agreement in which any such word is used. Words and abbreviations that have known or technical trade meanings are used in this Agreement in accordance with such recognized meanings.

11.16 Use of Affiliates. Either Party shall have the right to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this Agreement either itself or through any of its Affiliates, provided that such Party shall remain solely responsible for the acts, omissions and performance of such Affiliate as if such acts, omissions and performance had been provided by such Party itself under this Agreement. In addition, in each case where a Party’s Affiliate has an obligation pursuant to this Agreement or performs an obligation pursuant to this Agreement: (i) such Party shall cause and compel such Affiliate to perform such obligation and comply with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) any breach of the terms or conditions of this Agreement by such Affiliate shall be deemed a breach by such Party of such terms or conditions.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

40


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in its name and on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

MERCK:
MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORP.
By:  

/s/ Jon Filderman

Name:  

Jon Filderman

Title:  

Vice President

ORGANON:
ORGANON INTERNATIONAL GMBH
By:  

/s/ Michel Chardonnens

Name:  

Michel Chardonnens

Title:  

Director

[Signature Page to Organon To Merck Transition Services Agreement]

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 22, 2021

among

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC,

(with obligations to be assumed by

ORGANON & CO.,

as Issuer, and

ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.

as Co-Issuer),

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent,

and

ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES DAC, UK BRANCH,

as Principal Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar

2.875% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2028


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

  Other Definitions      48  

Section 1.03

  Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act      50  

Section 1.04

  Acts of Holders      51  

Section 1.05

  Measuring Compliance      52  

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

     55  

Section 2.01

  Form and Dating; Terms      55  

Section 2.02

  Execution and Authentication      56  

Section 2.03

  Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent      57  

Section 2.04

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      57  

Section 2.05

  Holder Lists      58  

Section 2.06

  Transfer and Exchange      58  

Section 2.07

  Replacement Notes      72  

Section 2.08

  Outstanding Notes      72  

Section 2.09

  Treasury Notes      72  

Section 2.10

  Temporary Notes      73  

Section 2.11

  Cancellation      73  

Section 2.12

  Defaulted Interest      73  

Section 2.13

  ISINs and Common Codes      74  

Section 2.14

  Additional Amounts      74  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION

     76  

Section 3.01

  Notices to Trustee      76  

Section 3.02

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      77  

Section 3.03

  Notice of Redemption      77  

Section 3.04

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      78  

Section 3.05

  Deposit of Redemption Price      78  

Section 3.06

  Notes Redeemed in Part      79  

Section 3.07

  Optional Redemption      79  

Section 3.08

  Mandatory Redemption      80  

Section 3.09

  Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      81  

Section 3.10

  Taxation Redemption      83  

Section 3.11

  Special Mandatory Redemption      84  

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     85  

Section 4.01

  Payment of Notes      85  

Section 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      85  


Section 4.03

  Reports and Other Information      86  

Section 4.04

  Compliance Certificate      87  

Section 4.05

  Reserved      88  

Section 4.06

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      88  

Section 4.07

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      88  

Section 4.08

  Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      97  

Section 4.09

  Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      99  

Section 4.10

  Asset Sales      107  

Section 4.11

  Transactions with Affiliates      111  

Section 4.12

  Liens      113  

Section 4.13

  Company Existence      114  

Section 4.14

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      115  

Section 4.15

  Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      117  

Section 4.16

  Suspension of Covenants      118  

Section 4.17

  Maintenance of Listing      119  

Section 4.18

  Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption      119  

ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS

     120  

Section 5.01

  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      120  

Section 5.02

  Successor Person Substituted      123  

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     124  

Section 6.01

  Events of Default      124  

Section 6.02

  Acceleration      126  

Section 6.03

  Other Remedies      127  

Section 6.04

  Waiver of Past Defaults      127  

Section 6.05

  Control by Majority      127  

Section 6.06

  Limitation on Suits      128  

Section 6.07

  Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment      128  

Section 6.08

  Collection Suit by Trustee      128  

Section 6.09

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      129  

Section 6.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      129  

Section 6.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      129  

Section 6.12

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      129  

Section 6.13

  Priorities      130  

Section 6.14

  Undertaking for Costs      130  

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

     130  

Section 7.01

  Duties of Trustee      130  

Section 7.02

  Rights of Trustee      131  

Section 7.03

  Individual Rights of Trustee      133  

Section 7.04

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      133  

 

ii


Section 7.05

  Notice of Defaults      133  

Section 7.06

  May Hold Notes      134  

Section 7.07

  Compensation and Indemnity      134  

Section 7.08

  Replacement of Trustee or Agents      135  

Section 7.09

  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      136  

Section 7.10

  Eligibility; Disqualification      136  

Section 7.11

  Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification      137  

ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     137  

Section 8.01

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      137  

Section 8.02

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      137  

Section 8.03

  Covenant Defeasance      138  

Section 8.04

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      139  

Section 8.05

  Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      140  

Section 8.06

  Repayment to Issuers      141  

Section 8.07

  Reinstatement      141  

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     141  

Section 9.01

  Without Consent of Holders      141  

Section 9.02

  With Consent of Holders      143  

Section 9.03

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      145  

Section 9.04

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      145  

Section 9.05

  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc      145  

Section 9.06

  Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount      146  

ARTICLE X GUARANTEES

     146  

Section 10.01

  Guarantee      146  

Section 10.02

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      147  

Section 10.03

  Execution and Delivery      148  

Section 10.04

  Subrogation      148  

Section 10.05

  Benefits Acknowledged      148  

Section 10.06

  Release of Guarantees      148  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     149  

Section 11.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge      149  

Section 11.02

  Application of Trust Money      151  

ARTICLE XII COLLATERAL

     151  

Section 12.01

  Security; Collateral Documents      151  

Section 12.02

  Release of Collateral      152  

Section 12.03

  Authorization of Receipt of Funds Under the Collateral Documents      153  

Section 12.04

  Further Assurances; After-Acquired Property      154  

 

iii


Section 12.05

  Intercreditor Agreements      154  

Section 12.06

  Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      155  

Section 12.07

  Collateral Agent      155  

ARTICLE XIII ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS

     162  

Section 13.01

  Escrow Accounts      162  

Section 13.02

  Release of Escrow Property      163  

Section 13.03

  Amendment of Escrow Agreement      163  

ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS

     164  

Section 14.01

  Notices      164  

Section 14.02

  Communication by Holders with Other Holders      165  

Section 14.03

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      165  

Section 14.04

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      166  

Section 14.05

  Rules by Trustee and Agents      166  

Section 14.06

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members and Stockholders      166  

Section 14.07

  Governing Law      166  

Section 14.08

  Waiver of Jury Trial      166  

Section 14.09

  Force Majeure .      166  

Section 14.10

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      166  

Section 14.11

  Successors      167  

Section 14.12

  Severability      167  

Section 14.13

  Counterpart Originals      167  

Section 14.14

  Table of Contents, Headings, etc      168  

Section 14.15

  USA Patriot Act      168  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C    Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered By the Issuers on the Effective Date
Exhibit E    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

iv


This INDENTURE, dated as of April 22, 2021, is among Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”), a Delaware limited liability company, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) and Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch, as the principal paying agent, transfer agent and registrar (the “Principal Paying Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of €1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck;

WHEREAS, it is intended that on the Effective Date (as defined herein), (i) Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (including its successors and assigns, the “Company”), will assume the rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer as issuer under the Notes and this Indenture, (ii) Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) will, as co-issuer jointly and severally with the Company, assume all rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture; and (iii) each of the Guarantors will guarantee the notes, in each case pursuant to a supplemental indenture (each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Assumption”). Following the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company of such merger (the “Merger”). For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to the Escrow Issuer and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of the Company and the Co-Issuer (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to the Escrow Issuer, as the context may require).

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01 Definitions.

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


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

 

  (1)

Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging or consolidating with or into, winding up into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, or

 

  (2)

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

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.

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

Agents” means any Paying Agent, Registrar, Transfer Agent, and Authenticating Agent.

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

 

  (1)

1.0% of the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note; and

 

  (2)

the excess, if any, of

 

  (a)

the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of the Note on April 30, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(b) hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through April 30, 2024 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Bund Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

 

  (b)

the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note.

The Issuer shall calculate the Applicable Premium. For the avoidance of doubt, calculation of the Applicable Premium shall not be an obligation or duty of the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

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

 

2


Asset Sale” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

in each case, other than:

 

  (a)

any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, worn out or surplus property in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b)

the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

 

  (c)

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

 

  (d)

any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than the greater of $200.0 million and 7% of EBITDA;

 

  (e)

any disposition of property or assets by a Restricted Subsidiary, or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary, in either case, to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary, or by the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (f)

to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), or comparable law or regulation, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

  (g)

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

 

3


  (h)

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

 

  (i)

any foreclosure, condemnation or similar action on assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

  (j)

sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets, in each case, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

  (k)

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

 

  (l)

the sale, discount, or other disposition of inventory, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

  (m)

the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (n)

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

 

  (o)

the unwinding of Hedging Obligations;

 

  (p)

sales, transfers, and other 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;

 

  (q)

the lapse, abandonment, or disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which rights, in the reasonable, good-faith determination of the Issuer, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  (r)

the issuance of director qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

 

  (s)

the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 4.12 hereof or any Permitted Lien;

 

  (t)

any transfer of property subject to a casualty event upon receipt of the net cash proceeds of such casualty event;

 

4


  (u)

any disposition to a Captive Insurance Subsidiary;

 

  (v)(i)

any disposition of non-core assets or property for fair market value in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million and (ii) any disposition of non-core assets or property acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate, or disposed of in order to obtain approval for, an acquisition or Investment permitted under this Indenture; and

 

  (w)

any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions.

Bank Products” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, cash pooling, and other cash management arrangements.

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

Bund Rate” means as of any Redemption Date with respect to the Notes, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bunds or Bundesanleihen) with a constant maturity (as officially compiled and published in the most recent financial statistics that have become publicly available at least two business days (but not more than five business days) prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such financial statistics are not so published or available, any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Company in good faith)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to April 30, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to April 30, 2024 is not equal to the constant maturity of the direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany for which a weekly average yield is given, the Bund Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany for which such yields are given; provided that if the Bund Rate determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, the Bund Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Indenture. Any such Bund Rate shall be obtained by the Issuer.

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

Capital Stock” means:

 

  (1)

in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

5


  (4)

any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, as GAAP was in effect on November 5, 2018.

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

Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Issuer operating solely for the purpose of (a) insuring the businesses, operations or properties owned or operated by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, including their future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants, and related benefits and/or (b) conducting any activities or business incidental thereto (it being understood and agreed that activities which are relevant or appropriate to qualify as an insurance company for U.S. federal or state tax purposes shall be considered “activities or business incidental thereto”) or (ii) any Subsidiary of any such insurance subsidiary operating for the same purpose described in clause (i) above.

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

  (1)

United States dollars;

 

  (2)

(a) pounds sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; and

 

  (b)

local currencies of any other jurisdiction held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (3)

securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any government of any member of the European Union or the United Kingdom 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 one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

 

6


  (5)

repurchase obligations for underlying securities of any of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7), and (8) of this definition entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) of this definition;

 

  (6)

commercial paper and variable- or fixed-rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

  (7)

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

 

  (8)

readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another 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 or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds given one of the three highest ratings by S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); and

 

  (11)

investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) of this definition; and,

 

7


in the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) assets and investments of the type and, to the extent applicable, maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) and clauses (10) and (11) of this definition 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 (11) of this definition and in this paragraph.

In addition, in the case of Investments by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) such Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in issuers rated BBB (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Baa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case at the time of such Investment and (b) any Investment with a maturity of more than 12 months that would otherwise constitute Cash Equivalents of the kind described in any of clauses (1) through (11) of this definition or clause (a) of this paragraph, if the maturity of such Investment was 12 months or less; provided that the effective maturity of such Investment does not exceed 15 years.

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

At any time at which the value, calculated in accordance with GAAP, of all investments of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that were deemed, when made, to be Cash Equivalents in accordance with clauses (1) through (11) of this definition exceeds the Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, “Cash Equivalents” shall also mean any investment (a “Qualifying Investment”) that satisfies the following two conditions: (x) the Qualifying Investment is of a type described in clauses (1) through (10) of the first paragraph of this definition, but has an effective maturity (whether by reason of final maturity, a put option or, in the case of an asset-backed security, an average life) of five years and one month or less from the date of such Qualifying Investment (notwithstanding any provision contained in such clauses (1) through (10) requiring a shorter maturity); and (y) the weighted average effective maturity of such Qualifying Investment and all other investments that were made as Qualifying Investments in accordance with this paragraph does not exceed two years from the date of such Qualifying Investment.

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

 

  (1)

the sale, lease or transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person; or

 

  (2)

the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any

 

8


  group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50.0% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (directly or through the acquisition of voting power of Voting Stock of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies);

provided, however, that (1) a transaction in which any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer becomes a Subsidiary of another Person (other than a Person that is an individual, such Person that is not an individual, the “Other Person”) shall not constitute a Change of Control if (a) the shareholders “beneficially owning” 100.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately prior to such transaction “beneficially own” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of such parent, immediately following the consummation of such transaction, and no “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately following such transaction if such “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) did not “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent prior to such transaction or (b) immediately following the consummation of such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above), other than the Other Person (but including the holders of the Equity Interests of the Other Person), “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent or the Other Person; (2) any holding company whose only significant asset is Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer shall not itself be considered a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) for purposes of this definition; (3) the transfer of assets between or among the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture shall not itself constitute a Change of Control; and (4) a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) shall not be deemed to “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or any voting or option agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Change of Control will be deemed to occur as a result of the Transactions.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A. or any successor securities clearing agency.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” as defined in any Collateral Document and shall include the Mortgaged Properties.

 

9


Collateral Documents” means each security agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge agreement, Intercreditor Agreement, collateral trust agreement or other instrument or document creating, granting, perfecting or establishing the security interests of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Holders, in the Collateral and the priority thereof, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

 

  (1)

The Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Effective Date or thereafter pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article XII hereof, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer and each Guarantor, in each case to the extent a party thereto and where applicable;

 

  (2)

[reserved];

 

  (3)

[reserved];

 

  (4)

all Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Collateral Documents shall have been secured by a first priority security interest in (i) all Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests of (x) Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary, in the case of this clause (y) to the extent such Equity Interests are not required to be pledged under the corresponding provisions of the Senior Credit Facilities) of each wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiary of either Issuer or any Guarantor that is a direct Subsidiary of an Issuer or any Guarantor and (ii) 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests (and 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Equity Interests, if any) of each wholly-owned Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by either Issuer or any Guarantor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC);

 

  (5)

except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, all Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Collateral Documents shall have been secured by a perfected security interest (other than in the case of mortgages, to the extent such security interest may be perfected by delivering certificated securities, filing UCC financing statements, entering into control agreements with respect to deposit accounts and securities accounts or making any necessary filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office) in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of each Issuer and each other Guarantor (including accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, intercompany notes, Intellectual Property, other general intangibles, owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents; provided that security interests in real property shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties (as defined below in this definition of “Collateral Requirement”);

 

10


  (6)

none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens; and

 

  (7)

the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property required to be delivered pursuant to Article XII hereof (the “Mortgaged Properties”) duly authorized, executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company in customary form (as determined by the Issuers), (iii) a current ALTA survey and a surveyor’s certificate, in customary form (as determined by the Issuers); provided, however, that, with respect to any Mortgaged Property, the applicable Issuer or Guarantor shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of this clause (iii) if the title insurance policy for the applicable Mortgage does not include a general exception concerning matters a survey would show based on an existing survey together with an affidavit of no change; (iv) to the extent the same is delivered pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities, an opinion of counsel, in the state where such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded; and (v) no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the delivery of the Mortgage, the following documents and instruments, in order to comply with the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (including the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System): (1) a complete standard flood hazard determination form, (2) if any portion of the improvements on any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, a notification to the Issuer and, if applicable, notification to the Issuer that flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) is not available because the community does not participate in NFIP and (3) such other customary related documentation, to the extent the same is provided under the Senior Credit Facilities,

in each case, subject to each of the paragraphs below in this definition of “Collateral Requirement.”

The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as, in the good faith determination of the Issuers (and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt), the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom.

The Issuers and the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the Collateral Requirement as soon as commercially practicable following the Effective Date; provided that it shall not be a Default or an Event of Default hereunder if the Issuers and the Guarantors are unable to comply with the Collateral Requirement after using commercially reasonable efforts. In addition, to the extent the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities grants extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets, such extension shall automatically apply to the Collateral Requirement and the other requirements of the Collateral Documents (provided, that such Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt).

 

11


Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Indenture or any Collateral Document to the contrary, (a) with respect to leases of real property entered into by any Issuer or Guarantor, such Issuer or Guarantor shall not be required to take any action with respect to creation or perfection of security interests with respect to such leases, (b) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents, to customary exceptions and limitations in any applicable foreign jurisdiction (as determined by the Issuer in good faith, and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt) and, so long as the Senior Credit Facilities are outstanding and constitute First Lien Debt, such exceptions and limitations as may be agreed between the Issuer and the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities, (c) the Collateral Requirement shall not apply to any of the following assets: (i) any fee owned real property that is not a Material Real Property and any leasehold interests in real property, (ii) all commercial tort claims that are not expected to result in a judgment or settlement payment in excess of $5,000,000 (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), (iii) assets in respect of which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by law or by agreements containing anti assignment clauses not overridden by Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and (iv) any assets as to which the Issuers determine in good faith (and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt ) that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value to the Holders of the security to be afforded thereby, (d) the Collateral Requirement shall not require perfection of the security interest in the following assets: (i) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (ii) letter of credit rights and (iii) assets (including deposit accounts and securities accounts, but excluding any deposit account or securities account with an average balance for the preceding year in excess of $5,000,000) specifically requiring perfection through control agreements, in each case of clauses (i) to (iii), other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement, and (e) other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, no actions in any non-United States jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-United States jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that, other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-United States jurisdiction).

In addition, so long as any First Lien Debt is outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities, the Collateral Requirement shall not require any action to grant or perfect the security interest hereunder, or provide any opinion, certification or documentation relating thereto, unless, where applicable, the comparable action is being taken or comparable opinion, certification or documentation is being delivered under the Senior Credit Facilities, it being understood that the intention of the Collateral Requirement is that the actions and documentation required to create and perfect the security interests hereunder and under the Collateral Documents be substantially consistent with, and no more onerous than, the corresponding actions and documentation required under the Senior Credit Facilities (for so long as the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt).

 

12


The Collateral Requirement shall be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in all respects.

Common Depositary” means Elavon Financial Services DAC, as common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream as depositary with respect to the Global Notes representing the Notes, together with its successors in such capacity.

consolidated” means, with respect to any financial information of the Issuer, that such information has been prepared based on the consolidation of the accounts of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company with those of the Company in accordance with GAAP; provided that such consolidated financial information will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an investment. For purposes of this Indenture, except to the extent the context requires otherwise, for periods ending on or prior to the Effective Date, references to the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer shall be to the combined financial statements of the Company, with pro forma effect being given to the Transactions (with Subsidiaries of the Company after giving effect to the Transactions being deemed Subsidiaries of the Company), as the context may require.

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

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

 

  (1)

consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount 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 Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (t) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (u) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (v) any “additional interest” owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement with respect to securities, (w) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees, (y) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and (z) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

 

13


  (2)

consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

  (3)

interest paid, directly or indirectly (through dividends or otherwise), on Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent all of the proceeds of such Indebtedness have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

 

  (4)

interest income for such period.

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

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

 

  (1)

any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives), Transaction Expenses, severance, relocation costs, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded,

 

  (2)

the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

 

  (3)

any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

 

  (4)

any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses 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, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,

 

14


  (6)

solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(A) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, 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, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

 

  (7)

the effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

 

  (8)

any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Hedging 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 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 non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge arising from any grant of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other rights shall be excluded,

 

  (11)

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

 

15


  (12)

accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions (or within twelve months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded, and

 

  (13)

the following items shall be excluded:

 

  (a)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging; and

 

  (b)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those (i) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (ii) resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expense or charge that is covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 hereof only (other than clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchase or redemption of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayment of loans or advance that constitutes a Restricted Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens on the property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

 

16


Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of First Lien Debt as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to the amount of First Lien Debt, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any letter of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder, Hedging Obligations and all obligations relating to Qualified Securitization Facilities), in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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

 

  (1)

to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

 

17


  (2)

to advance or supply funds

 

  (a)

for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

 

  (b)

to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

  (3)

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

Corporate Trust Office” shall be (i) with respect to the Trustee, at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 14.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer, and (ii) with respect to the Principal Paying Agent, at the address of the Principal Paying Agent specified in Section 14.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Principal Paying Agent may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer.

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

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

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

Depositary” means, with respect to the Global Notes representing the Notes, Euroclear and Clearstream and their respective successors.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

 

18


Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, executed on or about the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that, if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided further that any Capital Stock held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors of the Issuer (or the compensation committee thereof) that is redeemable or subject to repurchase, in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or stockholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Distribution” means the distribution of all of the shares of common stock of the Company owned by Merck to shareholders of Merck as of the relevant record date.

Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

 

19


Dollar Secured Notes” means the 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers issued under the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture.

Dollar Secured Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated the Issue Date, relating to the 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

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

 

  (1)

increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

  (a)

provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital gains, including federal, foreign, and state income tax, franchise, excise and similar taxes (such as the Pennsylvania capital tax) and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (b)

Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank 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)(t) through (z) in the definition thereof) to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (c)

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (d)

any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including, but not limited to, (i) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the offering of the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes, the Unsecured Notes or the Senior Credit Facilities and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes, the Unsecured Notes or the Senior Credit Facilities and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

20


  (e)

the amount of any restructuring charges, integration costs or other business optimization expenses, costs associated with establishing new facilities or reserves deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date, and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

 

  (f)

any other non-cash charges, including any write offs or write downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

 

  (g)

the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority Equity Interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (h)

[reserved];

 

  (i)

the amount of net cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than 24 months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period for which EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; plus

 

  (j)

the amount of loss on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets, and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

 

  (k)

any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

 

21


  (l)

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

 

  (m)

any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; plus

 

  (n)

interest income or investment earnings on retiree medical and intellectual property, royalty, or license receivables;

 

  (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 increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced 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 EBITDA in such prior period; plus

 

  (b)

any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; and

 

  (3)

increased or decreased (without duplication), as applicable, by any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 460, Guarantees.

Effective Date Repayment” means the repayment, on or around the Effective Date, in one or more steps, of one or more intercompany loans or notes owed by the Company to a Merck Affiliate.

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

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

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

 

  (1)

public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

  (2)

issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

 

  (3)

any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

 

22


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

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank SA/NV or any successor clearing agency.

Euronext Dublin” means the Irish Stock Exchange plc trading as Euronext Dublin, and its successors.

European Government Obligations” means any security that is (1) a direct obligation of any member state of the European Union, for the payment of which the full-faith-and-credit of such country is pledged or (2) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of any such country, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full-faith-and-credit obligation by such country, which, in either case under the preceding clause (1) or (2), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

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

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer from

 

  (1)

contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

  (2)

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

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed on or about the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Issuer in good faith.

First Lien Debt” means (a) the Notes, (b) the Dollar Secured Notes, (c) Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, and (d) any other Indebtedness (including any related Obligations (which may include Hedging Obligations and/or Obligations under any Bank Products)) secured by Liens on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Notes, which other Indebtedness is subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated on or about the Effective Date, by and among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the Senior Credit Facilities, as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Liens” means Liens securing First Lien Debt.

 

23


Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the pro forma calculation of Fixed Charges for purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof (and for the purposes of other provisions of this Indenture that refer to Section 4.09(a)) shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or on such other subsequent date which would otherwise require pro forma effect to be given to such incurrence) pursuant to Section 4.09(b) hereof (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b) and (14) thereunder).

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

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation and the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies resulting from such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, or disposed operation which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at

 

24


an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computations discussed in this definition, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

With respect to any four-quarter period beginning prior to the Effective Date for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated, the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be made on a pro forma basis to give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

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

 

  (1)

Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

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

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date of any calculation or determination required hereunder; provided, that at any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to establish that GAAP shall mean the GAAP as in effect as of any date on or after the Issue Date and on or prior to the date of such election; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable. At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture), including as to the ability of the Issuer to make an election pursuant to the previous sentence; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that the Issuer may only make such election if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Issuer, including pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in IFRS. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders. If there occurs a change in IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be, and such change would

 

25


cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures (including all computations of amounts and ratios) used in this Indenture (an “Accounting Change”), then the Issuer may elect that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for purposes of Section 4.03 herein, GAAP shall mean the GAAP (or IFRS, if the election described above has been made) as in effect from time to time.

GEM” means the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.

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

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

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit, and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

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

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

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

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

  (1)

any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (a)

in respect of borrowed money;

 

  (b)

evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

26


  (c)

representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid after becoming due and payable; or

 

  (d)

representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligation” and as set forth in Section 1.05 in respect of leases); provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer appearing upon the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded;

 

  (2)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person (whether or not such item would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of a negotiable instrument for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

  (3)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (b) any operating lease as such an instrument would be determined in accordance with GAAP on the Issue Date or (c) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided further that Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

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

 

27


Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property, including without limitation patents, copyrights, trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable), and any applications therefor and reissues, continuations, extensions, renewals, or similar extension of rights thereof; goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; together with all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property and the goodwill associated therewith.

Intercreditor Agreement” means, as applicable, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Initial Notes” is defined in the recitals hereto.

Initial Purchaser” means any of Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BofA Securities Europe SA, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Banco Santander, S.A., Barclays Bank plc, Mizuho International plc, RBC Europe Limited, Société Générale, Wells Fargo Securities Europe S.A., Bancroft Capital, LLC, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Drexel Hamilton LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC, and Stern Brothers & Co, or any of their respective affiliates.

Interest Payment Date” means April 30 and October 30 of each year to stated maturity, beginning with October 30, 2021.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency or nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

 

  (1)

securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

  (2)

debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

  (3)

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

 

  (4)

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

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances and extensions of credit to customers and vendors, and commission, travel, and similar advances to officers, employees,

 

28


directors and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. In no event shall a guarantee of an operating lease or other business contract of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary be deemed an Investment. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (a)

the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

 

  (b)

the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

  (2)

any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date” means April 22, 2021.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee and Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch, as Authenticating Agent.

Junior Lien Debt” means Indebtedness secured by Junior Liens.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means a customary intercreditor agreement entered into by and among, as applicable, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent under the Senior Credit Facilities or other First Lien Debt, and/or one or more administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee or other debt representative of Indebtedness secured by Junior Liens, providing for Liens that are subject to customary lien subordination terms (including a customary standstill period) and provisions customary for such Indebtedness (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, replaced or restated in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

29


Junior Liens” means Liens securing Indebtedness and any related Obligations, which Liens rank junior to the Liens securing the Notes and any other First Lien Debt; provided that such Indebtedness secured by junior-ranking Liens is subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday, a day which is not a TARGET DAY, or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York, London, England, or, to the extent applicable, the place of payment.

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

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (1) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(9) multiplied by (2) 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.

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Issuer’s Domestic Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements for each quarter or fiscal year in such period have been or are required to be delivered pursuant Section 4.03 (the “Test Period”) were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Domestic Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries selected by the Issuer which is required to ensure that all Material Domestic Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided further that in no case shall Material Domestic Subsidiary mean any Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than Equity Interests of one or more (i) Foreign Subsidiaries that are controlled foreign corporations that are related to the Issuer within the meaning of Section 864(d) of the Code or (ii) Domestic Subsidiaries that are described in this proviso.

 

30


Material Foreign Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Foreign Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries selected by the Issuer which is required to ensure that all Material Foreign Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by either Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is material to the operation of the business of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole).

Material Real Property” means any real property in the United States owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000.

Merck” means Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Mortgage” means each deed of trust, trust deed, hypothec and mortgage, in each case, as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, made by any Issuer or any Guarantor in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the secured parties hereunder, and any other mortgage executed and delivered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article XII hereof.

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required (other than required by clause (1) of Section 4.10(b) hereof or by the terms of any other First Lien Debt or any Junior Lien Debt) to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any

 

31


liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

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

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

Non-US Pledge Agreements” means (i) pledge agreements with respect to the pledge of shares in the Co-Issuer, Organon International Holdings B.V. and OBS International 9 B.V. (which entity may also be known as Organon International 9 B.V.) and (ii) to the extent there has been a reorganization, restructuring or any similar activity of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor after the Effective Date, each other pledge or security agreement creating a security interest in the Equity Interests of each Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor, to the extent such other pledge or security agreement is required pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the Senior Credit Agreement.

Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture. The Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

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

Offering Memorandum” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated April 8, 2021, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer, or any other officer of the Issuer designated by any of the foregoing individuals.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer, or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

32


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

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof.

Permitted Investments” means:

 

  (1)

any Investment in the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (2)

any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

  (3)

any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit or product line) if as a result of such Investment:

 

  (a)

such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, including by means of a Division; or

 

  (b)

such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or such division, business unit or product line), including by means of a Division, to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, transfer, or Division;

 

  (4)

any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions described under Section 4.10 hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

  (5)

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

 

  (6)

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

 

33


  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, trade debtors, licensors, licensees and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business; or

 

  (d)

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

 

  (7)

(x) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and (y) Investments deemed to arise in connection with ordinary course transfers pursuant to Bank Products and other cash pooling agreements, intercompany payables and receivables arising in the ordinary course of business and tax matters or sharing agreements (including pursuant to any employee matters or other similar agreement) existing on the Issue Date or the Effective Date or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (8)

any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $280.0 million and 10% of 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 (8) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (8);

 

  (9)

Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;

 

  (10)

guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 4.09 hereof; performance guarantees in the ordinary course of business and the creation of Liens on the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with Section 4.12 hereof;

 

34


  (11)

any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in clauses (1), (2), (4), (6) and (12) of Section 4.11(b) hereof);

 

  (12)

Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, equipment, or other assets or services or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

  (13)

Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at the time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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, however, that, if any Investment pursuant to this clause (13) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (13);

 

  (14)

Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good-faith determination of the Issuer are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

 

  (15)

advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees or members of management not in excess of $25.0 million outstanding at any time, in the aggregate;

 

  (16)

loans and advances to officers, directors, employees, members of management, and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, and other similar expenses or payroll advances, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

 

  (17)

advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (18)

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

 

  (19)

Investments in the Notes and Guarantees, the Dollar Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof and the Unsecured Notes and the guarantees thereof;

 

35


  (20)

Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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);

 

  (21)

any Investment in or by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the provision of insurance to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;

 

  (22)

additional Investments if, at the time of the making of any such Investment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including, without limitation, to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Investment), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.25 to 1.00;

 

  (23)

any Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor in any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor;

 

  (24)

additional Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor; provided that all such Investments pursuant to this clause (24) shall (A), other than Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000, be in the form of intercompany loans and evidenced by notes that have been pledged (individually or pursuant to a global note) as Collateral (provided that in order to comply with the laws and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, Investments may instead be structured as an equity contribution or otherwise in a form other than an intercompany note) and (B) not exceed an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (24) that are at the time outstanding, equal to the sum of (x) the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA and (y) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on or prior to the Effective Date; and

 

  (25)

any Investments in connection with the Transactions.

For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, in the event that a proposed Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (25) above, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Investment (or a portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (25) in any manner that otherwise complies with this definition.

 

36


Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1)

pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation, or other insurance-related obligations or indemnification obligations to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good-faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2)

Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors or other like Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or if more than 30 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (3)

Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP or as a result of such Person being included in a fiscal unity for Dutch corporate income tax and/or Dutch VAT purposes;

 

  (4)

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

 

  (5)

minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, cable television, telegraph, and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Person;

 

37


  (6)

Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4) or (12)(b) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided that (i) any such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (4) extend only to the assets, the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement of which is financed thereby, and any replacements thereof, additions and accessions thereto and any income or profits thereof and (ii) any such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (12)(b) constitute Junior Liens;

 

  (7)

Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than the liens securing the Notes and the Dollar Secured Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities);

 

  (8)

Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or shares of stock or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

  (9)

Liens on property or other assets at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger, or consolidation; provided further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or assets or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

  (10)

Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (11)

Liens securing (i) Hedging Obligations and (ii) obligations in respect of Bank Products, in each case, permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (12)

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 bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

  (13)

leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

 

  (14)

Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;

 

38


  (15)

Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (16)

Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to clients of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (17)

Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

  (18)

Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals, or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and this clause (18); provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on, and replacements of, such property and the products and proceeds thereof) and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under such clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (c) if such new Lien is a Lien on the Collateral, then either (i) such new Lien shall have no greater priority than the original Lien, (ii) such new Lien shall be junior in priority to the First Liens that secure the Notes and shall not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money or (iii) such new Lien shall be a Junior Lien;

 

  (19)

deposits made or other security in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

  (20)

other Liens securing obligations which do not exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA at the time of any incurrence of such obligations; provided that such Liens are either First Liens or Junior Liens;

 

  (21)

Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) of Section 6.01 hereof;

 

  (22)

Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (23)

Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

39


  (24)

Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (25)

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

 

  (26)

Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (27)

Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any Bank Products;

 

  (28)

during a Suspension Period only, Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is secured equally and ratably with (or on a basis subordinated to) the Notes), and Indebtedness represented by Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in an amount not to exceed 15.0% of Total Assets at any time outstanding;

 

  (29)

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

 

  (30)

Liens on the Equity Interests and Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (31)

(i) Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) customary restrictions or dispositions of assets to be disposed of pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements;

 

  (32)

any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor secured by a lessor’s, sub-lessor’s, licensor’s or sub-licensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

40


  (33)

Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (34)

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

 

  (35)

ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

 

  (36)

Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

  (37)

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;

 

  (38)

Liens on assets securing any Indebtedness owed to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (39)

First Liens securing First Lien Debt (or Junior Liens securing Junior Lien Debt), in each case incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1);

 

  (40)

Junior Liens securing Junior Lien Debt permitted to be incurred Section 4.09; provided that at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00; and

 

  (41)

(a) First Liens securing obligations under (x) the Notes and any Guarantees thereof or (y) the Dollar Secured Notes and any guarantees thereof, in each case to the extent such Notes or Dollar Secured Notes are issued on the Issue Date, (b) Liens on assets not constituting Collateral securing the Notes pursuant to clause (2) of Section 4.12 and (c) prior to the Escrow Release Date, Liens pursuant to the Escrow Agreement or any similar agreement relating to amounts deposited in escrow relating to indebtedness or other obligations under the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes issued on the Issue Date.

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

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

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

 

41


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

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events, and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any and (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any, are made at fair market value.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

42


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

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Period” means, in respect of any Note issued under Regulation S, the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S applicable to such Note.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

43


Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty, or other revenue streams, and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables purchase facilities, factoring arrangements 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, indemnities and other customary limited recourse made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable 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 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 in, one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Senior Credit Agreement” means that certain Senior Secured Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Effective Date, among the Issuer, as lead borrower, the Co-Issuer, as co-borrower, the guarantors party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced, renewed, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Credit Facilities” means the credit facilities provided from time to time pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreement.

Separation” means the separation of the women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses from Merck through a distribution of shares of common stock of the Company to the Merck shareholders as of the relevant record date and the other transactions contemplated by the separation and distribution agreement to be entered into between Merck and the Company.

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

Similar Business” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any reasonable extension thereof or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, related, complementary, incidental or ancillary to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Issue Date.

 

44


Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1)

any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

 

  (2)

any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(x) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity, and voting interests, or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interest or otherwise, and

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

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that Guarantees the Notes.

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in euro.

Test Period” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Material Domestic Subsidiary.”

 

45


Total Assets” means the total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent internal consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer with such pro forma adjustments thereto as are consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Transaction Agreements” means, collectively, the separation and distribution agreement, the transition services agreements, the interim operating agreements, the regulatory agreements, the manufacturing and supply agreements, the trademark license agreements, the intellectual property agreements, the tax matters agreement, the employee matters agreement, in each case which are described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with Merck” in the Offering Memorandum, and any other instruments, assignments, documents and agreements contemplated thereby and executed in connection therewith, in each case as may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time (provided, that any such amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification is not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred, paid by or allocated to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Transactions” means, collectively, any and all of the following (whether or not consummated): (i) the Separation, (ii) the Distribution, (iii) the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements, and all the transactions thereunder, (iv) the payment of the Effective Date Repayment in the amount of approximately $9.0 billion on or about the Effective Date in connection with the Separation and Distribution, (v) the entry into this Indenture, the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture and the Unsecured Notes Indenture, and the offer and issuance of the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes, (vi) the Assumption, (vii) the Merger, (viii) the entry into the Senior Credit Facilities, and the initial incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder, (ix) the payment of Transaction Expenses and (x) all other transactions relating to or in furtherance of the foregoing, including without limitation, any corporate reorganization transactions, restructuring or similar activities or transactions in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

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

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

 

46


Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary), other than the Co-Issuer, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that

 

  (1)

any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer;

 

  (2)

such designation complies with Section 4.07 hereof; and

 

  (3)

each of:

 

  (a)

the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

 

  (b)

its Subsidiaries

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

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

 

  (1)

the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

  (2)

the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Issuers shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

Unsecured Notes” means the 5.125% senior notes due 2031 of the Issuers issued under the Unsecured Notes Indenture.

 

47


Unsecured Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated the Issue Date, relating to the 5.125% senior notes due 2031 of the Issuers, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

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

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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in Section

Acceptable Commitment

   4.10

Additional Amounts

   2.14

Affiliate Transaction

   4.11

Agent Members

   2.01

Alternate Offer

   4.14

Applicable AML Law

   14.15

Applicable Premium Deficit

   8.04

ASC 842

   1.05

Asset Sale Offer

   4.10

Assumption

   Recitals

Authenticating Agent

   2.02

Authentication Order

   2.02

Change of Control Offer

   4.14

Change of Control Payment

   4.14

Change of Control Payment Date

   4.14

Co-Issuer

   Recitals

Company

   Recitals

Covenant Defeasance

   8.03

Covenant Suspension Event

   4.16

Declined Proceeds

   4.10

 

48


Term

   Defined in Section

Deemed Date

   4.09

Effective Date

   3.11

Escrow Account

   13.01

Escrow Agent

   13.01

Escrow Agreement

   13.01

Escrowed Property

   13.01

Escrow Release Conditions

   13.02

Escrow Release Date

   13.02

Event of Default

   6.01

Excess Proceeds

   4.10

Fixed Charge Coverage Test

   4.09

Foreign Disposition

   4.10

Increased Amount

   4.12

incur

   4.09

incurrence

   4.09

Internal Revenue Code

   1.01

Issuer

   Recitals

Issuers

   Recitals

Legal Defeasance

   8.02

Merger

   Recitals

maximum fixed repurchase price

   1.03

Note Register

   2.03

Offer Amount

   3.09

Offer Period

   3.09

Outside Date

   3.11

Paying Agent

   2.03

Payor

   2.14

Permitted Co-Issuer Division

   5.01

Purchase Date

   3.09

Redemption Date

   3.07

Refinancing Indebtedness

   4.09

Refunding Capital Stock

   4.07

Related Person

   12.07

Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction

   2.14

Registrar

   2.03

Restricted Payments

   4.07

Reversion Date

   4.16

Second Commitment

   4.10

Special Mandatory Redemption

   3.11

Special Mandatory Redemption Date

   3.11

Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event

   3.11

Successor Company

   5.01

Successor Person

   5.01

Suspended Covenants

   4.16

Suspension Date

   4.16

 

49


Term

   Defined in Section

Suspension Period

   4.16

Taxes

   2.14

Transaction Agreement Date

   1.05

Transfer Agent

   2.03

Treasury Capital Stock

   4.07

Trustee

   Recitals

Section 1.03 Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

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

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

(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

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

(l) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to any gender;

(m) 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”;

 

50


(n) (i) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock at any time shall be (A) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock at such time or (B) the maximum mandatory redemption; and (ii) the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer;

(o) the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include PDFs, e-mails and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated;

(p) this Indenture is not subject to any provision of the TIA, except to the extent the TIA is specifically incorporated by reference in or made a part of this Indenture; and

(q) for avoidance of doubt, the term “Issuers” shall refer to the Escrow Issuer only prior to the Assumption, unless the context requires otherwise.

Section 1.04 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

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

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

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

 

51


(e) The Issuers may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this Section 1.04(f) shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

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

Section 1.05 Measuring Compliance.

(a) With respect to any (x) Investment or acquisition, in each case, for which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer may not terminate its obligations (or may not do so without incurring significant expense) due to a lack of financing for such Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise), as applicable, and (y) repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar irrevocable notice), which may be conditional, has been delivered, in each case, for purposes of determining:

 

52


(i) whether any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(ii) whether any Lien being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness or to secure any such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.12 hereof or the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(iii) whether any other transaction undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes; and

(iv) any calculation of the ratios, including Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA or Total Assets and, whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with the foregoing,

at the option of the Issuer, the date the definitive agreement for such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is entered into or irrevocable notice, which may be conditional, of such repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is given to the holders of such Indebtedness (each, a “Transaction Agreement Date”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “EBITDA”.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to use the Transaction Agreement Date as the applicable date of determination in accordance with the foregoing, (1) any fluctuation or change in the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA, or Total Assets of the Issuer from the Transaction Agreement Date to the date of consummation of such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness, will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether (x) any Indebtedness or Lien that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred or (y) any other transaction undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes, and (2) until such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is consummated or such definitive agreement is terminated, such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given pro forma effect when determining compliance of other transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens unrelated to such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness) that are consummated after the Transaction Agreement Date and on or prior to the date of such consummation or termination.

 

53


(c) The compliance with any requirement relating to the absence of a Default or Event of Default may be determined as of the Transaction Agreement Date and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture.

(d) For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but giving effect to any returns or distributions of capital or repayment of principal actually received in cash by such Person with respect thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated solely for purposes of Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof, with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other basket (other than a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio) on the same date. Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio test.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the Issuer elects otherwise, all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to adoption by the Issuer of Accounting Standards Codification topic 482, Leases (“ASC 842”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations or Indebtedness) for purposes of all financial definitions, calculations and deliverables herein (including the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and EBITDA) (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASC 842 or any other change in accounting treatment or otherwise (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as or to be re-characterized as financing or capital lease obligations or otherwise accounted for as liabilities in financial statements. Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

 

54


ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in minimum denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Registrar or the Common Depositary, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes and only registered Holders shall have rights under this Indenture and the Notes. Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) and Persons who hold beneficial interests in a Global Note through an Agent Member shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Common Depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream or under the Global Notes. The Common Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any agent of the foregoing as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any agent of the foregoing from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Common Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Common Depositary and registered in the name of the Common Depositary or the nominee of the Common Depositary for the accounts of the designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear and Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent as hereinafter provided.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note upon certification in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer that those interests are owned by (i) non-U.S. Persons or (ii) U.S. Persons who acquired those interests

 

55


pursuant to another exemption from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the Common Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Terms. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. Subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes from time to time ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes without notice to or consent of the Holders, and such Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes, except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance (or such other date specified by the Issuer); provided that, if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate ISIN and/or Common Code, as applicable. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

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

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication. At least one Officer of the Issuer (or Issuers, when applicable) shall execute the Notes on behalf of such Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “PDF”) signature (except as otherwise required by the Applicable Procedures).

If an Officer of any Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, as the case may be, by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

56


On the Issue Date, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents (each an “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands. The Trustee hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch as its Authenticating Agent in respect of the Notes and Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch accepts such appointment, and the Issuer hereby confirms these appointments.

Section 2.03 Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be transferred or exchanged (the “Transfer Agent”), and (iii) an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent” and references to the Paying Agent shall include the Principal Paying Agent). The Registrar and Transfer Agent shall keep a register of the Notes (the “Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange and will facilitate transfers of the Notes on behalf of the Issuer. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more transfer agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any additional transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. For avoidance of doubt, there shall be only one Note Register.

The Issuers initially appoint Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch as Registrar, Transfer Agent and Principal Paying Agent with respect to the Notes. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and actions of each Agent under this Indenture are several and not joint or joint and several, and the Agents shall only be obliged to perform those duties expressly set out in this Indenture and shall have no implied duties.

The Issuers may change the Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Principal Paying Agent shall, to the extent that it is capable, act as such. An Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

If, and to the extent that, the Notes are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers shall satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and will comply with any notice requirements required under such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (London time) on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold for

 

57


the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall no later than two Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due, send to the Paying Agent an irrevocable payment instruction. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent that is not a party to this Indenture to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee under this Section 2.04, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to any Issuer, the Principal Paying Agent shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, a Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements (including to the Holders) (i) for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 2.04 and (ii) until they have confirmed receipt of funds sufficient to make the relevant payment. No money held by an Agent needs to be segregated except as is required by law. The Agents will hold all funds as banker subject to the terms of this Indenture and as a result, such money will not be held in accordance with the rules established by the Financial Conduct Authority in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Handbook of rules and guidance from time to time in relation to client money.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists. The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Paying Agent is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Paying Agent and the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

Every Holder, by receiving and holding Notes, agrees with the Issuers and the Trustee that none of the Issuers or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to the Common Depositary or a nominee of the Common Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (A) the Common Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depositary for such Global Note and a successor depositary is not

 

58


appointed within 120 days, (B) either Euroclear or Clearstream notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a clearing and settlement agency and a successor clearing agency is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (C) if Euroclear or Clearstream so requests following an Event of Default, or (D) the Issuers, in their sole discretion, determines that all Global Notes should be exchanged for Definitive Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, as applicable, or the Issuers, in each case, in accordance with their respective customary procedures. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided that, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person other than pursuant to Rule 144A. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

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

 

59


Member account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certifications required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B). Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

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

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

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

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

(A) such Notes are sold or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or

(B) the Registrar receives the following:

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

 

60


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

61


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

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

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

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Common Depositary and the Agent Member. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) (except for transfers pursuant to clause (F) above) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

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

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

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

 

62


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

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

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

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

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

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

 

63


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

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

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

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

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

the Registrar shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

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

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

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

 

64


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

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

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

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

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In the event that the requesting Holder does not transfer the entire principal amount of Notes represented by any such Definitive Note, the Registrar shall cancel or cause to be canceled such Definitive Note and the Issuers (who will have been informed of such cancelation) shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the requesting Holder and any transferee Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amounts to reflect such transfer. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):

 

65


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(f) [Reserved].

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

(i) Private Placement Legend.

 

66


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

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH ANY ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO ANY ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS

 

67


OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE REGISTRAR’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) (I) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE REGISTRAR AND AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.”

Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and Definitive Note issued in a transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S shall also bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.”

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

 

68


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

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE REGISTRAR MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE REGISTRAR FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS NOMINEE OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

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

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

 

69


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

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.04 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or tendered in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

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

 

70


(v) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.03 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery;

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part;

(C) to register the transfer or exchange of a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or

(D) to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

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

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

(viii) At the option of the Holder, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by electronic delivery.

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

 

71


Section 2.07 Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar, or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss, or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirement of the Trustee, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent, and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section 2.07 shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Notes.

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

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

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding (including for accounting purposes) and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, a Guarantor or by any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be

 

72


protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuers, a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

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

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

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers of any such special record date. At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

73


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

Section 2.13 ISINs and Common Codes. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use ISINs and Common Codes (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use ISINs and Common Codes in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the ISINs and Common Codes.

Section 2.14 Additional Amounts.

(a) All payments made by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor (a “Payor”) under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed (collectively, “Taxes” by the United States, the Netherlands, any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor is then incorporated, organized, engaged in business for tax purposes, or resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which any such payment is made by or on behalf of any Payor or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (each, a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”)), unless such deduction or withholding is required by law.

(b) In the event such deduction or withholding of Taxes is required with respect to payments under or with respect to the Notes by law of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, subject to the limitations described below, the Payors will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that every net payment received by the beneficial owner of such Note of principal of or interest or any other amount payable on the Notes (including upon redemption), after deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes, will not be less than the amount that would have been received in respect of such payments in the absence of such deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes. Payment of Additional Amounts shall be made in accordance with the procedures of any applicable securities depositary. However, the Payors’ obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply to:

(i) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for:

(A) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner, if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a nominee, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including such Holder or beneficial

 

74


owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner or person having such a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or having or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction;

(B) the failure of such Holder or beneficial owner to comply with a request to provide any certification, information or other reporting requirement, if compliance is required under tax laws and regulations of Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction to establish entitlement to a partial or complete exemption from such Taxes (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (with any required attachment), or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto);

(ii) any Taxes imposed by reason of the Holder or beneficial owner:

(A) owning or having owned, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Issuer’s stock, as described in section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,

(B) being a bank receiving interest as described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

(C) being a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Issuer or any Guarantor by stock ownership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(iii) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for the presentation by the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the Note is duly provided for and notice is given to such Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that such Holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Note on any date during such 30-day period;

(iv) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property, capital gains, wealth or similar Taxes;

(v) any Taxes payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment on such Note or with respect to any note Guarantee;

(vi) any Taxes payable by a Holder that is not the beneficial owner of the Note, or that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, but, in each case, only to the extent that a beneficial owner, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or member or partner of such partnership, limited liability company or similar entity would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had such beneficial owner, beneficiary, settlor, member or partner received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

 

75


(vii) any Taxes required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;

(viii) any Taxes imposed under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or successor provision that is substantively comparable), any current or future regulations or official interpretation thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rule or practice adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing;

(ix) any Taxes imposed under or in connection with the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act (Wet bronbelasting 2021) with respect to a Holder, or, where applicable, a beneficiary of the Notes that is an entity that is related (gelieerd) to the Issuer within the meaning of the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act; or

(x) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix).

(c) For purposes of this Section 2.14, the acquisition, ownership, enforcement, or holding of or the receipt of any payment with respect to a Note will not constitute a connection (x) between the Holder or beneficial owner and the United States or (y) between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity and the United States.

(d) Any reference in this Indenture or in the Notes to principal or interest or other payment on the Notes shall be deemed to refer also to Additional Amounts that may be payable under the provisions of this Section 2.14.

(e) Except as specifically provided under this Section 2.14, the Issuer will not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States. The foregoing obligations will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor to a Payor is organized or otherwise considered to be a resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee and Paying Agent, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee or Paying Agent) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

 

76


Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be redeemed in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Paying Agent shall deem fair and appropriate and otherwise in such manner as complies with the Applicable Procedures. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for any selection made by it in accordance with this paragraph (including the procedures of the relevant depositaries).

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than €100,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least €100,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.07(f), 3.09 and 3.11 hereof, the Issuer shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI hereof. For Notes held on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforementioned delivery.

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

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

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

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

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

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

 

77


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

(h) the ISIN and Common Code, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of any such ISIN and Common Code that is listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

(i) any condition to such redemption.

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

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is given in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(f) hereof). The notice, if given in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07(f) hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

(a) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Redemption Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed on that Redemption Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

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

 

78


Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     101.438

2025

     100.719

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date) at a redemption price equal to 102.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

79


(d) The Issuers or their Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, exchange offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions, or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as the Issuers or their Affiliates may determine, which may be more or less than the consideration for which the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes are initially sold and could be for cash or other consideration.

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

(f) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided herein, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed; provided that if a Redemption Date or purchase date is delayed, the setting of any new Redemption Date or purchase date shall be subject to the Applicable Procedures. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11.

 

80


Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

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

(b) The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Dollar Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions thereof have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required), such other First Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis, if applicable, with adjustments as necessary so that no Note or other First Lien Debt will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination), or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other First Lien Debt tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Purchase Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall send electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Dollar Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions thereof have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required), to the holders of such other First Lien Debt. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

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

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

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

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

(v) that any Holder electing to have less than all of the aggregate principal amount of its Notes purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof;

 

81


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

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

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Debt surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, subject to the Applicable Procedures, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and such other First Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such other First Lien Debt tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof will be purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); provided that the unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, subject to the Applicable Procedures, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis as described in clause (d)(viii) of this Section 3.09, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

(f) The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

82


(g) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be purchased on that Purchase Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 3.10 Taxation Redemption.

(a) The Notes may be redeemed at the Issuers’ option, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption and all Additional Amounts, if any, then due, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, at any time, in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof if:

(i) the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts on the next interest payment date as a result of (x) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of the any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction affecting taxation, or (y) any change in or amendment to an official application, interpretation, administration or enforcement of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum; or

(ii) any action shall have been taken by a taxing authority, or any action has been brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, in any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including any of those actions specified in (i) above, whether or not such action was taken or brought with respect to the Issuer, or any change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings in any such case, that have not been publically announced before, and are officially proposed on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum, which results or will result in the Issuer being required to pay Additional Amounts on the next Interest Payment Date (each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), a “Change in Tax Law”).

(b) The Change in Tax Law must become effective on or after the date of this offering memorandum (or, if the applicable Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction after the date of this Indenture, such a change that occurs after such later date). The Issuers will not give any such notice of redemption earlier than 60 days nor later than 10 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption for the reasons specified in Section 3.10(a) hereof, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee:

(i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Issuers are entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the Issuer’s right so to redeem have occurred, and

 

83


(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment or that the Issuers are or will be required to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such action or proposed change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation, as the case may be.

(c) Such notice, once delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee, will be irrevocable.

Section 3.11 Special Mandatory Redemption.

(a) In the event that (i) satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (the date of such satisfaction, the “Effective Date”) does not take place on or prior to September 30, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); (ii) the Escrow Issuer fails to make, or cause to be made, any required deposits into the Escrow Account on or prior to three (3) Business Days after the applicable required deposit date as set forth in Section 13.01 or (iii) the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such conditions will not be satisfied by the Outside Date and gives written notice and instruction to the Trustee and the Escrow Agent that it has elected to redeem the Notes (each a “Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event”), the funds in the Escrow Account will be released to the Trustee for the purpose of effecting the mandatory redemption (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”) of the Notes in accordance with the requirements of this Section 3.11. The Issuer will not be required to make a Special Mandatory Redemption on or following the Effective Date.

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event, the Escrow Issuer will redeem the Notes, on the date that is five Business Days (subject to the requirements of Euroclear and Clearstream) after the date of such Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”), at a cash redemption price of 100.0% of the aggregate initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the Issue Date, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”).

(c) At least three Business Days before the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Escrow Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth: (i) the provisions pursuant to which the Special Mandatory Redemption shall occur, (ii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, (iii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, (iv) the ISIN and Common Code of the Notes to be redeemed and (v) instructions to deliver the notice of redemption referred to in Section 3.11(d) to Holders.

(d) The Trustee will send a notice of such redemption on behalf of the Escrow Issuer to the Holders as soon as practicable after the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event.

 

84


(e) Prior to the Trustee sending such notice of redemption, the Escrow Issuer will provide the Trustee with a calculation of the redemption amount, including accrued and unpaid interest to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.11 shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.07 hereof. For avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.11 (other than this sentence) will not apply after the Assumption is consummated.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be presented for payment or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Principal Paying Agent.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of its obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Issuers hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Principal Paying Agent as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

85


Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information.

(a) After the Effective Date, whether or not the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as the Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its website or file with the SEC for public availability:

(1) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer), an annual report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports;

(2) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by a non-accelerated filer), a quarterly report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q if the Issuer were required to file such reports; and

(3) as soon as practicable (and in any event no later than five days after the period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K) after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, a current report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports; provided, however, that, if the last day of any such period is not a Business Day, such report will be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to such reports. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports (x) will not be required to include separate financial information that would be required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X and (y) will not be subject to the Trust Indenture Act.

After the Effective Date, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will maintain a public or non-public website on which Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts are given access to the annual and quarterly financial information described above (and if applicable, the quarterly information described in Section 4.03(b)). If the website containing the financial reports is not available to the public, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will direct Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts on its publicly available website to contact the Issuer to obtain access to the non-public website.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or prior to the date 45 days after June 30, 2021, the Escrow Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its (or the Company’s or Merck’s) website or file or cause to be filed with the SEC for public availability interim financial statements and a Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations (“MD&A”) with respect to the three and six-months ending June 30, 2021, in each case substantially comparable to the audited combined financial statements and MD&A included in the Offering Memorandum (provided that such interim financial statements shall not be required to be audited; provided further, that if such interim financial statements and MD&A are included in the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement filed with the SEC for public availability on or prior to such date, the requirements of this Section 4.03(b) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

86


(c) If any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer files reports with the SEC in accordance with Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act, whether voluntarily or otherwise, in compliance with the filing periods specified in Section 4.03(a) hereof, then the Issuer shall be deemed to comply with this Section 4.03. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports need not include separate financial information required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X; provided that, if such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer has more than de minimis operations separate and apart from its ownership in the Issuer, then the financial statements of the direct or indirect parent company will be required to provide consolidating information, which need not be audited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

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

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of clause (3) under Section 6.01 hereof until 120 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03, and failure to comply with this Section 4.03 shall be automatically cured when the Issuer or its direct or indirect parent company provides all required reports to the Holders (including to the Trustee for delivery to the Holders) or files all required reports with the SEC.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether any report has been filed by the Issuer or posted on the Issuer’s website.

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

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or 120 days after the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date), a certificate from any Officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge, on behalf of the

 

87


Issuer, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled in all material respects each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions in this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuers shall within 20 Business Days after becoming aware of such Default (unless such Default shall have been cured or waived prior to the expiration of such 20 Business Day period) deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Reserved.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(I) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend, payment or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation other than:

(A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests of the Issuer; or

(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

 

88


(II) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger or consolidation, in each case, held by Persons other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

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

(A) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7), (8), and (9) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; or

(B) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition, or retirement; or

(IV) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) in this Section 4.07(a) (other than any exception thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by, Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on April 1, 2021 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

 

89


(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

(i) (A)Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

(x) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the Effective Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and

(B) to the extent such net cash proceeds or other property are actually contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof); or

(ii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

provided that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock applied in accordance with clause (2) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than (i) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, (ii) contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Excluded Contributions, and (iv) proceeds of Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such proceeds have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries); plus

 

90


(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than, in each case, to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof), in each case, after the Effective Date; or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date; plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment); plus

(F) the greater of $420.0 million and 15% of EBITDA at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(G) the aggregate amount of Declined Proceeds since the Effective Date.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of the redemption notice, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange

 

91


for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (within 90 days of such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or other Restricted Payment) (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”), (b) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this Section 4.07(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement, and (c) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale of Refunding Capital Stock (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) made within 90 days of such sale;

(3) the prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, or (B) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, which, in each case, is incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, plus the amount of any premium (including tender premiums) required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith;

(B) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired;

 

92


(C) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and

(D) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes);

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement (and including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest on any notes issued by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in connection such repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition and any tax related thereto); provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $60.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $85.0 million in any calendar year); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

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

(C) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to employees, officers, directors, members of management, or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that are foregone in return for receipt of Equity Interests; less

 

93


(D) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (4);

and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer from any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this Section 4.07(b); provided, in the case of each of (A) and (C) of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) 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 $280.0 million and 10% of 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);

 

94


(8) (A) payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of Equity Interests by any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; and (B) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of options, warrants, or similar instruments if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof or required withholding or similar taxes;

(9) (a) so long as the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio does not exceed 3.50 to 1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and (b) if the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is greater than 3.50:1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange;

(10) Restricted Payments in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions made;

(11) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA at such time;

(12) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(13) [reserved];

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

(15) Restricted Payments to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (15) do not exceed in any calendar year $50.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years);

 

95


(16) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Cash Equivalents);

(17) the repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with (A) any dividend, distribution, split, reverse split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or other business combination, in each case, to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture, or (B) the exercise or settlement of options, warrants or similar instruments convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

(18) the making of any Restricted Payment if, at the time of the making of such payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such payments), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; and

(19) any Restricted Payment pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions;

provided that, at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (11), (16) and (18) of this Section 4.07(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (18) of this Section 4.07(b) or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof, the Issuer will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (18) and Section 4.07(a) hereof in a manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07; except that the Issuer may not reclassify any Restricted Payment as having been made under clause (18) of this Section 4.07(b) if originally made under any other clause of this Section 4.07(b) or under Section 4.07(a) hereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof or under clause (7), (10), (11), or (18) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”, and, if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Indenture.

 

96


(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, (a) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be permitted to contribute, dispose of or otherwise transfer legal title to, or license on an exclusive basis, any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (b) the Issuers shall not be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary that holds Material Intellectual Property as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether upon initial designation or subsequent investment), in each case, other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (i) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) to facilitate a Restricted Payment or (iii) in connection with a liability management transaction.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i) (A) pay a dividend or make any other distribution to the Issuer or any Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(ii) make any loan or advance to the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Guarantor.

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) (i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in connection with the Transactions and all transactions in connection therewith;

(2) (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes and the guarantees thereof (iii) the Collateral Documents, (iv) the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture, (v) the Dollar Secured Notes (and the guarantees thereof) (vi) the Unsecured Notes Indenture, (vii) the Unsecured Notes (and the guarantees thereof), (viii) the Senior Credit Facilities (and the guarantees thereof and any collateral documents relating thereto), (ix) the Transaction Agreements, and (x) Hedging Obligations;

 

97


(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof on the property so acquired;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired, designated or assumed;

(6) any contract or agreement for the sale of assets, including any customary restriction with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and either (A) the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities as in effect on the Issue Date or (B) any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due;

(10) customary provisions in any operating agreement, joint venture agreement, asset sale agreement or other similar agreement, or other similar arrangements;

(11) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) any encumbrance or restriction of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2), and (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing of any of the contracts, instruments, or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) and (13)

 

98


through (15) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing is, in the good-faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive taken as a whole with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

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

(14) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale, or other agreement to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder, or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary; and

(15) restrictions contained in agreements (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course of business; provided that such restrictions do not prohibit (except upon an event of default thereunder) the payment of dividends in an amount sufficient, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due.

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”), with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Test”), determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided further that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money,

 

99


Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13) and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(12)(b) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13)) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this Section 4.09(a).

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

(1) the incurrence of (A) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof); provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred or issued under this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) does not exceed the sum of (a) the greater of $2,100.0 million and 75% of EBITDA, plus (b) $6,000.0 million, plus (c) the maximum amount of Indebtedness such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence (in a manner consistent with the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio), the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 2.75 to 1.00 (provided that, for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this subclause (c), all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) shall be deemed to be First Lien Debt) and (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to clause (A) of this clause (1), including additional Indebtedness incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection with such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance;

(2) the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Guarantee) (other than any Additional Notes), the Dollar Secured Notes (including any guarantee thereof) (other than any “Additional Notes” as defined in the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture) and the Unsecured Notes (including any guarantee thereof) (other than any “Additional Notes” as defined in the Unsecured Notes Indenture);

(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.09(b));

(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the acquisition, construction, repair,

 

100


replacement, or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment, or other fixed or capital assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the date of the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement or is created within 365 days thereafter; provided, further that the aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference of all such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (4), when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (4), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (4) exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA.

(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit 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;

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

(7) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);

 

101


(9) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

(11) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 or industry practices;

(12)(a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than proceeds of Excluded Contributions or Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(B) and (3)(C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued or incurred in reliance on this clause (12)(a) and (ii) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed that are applied to make any Restricted Payments shall be excluded for purposes of incurring or issuing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to this clause (12)(a); and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not at any time outstanding exceed the greater of $1,400.0 million and 50% of EBITDA; provided, that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (12)(b) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and

 

102


Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding at the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (12)(b);

(13) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) hereof and clauses (2), (3), (4), and (12) of this Section 4.09(b), this clause (13) and clause (14) of this Section 4.09(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

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

(B) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (i) Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed, or defeased or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and

(C) shall not include:

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

(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

(iii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and provided further that subclause

 

103


(A) of this clause (13) shall not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal, or defeasance of Indebtedness that matures prior to the Notes;

(14)(x) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets), merger, or consolidation or (y) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation, if more than $200.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) above, is at any time outstanding under this clause (14), either

(A) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation;

(15) Indebtedness (a) arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft, or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business (provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 30 Business Days of its incurrence) and (b) in respect of Bank Products;

(16) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(17)(A) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer is permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(18)(a) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present, or former officers, directors, employees, members of management and consultants (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing), in each case, to finance the purchase, or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof and (b) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees or directors of the

 

104


Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in the ordinary course of business;

(19) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased or services rendered in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis of no longer than 30 days to any bank or other financial institution incurred in the ordinary course of business with such bank or financial institution, which arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(21) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred, or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length, commercial terms on a recourse basis;

(22) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(23) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, vendors, distributors, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees that, in each case, are non-Affiliates;

(24) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as seller or servicer under a Securitization Facility and any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Indebtedness; and

(25) Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued by a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease, redeem, or satisfy, and discharge the Notes in accordance with this Indenture.

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

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (25) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding (or deemed outstanding) under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Effective Date will be treated as incurred on the Effective Date under clause (1) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and shall not be reclassified;

 

105


(2) the Issuer will be entitled to divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, any item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b) hereof without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) that may be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a);

(3) any guarantee of, or obligation in respect of any letter of credit relating to, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.09; and

(4) in connection with the incurrence or issuance, as applicable, of (x) revolving loan Indebtedness under this Section 4.09 or (y) any commitment relating to the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Section 4.09 and the granting of any Lien to secure such Indebtedness, the Issuer or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate such incurrence or issuance and the granting of any Lien therefor as having occurred on the date of first incurrence of such revolving loan Indebtedness or commitment (such date, the “Deemed Date”), and any related subsequent actual incurrence or issuance and granting of such Lien therefor will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been incurred or issued and granted on such Deemed Date, including for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, usage of any baskets under this Indenture (if applicable), the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio and EBITDA (and all such calculations on and after the Deemed Date until the termination or funding of such commitment shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to the deemed incurrence or issuance, the granting of any Lien therefor and related transactions in connection therewith).

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same class, and accretion or amortization of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will each not be deemed to be an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for purposes of this Section 4.09.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or incurred, in the case of revolving credit debt (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent); provided that, if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant

 

106


currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (x) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (y) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees, or similar fees) incurred in connection with such refinancing.

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

(g) For the purposes of this Indenture, Indebtedness that is unsecured is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, and Senior Indebtedness is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate, directly or indirectly, an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto, or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Issuer’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 Issuer) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale, or that are assumed by the transferee (or any third party on behalf of such transferee) of any such assets or Equity Interests, in each case, pursuant to a written agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities,

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are

 

107


required to be satisfied for Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

shall, in each case, be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this Section 4.10 and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 450 days after the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale consummated on and following the Effective Date, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(1) to reduce:

(A) Obligations under Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a Lien on assets that do not constitute Collateral (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(B) Obligations under the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes, the Senior Credit Facilities and/or other First Lien Debt (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under such Indebtedness, and if such reduction did not consist of a reduction in Obligations under the Notes on an equal and ratable basis (or an offer to repurchase the Notes on an equal and ratable basis in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof), then the Issuer shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes by (i) redeeming the Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof, (ii) purchasing the Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (iii) making an offer to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid, which offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof (including the provisions requiring an offer to be made to holders of other First Lien Debt; provided that such Asset Sale Offer shall not be made to the holders of the Dollar Secured Notes to the extent the Dollar Secured Notes were the First Lien Debt that triggered the requirements of the first proviso of this clause (B)); or

 

108


(C) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(2) to make (a) an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, further that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such business constitutes or continues to constitute a Guarantor), (b) an Investment in properties (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such properties constitute Collateral), (c) capital expenditures (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such capital expenditures constitute or are made with respect to assets that constitute Collateral), or (d) acquisitions of other assets (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such other assets constitute Collateral);

(3) solely to the extent such Asset Sale constitutes a disposition of Collateral, which Collateral consists of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock or capital contribution, and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary), (B) an Investment in properties, (C) capital expenditures or (D) acquisitions of other assets,; or

(4) any combination of the foregoing;

provided that, in the case of clause (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment entered into within 450 days after the Asset Sale shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good-faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided further that, if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Cash Proceeds are applied, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that (i) any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sales by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States or (ii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would result in material adverse tax consequences, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance

 

109


with this Section 4.10; provided that, within 450 days of the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition, the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit repatriation of such proceeds that would otherwise be subject to this Section 4.10 without violating applicable local law or incurring material adverse tax consequences, and, if such proceeds may be repatriated, within such 450 day period, such proceeds shall be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10.

(c) Any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) hereof (it being understood that any portion of such net proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in Section 4.10(b)(1) hereof, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuers shall make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Dollar Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions of the Dollar Secured Notes or the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required) to the holders of such other First Lien Debt, to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such other First Lien Debt, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other First Lien Debt was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreements governing any such First Lien Debt. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 10 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent. The Issuers may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 450 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $200.0 million or less.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and, if applicable, other First Lien Debt tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (“Declined Proceeds”) for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and, if applicable, First Lien Debt surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Issuers shall select the Notes and such First Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such First Lien Debt tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or First Lien Debt will be purchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds upon such completion). Upon consummation or expiration of any Asset Sale Offer, any remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds and the Issuers may use such Net Cash Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. An Asset Sale Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees (but the Asset Sale Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

 

110


(d) Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

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

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates. (a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, unless:

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

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.11(a) will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof (including any payments that are exceptions to the definition of Restricted Payments set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) of Section 4.07(a)) and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of or for the benefit of, current or former officers, directors, employees, members of management or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

 

111


(4) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(5) any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Issue Date, and any transaction pursuant thereto or contemplated thereby, or any amendment, modification or supplement thereto or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(6)(a) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (b) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture partner or joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(7) the sale or issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(8) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(9)(a) loans or advances or guarantees in respect thereof (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or otherwise made on behalf of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith, and (b) payments to, and transactions with, any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith; and any employment agreement, stock option plan and other compensatory arrangement (and any successor plan thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement

 

112


benefit plan or arrangement with any such director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(10) payments by the Issuer (and any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer (and any such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries;

(11) any guarantee by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that was permitted by this Indenture;

(12) any transaction with a Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such Person;

(13) any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, on the other hand, which is approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(14) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(15) any contribution to the Capital Stock of the Issuer;

(16) transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary solely because a director of such Person, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent company of such Person is also a director of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any direct or direct parent company of the Issuer; provided that, such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer, such Restricted Subsidiary, or such parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, on any such transaction;

(17) transactions with Affiliates solely in their capacity as holders of Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, so long as such transaction is with all holders of such class (and there are non-Affiliate holders) and such Affiliates are treated no more favorably than all other holders of such Indebtedness or Equity Interests generally;

(18) pledges of Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(19) the Transactions, all transactions in connection therewith (including the financing thereof and the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements), and the payment of Transaction Expenses.

Section 4.12 Liens. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset, property or right of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless:

 

113


(1) in the case of any Lien on assets, property or rights constituting Collateral, such Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(2) in the case of any Lien on assets, property or rights that do not constitute Collateral, either (a) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priorit y to such Liens; or (b) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness other than Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that in the case of Liens described in this clause (2), none of the foregoing shall apply to or restrict Permitted Liens.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to clause (2) of the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (a) the release by the holders of the Indebtedness described in such clause (2) of their Lien on the property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including any deemed release upon payment in full of all obligations under such Indebtedness (except upon foreclosure or default of such Indebtedness)), (b) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person other than the Issuer or any Guarantor of the property or assets secured by such Lien, or of all of the Capital Stock held by the Issuer or any Guarantor in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Subsidiary Guarantor creating such Lien, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, (c) payment in full of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes, or (d) a defeasance or discharge of the Notes in accordance with Article VIII or Article XI hereof.

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

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, (x) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens but may be incurred under any combination of such categories (including in part under one such category and in part under any one or more of such other such categories) and (y) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of such categories, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.12 and the definition of “Permitted Liens.

Section 4.13 Company Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, and except in connection with the Merger, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its company existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective

 

114


organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer), if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to change their respective organizational forms.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. (a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously sent a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its rights to redeem all the outstanding Notes pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent, to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the Note Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures with the following information:

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

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 10 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control in accordance with clause (c) of this Section 4.14;

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

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

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

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the fourth Business Day prior to the

 

115


Change of Control Payment Date, an electronic transmission, or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(7) that Holders (other than Holders of a Global Note) whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least €100,000 or any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof;

(8) if such notice is sent prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, a statement that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control and, if applicable, a statement that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time as the Change of Control shall have occurred, or that such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event the Change of Control shall not have occurred by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

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

For Notes held on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforementioned delivery. The notice, if delivered electronically, mailed or caused to be mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for purchase shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of any other Note.

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

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

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

(2) have deposited with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. (London Time) an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

 

116


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

(c) The Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) in connection with or in contemplation of any such Change of Control, the Issuers (or any Affiliate thereof) have made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and have purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer. Additionally, the Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if the Issuers have previously issued a notice of redemption for all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 or 3.10 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, and the Change of Control Payment Date may be extended automatically until such Change of Control occurs. A Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or Guarantees (but the Change of Control Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

(d) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Guarantor or the Co-Issuer, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities unless such Restricted Subsidiary within 45 days of such guarantee executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, and executes and delivers a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and takes all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture.

The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor. In addition, the Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to guarantee the Notes, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer that may guarantee the Notes in the future shall not be subject to any of the covenants or restrictions of this Indenture. Any guarantee of the Notes provided by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer may be released at any time in the Issuer’s sole discretion.

 

117


Section 4.16 Suspension of Covenants.

(a) If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”) then, beginning on that day (the “Suspension Date”) and continuing until the Reversion Date, hereof, Section 4.08 hereof, Section 4.09 hereof, Section 4.10 hereof, Section 4.11 hereof, Section 4.15 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof shall not be applicable to the Notes (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

(b) During any period that the Suspended Covenants have been suspended, the Issuers may not designate any of their Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

(c) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) the Notes do not carry an Investment Grade Rating from at least one Rating Agency, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to events occurring on or after the Reversion Date unless and until there shall be a new Suspension Date. The period between a Suspension Date and a Reversion Date is referred to in this Section 4.16 as a “Suspension Period.” The Guarantees of the Guarantors will be suspended during the Suspension Period. Additionally, upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Cash Proceeds shall be reset to zero.

(d) During any Suspension Period, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for in Section 4.12 hereof (including Permitted Liens) and any Permitted Liens that refer to one or more Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for Section 4.12 hereof).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(3); (3) all Liens incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred under clause (7) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; (4) any Affiliate Transaction entered into after such reinstatement pursuant to all agreements and arrangements entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(5) hereof; (5) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof that becomes effective during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to

 

118


Section 4.08(b)(1) hereof; and (6) no Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be required to comply with Section 4.15 hereof after such reinstatement with respect to any guarantee entered into by such Subsidiary during any Suspension Period.

In addition, for purposes of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, all events set forth in such clause (3) occurring during a Suspension Period shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the amount of Restricted Payments the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to make pursuant to such clause (3).

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

(e) The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event and any Reversion Date; provided that such notification shall not be a condition for the suspension of the Suspended Covenants to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date.

Section 4.17 Maintenance of Listing. The Co-Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, on or prior to the first Interest Payment Date, the admission of the Notes to the Official List of Euronext Dublin and to trading on the GEM, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing for so long as such Notes are outstanding; provided that, if at any time the Co-Issuer determines that it shall not maintain such listing, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the delisting of the Notes from Euronext Dublin, a listing of such Notes on another recognized stock exchange, and thereafter use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing.

Section 4.18 Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption. Prior to the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer shall not:

(a) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or operations other than those incidental to its existence or incidental to its issuance of the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes and the performance of its obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Dollar Secured Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture, the Unsecured Notes, the Unsecured Notes Indenture, the Escrow Agreement or the Transactions (including, for avoidance of doubt, activities to facilitate the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities);

(b) establish any Subsidiaries;

(c) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities or financial obligations (other than Indebtedness, liabilities or financial obligations (i) relating to the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes issued on the Issue Date, this Indenture, the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture and the Unsecured Notes Indenture, or the Escrow Agreement or (ii) incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or otherwise relating to acting as

 

119


the initial Issuer of the Notes, the Dollar Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes or facilitating the Transactions (including facilitating the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities)); or

(d) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets (including cash and cash equivalents) other than the Escrowed Property, its rights under this Indenture, the Dollar Secured Notes Indenture, the Unsecured Notes Indenture or the Escrow Agreement, or other properties or assets that are incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or the incidental to activities described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above or de minimis in amount.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.18 (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply once the Assumption is consummated, and upon, and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the provisions of this Article IV shall apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer), as and to the extent provided herein (it being understood that the provisions of this Article IV do not apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries until, and subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Date).

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer and the Co-Issuer each may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1)(a) in the case of a Division where the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the Dividing Person, either (x) all Division Successors shall become co-issuers of the Notes (this clause (x), a “Permitted Co-Issuer Division”) or (y) the Division, as to any Division Successor that will not be a co-issuer, is permitted by Section 4.10 hereof and (b) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division or wind-up (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

120


(4) only in the case of the Issuer, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing or debt reduction transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(5) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(1)(B) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Successor Company shall, as applicable, have executed and delivered a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and taken all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture; and

(6) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; provided that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any such consolidation, merger, wind-up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition.

(b) The Successor Company, if not the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes and in such event the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Notwithstanding clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and

(2) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, may merge with an Affiliate thereof solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (in the case of the Issuer), or in any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (in either case), so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not materially increased thereby.

 

121


(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, on and following the Effective Date, no Subsidiary Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1)(A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division, or wind-up (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments and executed and delivered a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and taken all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture;

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

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance, Division, or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; or

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof.

(d) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee and in such event such Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may (1) consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or transfer all or part of its properties and assets, including by means of a Division, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another jurisdiction so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby and so long as the surviving entity (if not the Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee in connection with such reorganization, (3) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or

 

122


existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Holders, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in Section 5.01(c) hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 5.01 shall not apply to (a) any consolidation, merger or winding up or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) any of the Transactions.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.01, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a limited liability company may consummate a Division as the Dividing Person if, immediately upon the consummation of the Division, the assets of the applicable Dividing Person are held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries at such time, or, with respect to assets not so held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, such Division, in the aggregate, would otherwise result in an Asset Sale permitted by Section 4.10 hereof.

(g) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, none of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person, if such transaction would result in a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the consent of the holders of at least two thirds of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to such the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer or Co-Issuer, as applicable, shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of such Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

 

123


ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” means any one of the following events:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above);

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $100.0 million or more at any time outstanding;

(5) failure by the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million (net of any amounts which are covered by independent third-party insurance), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and, in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

 

124


(6) either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

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

(i) for relief against either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case;

(ii) that appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or for all or substantially all of the property of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(iii) that orders the liquidation of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture;

 

125


(9) unless such Liens have been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and/or the Collateral Documents, the Liens securing the Notes with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable, or the Issuers shall assert or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Guarantor, the Issuers fail to cause such Guarantor to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Issuers have actual knowledge of such assertions;

(10) the failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure with its other agreements contained in the Collateral Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the Holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral, taken as a whole; or

(11) failure by the Issuer (a) to comply with any material term of the Escrow Agreement that is not cured within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Escrow Agent, the Trustee or holders representing 30% or more of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee), (b) to consummate the Special Mandatory Redemption as described in Section 3.11 or (c) to comply in any material respect with Section 4.18 (it being understood that this clause (11) shall be of no further force or effect after the Effective Date).

Section 6.02 Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee may, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, in each case, declare the principal, premium, if any, interest, and any other monetary obligations on all the then-outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that, so long as any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture as part of the Senior Credit Facilities shall be outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of:

(1) acceleration of any such Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities; or

(2) five Business Days after the giving of written notice of such acceleration by the Trustee or any Holder to the Issuers and the administrative agent with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities.

Upon the effectiveness of any declaration of acceleration, the principal and interest on the Notes shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

 

126


In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01 hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived, and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

(2) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers; provided that any waiver or rescission under this Section 6.04 shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

127


Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holder has offered the Trustee indemnity, security, and/or prefunding reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration with respect to the Notes may not be given by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes (or any other action taken on the assertion of any Default) with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders of the Notes, more than two years prior to such notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration (or other action).

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any action is unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, deletion of, or waiver with respect to any of the covenants or provisions of Article III or Article IV hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (provided such amendment, deletion or waiver is made or given in accordance with Article IX hereof).

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

128


Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

129


Section 6.13 Priorities. If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(i) to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent (other than the Issuer or its Subsidiaries), their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(ii) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(iii) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct including a Guarantor, if applicable. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.13.

Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

130


(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

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

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Article VI hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity, security and/or prefunding, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, against any loss, liability, claim, or expense.

(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee or Paying Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuers and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

131


(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate of an Issuer or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any matter (including any Default or Event of Default) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice thereof is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from an Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes, or from any Holder, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each Agent (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary acting as Agent), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or a duty to so, unless so specified herein.

(l) The Trustee will not be liable to the Holders if prevented or delayed in performing any of its obligations or discretionary functions under this Indenture by reason of any present or future law applicable to it, by any governmental or regulatory authority or by any circumstances beyond its control.

 

132


(m) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to do anything which, in its opinion, may be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation.

(n) The Trustee may retain counsel at the expense of the Issuers to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture. The Trustee may consult with such counsel, and the advice or opinion of such counsel relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(o) The Issuers and the Agents acknowledge and agree that in the event of a Default or Event of Default, the Trustee may, by notice in writing to the Issuers and the Agents, require that the Agents (other than to the extent the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as an agent) act as agents of, and take instructions exclusively from, the Trustee. Prior to receiving such written notice from the Trustee, the Agents shall be agents of the Issuers and need have no concern for the interests of the Holders.

(p) The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall electronically deliver or mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been waived or cured. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

133


Section 7.06 May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Agent, or any other agent of the Issuers or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Agent, or such other agent; provided, however, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In the event of being requested by the Issuers to undertake duties which the Trustee reasonably determines to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the normal duties of the Trustee, or in the event the Trustee is obligated to take actions under Article VI hereof, the Issuers shall pay to the Trustee additional reasonable remuneration. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all disbursements, advances and expenses properly incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the properly incurred compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including properly incurred attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the properly incurred costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the properly incurred fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor need reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability, claim, or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof, to secure the payment obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

134


When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 7.07, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and by each agent (including the Agents), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee or Agents. A resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Agent, as the case may be, shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Agent’s, as the case may be, acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee or an Agent may resign in writing at any time by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or an Agent by so notifying the Trustee, such Agent and the Issuers, as the case may be, in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee and any Agent, as the case may be, if:

(A) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(B) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(C) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee, an Agent or their respective property;

(D) the Trustee or an Agent becomes incapable of acting; or

(E) the Trustee is not in compliance with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

If the Trustee or an Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or an Agent for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be. Within one year after the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, to replace the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, appointed by the Issuers.

 

135


If a successor Trustee or Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or Agent resigns or is removed, (i) the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent, at the expense of the Issuers or (ii) the retiring Trustee or Agent may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, at any time prior to the date on which a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office; provided that such appointment shall be satisfactory to the Issuers.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee or Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or Agent shall electronically deliver or mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee or an Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust, paying agent, transfer agent or registrar business, as the case may be, to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be.

Any corporation into which the Trustee or an Agent for the time being may be merged or converted shall, on the date when such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale or transfer becomes effective and to the extent permitted by applicable law, be a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Indenture. After the effective date all references in this Indenture to that Trustee or Agent shall be deemed to be references to that corporation.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of England and Wales, Luxembourg, or the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power and which is recognized as a corporation which customarily performs such corporate trustee roles and provides such corporate trustee services in transactions similar in nature to the offering of the Notes as described in the Offering Memorandum.

 

136


Section 7.11 Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification.

(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith.

(b) The Trustee and Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and Collateral Agent, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral (except with respect to certificates, if any, delivered to the Collateral Agent representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents). The Trustee and Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture or the Collateral Documents by the Issuers, any Guarantor or any other party thereto or representative thereof.

Article VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article VIII.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and all Events of Default cured on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) of this Section 8.02 (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes), and to

 

137


have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then-existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Agents, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.17 hereof, clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that the Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to all outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified in this Section 8.03, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(4), 6.01(5), 6.01(6) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuers), 6.01(7) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuer) and 6.01(8) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

138


Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be conditions to the

application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in euro, European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes to the stated maturity date or to the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B) since the original issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

139


(4) no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditor of the Issuer, any Guarantor or others; and

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) of this Section 8.04 with respect to Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions . Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and European Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including any Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the European Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees.

 

140


Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or European Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers . Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by any Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to such Issuer on its request or pursuant to applicable law or (if then held by such Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the applicable Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any euro or European Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided that, if any Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders . Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and/or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

 

141


(4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder in any material respect;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(9) to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(10) to add a Guarantor or co-obligor under this Indenture or to release a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(11) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum;

(12) to amend the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(13) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Holders, as security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes, in any property or assets;

(14) to provide for the succession of any parties to this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature);

(15) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary; or

(16) to secure additional extensions of credit and additional secured creditors holding other First Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt so long as such First Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

 

142


Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon receipt by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent of the documents described in Section 9.05 hereof (subject to the last sentence of Section 9.05 hereof), the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment, supplement, supplemental indenture, waiver or consent shall be effective regardless of whether the Principal Paying Agent executes any applicable documentation, unless such amendment, supplemental, supplemental indenture, waiver or consent affects the rights, obligations or immunities of the Principal Paying Agent.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders . Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, and the Collateral Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon the filing with the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects any such parties’ own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case any such party may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 or under the Collateral Documents to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, waiver, or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion of, any of the covenants described under Article IV or Section 5.01 hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes.

 

143


After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder representing 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or consent may:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to (i) notice periods (to the extent consistent with applicable requirements of clearing and settlement systems) for redemption and conditions to redemption and (ii) Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof);

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(7) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(8) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(9) contractually subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders.

 

144


Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens thereon to secure this Indenture and the Notes.

Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. Each of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of such party. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Principal Paying Agent shall be entitled to receive, upon request, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

 

145


Section 9.06 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any Notes may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee . Upon the occurrence of the Effective Date, and from and after the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees the Senior Credit Facilities to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto pursuant to which each such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor. Subject to this Article X, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior secured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent and to the Trustee, the Agents and their successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same promptly. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture or under the Notes). Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

 

146


If any Holder, any Agent, or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, then any amount paid either to the Trustee, such Agent, or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Until released in accordance with Section 10.06 hereof, each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general secured senior obligation of such Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability . Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act

 

147


or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery . To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its authorized officers or other representatives.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuers shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article X, to the extent applicable.

Section 10.04 Subrogation . Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged . Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees . A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and shall thereupon terminate and be

of no further force and effect, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

 

148


(1) any sale, exchange, disposition, or transfer (by merger, consolidation, dividend, distribution, or otherwise) of (a) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, in each case, made in compliance with Section 4.10(a)(1) and Section 4.10(a)(2) hereof;

(2) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, except a discharge or release by, or as a result of, payment under such guarantee;

(3) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.07 hereof and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(4) upon the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor; or

(5) the exercise by the Issuers of the Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article VIII hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee in accordance with this Section 10.06; provided that no such notification shall be a condition for the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee. Upon any event or circumstance giving rise to a release of a Guarantee as specified above, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall, at the sole cost and written request of the Issuers, without recourse, representation or warranty, execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuers in order to evidence or effect such release or discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations under the Collateral Documents. Upon any release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee, such Guarantor shall also be released from its obligations under the Collateral Documents.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge . This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to the Notes when either:

 

  (1)

all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has heretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Registrar for cancellation; or

 

149


  (2)(A)

all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in euro, European Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

  (B)

no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

  (C)

the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

  (D)

the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at or prior to maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied; provided that any such counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing subclauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01).

 

150


Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the European Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or European Government Obligations in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or European Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XII

COLLATERAL

Section 12.01 Security; Collateral Documents (a) .

(a) Upon and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the Guarantees thereof when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent lawful), if any, on the Notes and the Guarantees thereof and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, shall be secured by first-priority Liens and security interests, on the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens), as and to the extent required by the Collateral Requirement and as provided in the Collateral Documents that the Issuer and the Guarantors, as the case may be, have entered into on or after the Effective Date pursuant to the Collateral Requirement, and shall be secured by all Collateral Documents hereafter delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. All Collateral Documents shall be subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

151


(b) As of the Effective Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors hereby agree, that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral for the benefit of all of the Holders and the Trustee, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(c) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Guarantees, irrevocably consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure), as the same may be in effect or as may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform its obligations and exercise its rights under the Collateral Documents and any Intercreditor Agreement in accordance therewith. The Holders agree that the Collateral Agent is authorized to execute and deliver the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(d) The Trustee and each Holder, by accepting the Notes and the Guarantees, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral as of the Effective Date or as thereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the Lien of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents in respect of the Trustee and the Holders is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and actions that may be taken thereunder.

Section 12.02 Release of Collateral .

(a) Collateral may be released from the First Liens and security interest created by the Collateral Documents at any time and from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture, the Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents under any one or more of the following circumstances:

 

  (1)

upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as set forth in Section 11.01;

 

  (2)

upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes as set forth in Sections 8.02 and 8.03;

 

  (3)

in whole or in part, upon any sale, exchange, disposition, transfer or transaction, as a result of which such Collateral ceases to be owned by any Issuer or a Guarantor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction as a result of which the entity owning such Collateral ceases to be a Guarantor);

 

152


  (4)

upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged; or

 

  (5)

in whole or in part, with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with the provisions described in Article IX.

In addition, the Collateral will be released from the First Liens and security interest created by the Collateral Documents as and when required pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, if at any time any property or assets that constitute Collateral cease to constitute Collateral pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents or this Indenture, such property or assets shall no longer be subject to the First Liens which secure the Notes. In addition, the Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to (i) the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents, or (ii) the subordination of the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents on such property or other assets, in each case, to the extent such property or other assets are subject to Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(4).

(b) Upon any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 12.02, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver such documents and instruments as the Issuer and the Guarantors may request in writing to evidence such termination and release (without any representation or warranty) without the consent of the holders of the Notes. To the extent the Issuer or the Guarantors make such a request that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent execute and deliver any documents or instruments to evidence such termination or release, the Issuer or the Guarantors, as the case may be, at the request of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (or its respective agent), as applicable, an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel with respect to such release. For avoidance of doubt, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be required to comply with all or any portion of the TIA relating to releases of Collateral. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, as and when instructed in writing by the Issuers, the Trustee shall (at the Issuers’ expense) execute or deliver, or cause to be executed or delivered, as applicable, such amendments or releases to perfection documents (which shall be prepared by the Issuers) solely to the extent necessary to delete any such released Collateral from the description of assets in any previously filed financing statements or other perfection documents.

(c) No purchaser or grantee of any property or rights purporting to be released shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee or Collateral Agent to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions herein prescribed for the exercise of such authority so long as the conditions set forth in Section 12.02 have been satisfied.

Section 12.03 Authorization of Receipt of Funds Under the Collateral Documents . Subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee are authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

153


Section 12.04 Further Assurances; After-Acquired Property .

(a) The Issuer will, and will cause the Guarantors to, at their sole expense, do all acts which may be necessary to confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, duly created, enforceable and perfected first-priority Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Collateral, in each case subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents and the definition of “Collateral Requirement”.

(b) As necessary, the Issuers will, and will cause the Guarantors to, at their sole expense, execute, acknowledge and deliver such documents and instruments and take such other actions as may be necessary to assure, perfect, transfer and confirm the rights conveyed by the Collateral Documents, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(c) From and after the Effective Date, if the Issuers or any Guarantor acquires any property which is of a type constituting Collateral under the Collateral Documents and as to which the Collateral Agent does not have a perfected First Lien (subject to Permitted Liens), it shall as soon as practicable after the acquisition thereof, subject, however, to all limitations set forth in this Indenture and the Collateral Documents with respect to the required perfection actions and time periods to effect such actions, execute and deliver such security instruments, financing statements, Mortgages, title insurance, surveys and such certificates and opinions of counsel as are required by the Collateral Requirement and the applicable Collateral Documents to vest in the Collateral Agent a perfected First Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens) in such after-acquired property and to have such after-acquired property added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

Section 12.05 Intercreditor Agreements

(a) On the Effective Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (which First Lien Intercreditor Agreement will be substantially consistent in all material respects with the description thereof set forth in the “Description of Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum, as determined by the Issuers in good faith). If the Issuers deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement complies with the requirements of this Indenture and requests the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent and/or Trustee, as applicable, shall (and each is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Trustee and Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe their respective obligations thereunder. The same procedures shall apply with respect to any amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or replacement of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

154


(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents and all rights and obligations of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder are expressly subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by the Trustee or Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the limitation and provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Without limiting any of the rights and protections (including indemnities) of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent hereunder, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Indenture, the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall govern. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees that the Liens on the Collateral are subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and that the Holders shall comply with the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement applicable to them in their capacities as such to the same extent as if the Holders were parties thereto.

(c) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of Junior Lien Debt at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting Junior Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of an existing Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the Junior Lien Debt so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Collateral Agent and Trustee, if applicable, shall (and each is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Trustee and Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe their respective obligations thereunder. The Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall state that the Trustee’s and/or Collateral Agent’s entry into the proposed Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is permitted by this Indenture.

Section 12.06 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XII upon the Issuers or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuers or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XII and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 12.07 Collateral Agent

(a) The Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents and the Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and consents and agrees to the terms of each Collateral Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the

 

155


express conditions contained in this Section 12.07. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Collateral Documents, to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or any grantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates (a “Related Person”), and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuers or any other grantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

 

156


(d) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuers referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article VI or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 12.07 and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

(e) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Issuers, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuers shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may appoint a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuers (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuers pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.07 (and Section 7.07 and 7.11 hereof) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(f) U.S. Bank National Association shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Collateral Documents, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own negligence or willful misconduct.

 

157


(g) The Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Collateral Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the date of this Indenture, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Collateral Documents, (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Collateral Documents, and (iv) perform and observe its obligations under the Collateral Documents.

(h) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article VI, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(i) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuers, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(j) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any grantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all or the Grantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture or any Collateral Document other than pursuant to the instructions of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Collateral Documents.

(k) No provision of this Indenture or any Collateral Document shall require the Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Collateral Agent) unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or the Collateral Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control

 

158


or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the Mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause (k) if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(l) The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Documents or instruments referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(m) [Reserved].

(n) The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuers or any other grantor under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture or any Collateral Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Collateral Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture the Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture and any Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

 

159


(o) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral.

(p) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuers signed by an Officer (a “Collateral Document Order”), subject to Section 12.05, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Collateral Document or amendment or supplement thereto to be executed after the date of this Indenture; provided that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute or enter into any such Collateral Document which, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable opinion is reasonably likely to adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Collateral Agent or that the Collateral Agent determines is reasonably likely to involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability. Such Collateral Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Collateral Document Order referred to in, this Section 12.07(p), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Collateral Document. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, any such execution of a Collateral Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuers, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Collateral Document have been satisfied. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Collateral Documents (subject to the first sentence of this Section 12.07(p)).

(q) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, and subject to Section 12.05, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Collateral Documents, First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or the Trustee, as applicable. Each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, authorizes and directs the Trustee to execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in its capacity as Authorized Representative (as defined therein) and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof and any other intercreditor or subordination agreement.

 

160


(r) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee, acting at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(s) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under any Intercreditor Agreement for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(t) In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Collateral Document or under any Intercreditor Agreement to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(u) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Collateral Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

(v) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, other than as set forth in this Indenture, it may require an Officers’ Certificate, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 12.07, Section 14.03 and Section 14.04 hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate.

(w) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee with respect to the Collateral Documents and the Collateral, except as otherwise set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

161


(x) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any duties or obligations under hereunder or under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Collateral Document except those expressly set forth herein or therein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause it to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause it to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee each reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for the Collateral to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any person other than the Grantor, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall direct the Collateral Agent or Trustee, as applicable, to appoint an appropriately qualified person who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the Collateral.

(y) The rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections given to the Trustee under this Indenture are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Collateral Agent as if the Collateral Agent were named as the Trustee herein and the Collateral Documents were named as this Indenture herein. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to compensation, reimbursement and indemnity as set forth in Section 7.07, as if references therein to Trustee were references to Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE XIII

ESCROW ARRANGEMENT

Section 13.01 Escrow Accounts . Pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), to be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Escrow Issuer, the Trustee and Citibank, N.A., as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), (i) the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be deposited into an escrow account with the Escrow Agent (the “Escrow Account”) and (ii) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash sufficient, together with the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event occurring on June 2, 2021 (collectively, and together with any other property from time to time held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account, the “Escrowed Property”). The Escrow Agreement will provide further that, until either the Effective Date or a Special Mandatory Redemption occurs, on the second (2nd) day of each calendar month (commencing June 2, 2021) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash (in each case, as calculated by the Escrow Issuer in accordance with this Indenture) sufficient, together with amounts already in the Escrow Account, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory

 

162


Redemption Trigger Event occurring on the earlier of (i) one calendar month after such date of deposit and (ii) five Business Days after the Outside Date; provided that if any deposit required by this Section 13.01 would be due on a date that is not a Business Day, such deposit shall be made on the preceding Business Day. The Escrow Issuer will grant to the Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes, a first-priority security interest in the Escrow Account and Escrowed Property.

Section 13.02 Release of Escrow Property . Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, upon delivery by the Escrow Issuer to the Escrow Agent and the Trustee, not later than the Outside Date, of an officer’s certificate (in the form and substance as set forth in the Escrow Agreement) instructing the Escrow Agent to release the Escrowed Property and certifying that the following conditions (collectively, the “Escrow Release Conditions”) have been or, substantially concurrent with the release of the Escrowed Property will be, satisfied:

 

  (1)

the transactions which upon consummation thereof will result in the Separation and Distribution are being initiated, and it is anticipated that the Separation and Distribution will be consummated promptly (which may be on the day, or Business Day, following the Effective Date) on or following the release of funds from the Escrow Account;

 

  (2)

there being no Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(6) or Section 6.01(7) hereunder;

 

  (3)

the completion of the Assumption and, as soon as commercially practicable thereafter, the Merger; and

 

  (4)

the term loan lenders for the “term loan B” facilities under the Senior Credit Facilities have funded, or substantially concurrently will be funding, the term loans thereunder in an aggregate principal amount of (i) $3,000 million in respect of the U.S. dollar denominated facility and (ii) €750 million in respect of the Euro denominated facility, in each case less any applicable discounts, fees and expenses,

the funds in the Escrow Account shall be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer (the date on which such funds are released, the “Escrow Release Date”).

Any excess funds remaining in the Escrow Account after the Special Mandatory Redemption and payment of any fees and expenses of the Trustee and Escrow Agent will be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer. Upon release of the Escrowed Property from the Escrow Account, the security interest granted in favor of the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, shall automatically be released.

Section 13.03 Consummation of the Assumption . To consummate the Assumption, on the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each of the Company and the Co-Issuer to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

163


Section 13.04 Amendment of Escrow Agreement . Notwithstanding anything herein (including Article

IX) to the contrary, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement (including, without limitation, those relating to the release of the Escrowed Property) may be waived or modified in any manner, when taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding. To the extent such provisions relate to the Escrow Issuer’s obligation to redeem the Notes in a Special Mandatory Redemption, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement or this Indenture may be waived or modified in any manner materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of each such Holder. However, the Escrow Agreement may be amended without the consent of any other Person to conform to the description thereof in the “Description of the Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum.

This Article XIII is subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, and in the event of a conflict between this Article XIII and the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreement shall control. For avoidance of doubt, this Article XIII (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply after the Assumption is consummated.

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01 Notices . Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic mail in PDF format, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

secretaryoffice@organon.com

With a courtesy copy to (the provision of which copy shall not be required in

order to effectuate notice under this Indenture):

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Office of General Counsel

If to the Trustee and Collateral Agent:

U.S Bank National Association

City Place I

185 Asylum Street, 27th Floor

Hartford, CT 06103

 

164


Attention: Global Corporate Trust/Laurel Casasanta

laurel.casasanta@usbank.com

If to the Principal Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent:

Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch

125 Old Broad Street, Fifth Floor

London EC2N 1AR

The Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee or any Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; on the first date on which publication or electronic delivery is made, if given by publication or electronic delivery; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If an Issuer delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it shall deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

Section 14.02 Communication by Holders with Other Holders . Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 14.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by an Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee or Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent:

 

165


(A) An Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(B) An Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied;

provided that no such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication and delivery of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

Section 14.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof) shall include:

(A) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(B) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

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

(D)(D) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 14.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Transfer Agent, Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 14.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members and Stockholders . No director, officer, employee, member, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuers, any Guarantor, or any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of any such obligation or its creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 14.07 Governing Law . THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, AND THE GUARANTEES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 14.08 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 14.09 Force Majeure . Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

Section 14.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers or the Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

166


Section 14.11 Successors . All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 14.12 Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 14.13 Counterpart Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. The Trustee, any Agent and the Collateral Agent may, in their discretion, require that such documents and signatures executed electronically or delivered by electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature executed electronically or

 

167


delivered by electronic means. Any signed communication sent to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by a digital signature provider specified in writing by an authorized officer of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any such Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 14.14 Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 14.15 USA Patriot Act . In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable AML Law”), the Trustee and Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and Agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and Agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and Agents to comply with Applicable AML Law.

Section 14.16 Recognition of Bail-In . Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Indenture or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch (the “BRRD Party”) and each of the other parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of the BRRD Party arising under this Indenture or any such other document, to the extent such liability is unsecured or not otherwise exempted, may be subject to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority, and acknowledges, accepts and agrees to be bound by:

 

  (a)

the effect of the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of the BRRD Party under this Indenture, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

1. the reduction of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

2. the conversion of all, or a portion of, the BRRD Liability into shares, other securities or other obligations of the BRRD Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on the other parties hereto of such shares, securities or obligations;

3. the cancellation of the BRRD Liability; or

4. the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

 

168


  (b)

the variation of the terms of this Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.

For the purpose of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Bail-In Powers” means any Write-down and Conversion Powers as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant Bail-in Legislation.

Bail-In Legislation” means, in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time.

BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

BRRD Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant Write-down and Conversion Powers in the applicable Bail-in Legislation may be exercised.

“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at http://www.lma.eu.com/pages.aspx?p=499 (or any successor location of publication).

Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to the BRRD Party.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

169


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

 

Very truly yours,
ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:  

/s/Rita Karachun

Name:   Rita Karachun
Title:   President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE
By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

Name:   Laurel Casasanta
Title:   Vice President
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS COLLATERAL AGENT
By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

Name:   Laurel Casasanta
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES DAC, UK BRANCH
By:  

/s/ Chris Hobbs

Name:   Chris Hobbs
Title:   Authorised Signatory

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


COMMON CODE [ ]

ISIN [ ]1

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

2.875% Senior Note due 2028

 

No.            [€                        ]

Organon Finance 1 LLC., a Delaware limited liability company (with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer), promises to pay to [            ] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]2 [of euros]3 on April 30, 2028.

Interest Payment Dates: April 30 and October 30, commencing October 30, 20214

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

1 

144A Common Code: 233225088

144A ISIN: XS2332250880

Regulation S Common Code: 233225070

Regulation S ISIN: XS2332250708

2 

Insert in Global Notes only.

3 

Insert in Definitive Notes only.

4 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


Dated: [ ]

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES DAC, UK BRANCH, not in its

personal capacity, but in its capacity as Authenticating Agent

appointed by U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, certifies that is one of the Notes

 

referred to in the Indenture.
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[BACK OF NOTE]

2.875% Senior Note due 2028

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Organon Finance 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum set forth below from April 22, 2021 until maturity. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 20215 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day. The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15 (each, a “Record Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including April 22, 2021. The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Interest on this Note will accrue at the rate of 2.875% per annum and be payable in cash.

2. Assumption. Upon the Assumption, all of the obligations of Organon Finance 1 LLC will be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer. For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of Organon & Co. and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC, as the context may require).

3. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest will be made at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, payments of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Common Depositary (or its nominee) will be made through the Paying Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered Holder or Holders thereof. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the member states of the European Union as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

5 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-5


4. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. Initially, Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

5. Indenture. The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively referred to herein as the “Notes”) shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions in the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

6. Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     101.438

2025

     100.719

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date) at a

 

A-6


redemption price equal to 102.875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date, to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

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

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

 

A-7


7. Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Indenture.

8. Taxation Redemption. The Notes shall be subject to optional redemption for tax reasons as described in Section 3.10 of the Indenture.

9. Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.03 and 3.09 of the Indenture, notice of redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture. Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in amounts of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than €100,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least €100,000, shall be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

10. Offers to Repurchase. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuers shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

11. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of €100,000 and any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee will require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers will require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

12. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of this Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

13. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

14. Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. The remedies with respect thereto are as provided under Article VI or the Indenture and the other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

 

A-8


15. Security. On and after the Effective Date, the Notes and the Guarantees will be secured as provided in the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

16. Authentication. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. ISINs and Common Codes. The Issuers have caused ISINs and Common Codes to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use ISINs and Common Codes in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint   

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                    

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name
  appears on the face of this
  Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                    

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box

below:

☐     Section 4.10                     ☐     Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount (€100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof):

 

                    

 

Date:                                              

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name
  appears on the face of this
  Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                                                   

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is €            .

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

   Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount of this

Global Note
   Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal
Amount of this

Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee or
Registrar

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch., as Registrar

125 Old Broad Street, Fifth Floor

London EC2N 1AR

Re: 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of €                    in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to                     (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1.         ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

B-1


2.         ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3.         ☐     CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a)          ☐     such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

(b)          ☐     such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof; or

(c)         ☐     such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4.          ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a)          ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


(b)          ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c)          ☐     CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
 
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                                                                                       

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

(a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐ 144A Global Note ([ISIN: XS2332250880][Common Code: 233225088]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([ISIN: XS2332250708][Common Code: 233225070]), or

 

(b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

(a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐ 144A Global Note ([ISIN: XS2332250880][Common Code: 233225088]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([ISIN: XS2332250708][Common Code: 233225070]), or

 

  (iii)

☐ Unrestricted Global Note ([ ]); or

 

(b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

(c)

☐ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

Elavon Financial Services DAC, UK Branch., as Registrar

125 Old Broad Street, Fifth Floor

London EC2N 1AR

Re: 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

            (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of €            in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted

 

C-1


Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby

 

C-2


certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note, in each case, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers and are dated             .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:             

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY THE ISSUERS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE]

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of             , among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuers’ obligations as Issuer under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer,

 

D-1


respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and

 

D-2


delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

D-3


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

D-4


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of             , among             (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of             , 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances[, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,] the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect

 

E-1


of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

E-2


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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-3

Exhibit 10.6

Execution Version

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 22, 2021

among

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC,

(with obligations to be assumed by

ORGANON & CO.,

as Issuer, and

ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.

as Co-Issuer),

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee and Collateral Agent,

4.125% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2028


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION      1  
Section 1.01  

Definitions

     1  
Section 1.02  

Other Definitions

     48  
Section 1.03  

Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act

     50  
Section 1.04  

Acts of Holders

     51  
Section 1.05  

Measuring Compliance

     52  
ARTICLE II THE NOTES      54  
Section 2.01  

Form and Dating; Terms

     54  
Section 2.02  

Execution and Authentication

     56  
Section 2.03  

Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent

     57  
Section 2.04  

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     57  
Section 2.05  

Holder Lists

     58  
Section 2.06  

Transfer and Exchange

     58  
Section 2.07  

Replacement Notes

     71  
Section 2.08  

Outstanding Notes

     72  
Section 2.09  

Treasury Notes

     72  
Section 2.10  

Temporary Notes

     72  
Section 2.11  

Cancellation

     73  
Section 2.12  

Defaulted Interest

     73  
Section 2.13  

CUSIPs and ISINs

     73  
Section 2.14  

Additional Amounts

     74  
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION      76  
Section 3.01  

Notices to Trustee

     76  
Section 3.02  

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     76  
Section 3.03  

Notice of Redemption

     77  
Section 3.04  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     78  
Section 3.05  

Deposit of Redemption Price

     78  
Section 3.06  

Notes Redeemed in Part

     78  
Section 3.07  

Optional Redemption

     79  
Section 3.08  

Mandatory Redemption

     80  
Section 3.09  

Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

     80  
Section 3.10  

Taxation Redemption

     83  
Section 3.11  

Special Mandatory Redemption

     84  
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS      85  
Section 4.01  

Payment of Notes

     85  
Section 4.02  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     85  


Section 4.03  

Reports and Other Information

     85  
Section 4.04  

Compliance Certificate

     87  
Section 4.05  

Reserved

     88  
Section 4.06  

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     88  
Section 4.07  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     88  
Section 4.08  

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries

     97  
Section 4.09  

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

     99  
Section 4.10  

Asset Sales

     107  
Section 4.11  

Transactions with Affiliates

     111  
Section 4.12  

Liens

     113  
Section 4.13  

Company Existence

     114  
Section 4.14  

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

     115  
Section 4.15  

Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries

     117  
Section 4.16  

Suspension of Covenants

     117  
Section 4.17  

Reserved

     119  
Section 4.18  

Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption

     119  
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS      120  
Section 5.01  

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

     120  
Section 5.02  

Successor Person Substituted

     123  
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES      123  
Section 6.01  

Events of Default

     123  
Section 6.02  

Acceleration

     126  
Section 6.03  

Other Remedies

     126  
Section 6.04  

Waiver of Past Defaults

     127  
Section 6.05  

Control by Majority

     127  
Section 6.06  

Limitation on Suits

     127  
Section 6.07  

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

     128  
Section 6.08  

Collection Suit by Trustee

     128  
Section 6.09  

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     128  
Section 6.10  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     128  
Section 6.11  

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     128  
Section 6.12  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     129  
Section 6.13  

Priorities

     129  
Section 6.14  

Undertaking for Costs

     130  
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE      130  
Section 7.01  

Duties of Trustee

     130  
Section 7.02  

Rights of Trustee

     131  
Section 7.03  

Individual Rights of Trustee

     133  
Section 7.04  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     133  

 

ii


Section 7.05  

Notice of Defaults

     133  
Section 7.06  

May Hold Notes

     133  
Section 7.07  

Compensation and Indemnity

     133  
Section 7.08  

Replacement of Trustee or Agents

     134  
Section 7.09  

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

     136  
Section 7.10  

Eligibility; Disqualification

     136  
Section 7.11  

Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification

     136  
ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      137  
Section 8.01  

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     137  
Section 8.02  

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     137  
Section 8.03  

Covenant Defeasance

     138  
Section 8.04  

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     138  
Section 8.05  

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

     140  
Section 8.06  

Repayment to Issuers

     140  
Section 8.07  

Reinstatement

     140  
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER      141  
Section 9.01  

Without Consent of Holders

     141  
Section 9.02  

With Consent of Holders

     142  
Section 9.03  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     144  
Section 9.04  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     144  
Section 9.05  

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc

     145  
Section 9.06  

Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

     145  
ARTICLE X GUARANTEES      145  
Section 10.01  

Guarantee

     145  
Section 10.02  

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     147  
Section 10.03  

Execution and Delivery

     147  
Section 10.04  

Subrogation

     147  
Section 10.05  

Benefits Acknowledged

     148  
Section 10.06  

Release of Guarantees

     148  
ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      149  
Section 11.01  

Satisfaction and Discharge

     149  
Section 11.02  

Application of Trust Money

     150  
ARTICLE XII COLLATERAL      151  
Section 12.01  

Security; Collateral Documents

     151  
Section 12.02  

Release of Collateral

     151  
Section 12.03  

Authorization of Receipt of Funds Under the Collateral Documents

     153  
Section 12.04  

Further Assurances; After-Acquired Property

     153  

 

iii


Section 12.05  

Intercreditor Agreements

     153  
Section 12.06  

Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee

     154  
Section 12.07  

Collateral Agent

     154  
ARTICLE XIII ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS      161  
Section 13.01  

Escrow Accounts

     161  
Section 13.02  

Release of Escrow Property

     162  
Section 13.03  

Consummation of the Assumption

     163  
Section 13.04  

Amendment of Escrow Agreement

     163  
ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS      163  
Section 14.01  

Notices

     163  
Section 14.02  

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

     165  
Section 14.03  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     165  
Section 14.04  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     165  
Section 14.05  

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     166  
Section 14.06  

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

     166  
Section 14.07  

Governing Law

     166  
Section 14.08  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     166  
Section 14.09  

Force Majeure

     166  
Section 14.10  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     166  
Section 14.11  

Successors

     166  
Section 14.12  

Severability

     166  
Section 14.13  

Counterpart Originals

     167  
Section 14.14  

Table of Contents, Headings, etc

     167  
Section 14.15  

USA Patriot Act

     167  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C    Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered By the Issuers on the Effective Date
Exhibit E    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

iv


This INDENTURE, dated as of April 22, 2021, is among Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”), a Delaware limited liability company, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $2,100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck;

WHEREAS, it is intended that on the Effective Date (as defined herein), (i) Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (including its successors and assigns, the “Company”), will assume the rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer as issuer under the Notes and this Indenture, (ii) Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) will, as co-issuer jointly and severally with the Company, assume all rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture; and (iii) each of the Guarantors will guarantee the notes, in each case pursuant to a supplemental indenture (each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Assumption”). Following the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company of such merger (the “Merger”). For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to the Escrow Issuer and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of the Company and the Co-Issuer (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to the Escrow Issuer, as the context may require).

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01 Definitions.

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


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

 

  (1)

Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging or consolidating with or into, winding up into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, or

 

  (2)

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

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.

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

Agents” means any Paying Agent, Registrar, Transfer Agent, and Authenticating Agent.

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

 

  (1)

1.0% of the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note; and

 

  (2)

the excess, if any, of

 

  (a)

the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of the Note on April 30, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(b) hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through April 30, 2024 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

 

  (b)

the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note.

The Issuer shall calculate the Applicable Premium. For the avoidance of doubt, calculation of the Applicable Premium shall not be an obligation or duty of the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

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

 

2


Asset Sale” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

in each case, other than:

 

  (a)

any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, worn out or surplus property in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b)

the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

 

  (c)

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

 

  (d)

any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than the greater of $200.0 million and 7% of EBITDA;

 

  (e)

any disposition of property or assets by a Restricted Subsidiary, or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary, in either case, to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary, or by the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (f)

to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), or comparable law or regulation, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

  (g)

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

 

  (h)

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

 

3


  (i)

any foreclosure, condemnation or similar action on assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

  (j)

sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets, in each case, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

  (k)

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

 

  (l)

the sale, discount, or other disposition of inventory, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

  (m)

the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (n)

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

 

  (o)

the unwinding of Hedging Obligations;

 

  (p)

sales, transfers, and other 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;

 

  (q)

the lapse, abandonment, or disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which rights, in the reasonable, good-faith determination of the Issuer, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  (r)

the issuance of director qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

 

  (s)

the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 4.12 hereof or any Permitted Lien;

 

  (t)

any transfer of property subject to a casualty event upon receipt of the net cash proceeds of such casualty event;

 

  (u)

any disposition to a Captive Insurance Subsidiary;

 

4


  (v)

(i) any disposition of non-core assets or property for fair market value in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million and (ii) any disposition of non-core assets or property acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate, or disposed of in order to obtain approval for, an acquisition or Investment permitted under this Indenture; and

 

  (w)

any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions.

Bank Products” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, cash pooling, and other cash management arrangements.

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

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

Capital Stock” means:

 

  (1)

in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

  (4)

any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, as GAAP was in effect on November 5, 2018.

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

Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Issuer operating solely for the purpose of (a) insuring the businesses, operations or properties owned or operated by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, including their future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants, and related

 

5


benefits and/or (b) conducting any activities or business incidental thereto (it being understood and agreed that activities which are relevant or appropriate to qualify as an insurance company for U.S. federal or state tax purposes shall be considered “activities or business incidental thereto”) or (ii) any Subsidiary of any such insurance subsidiary operating for the same purpose described in clause (i) above.

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

  (1)

United States dollars;

 

  (2)

(a)    pounds sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; and

 

  (b)

local currencies of any other jurisdiction held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (3)

securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any government of any member of the European Union or the United Kingdom 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 one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

 

  (5)

repurchase obligations for underlying securities of any of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7), and (8) of this definition entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) of this definition;

 

  (6)

commercial paper and variable- or fixed-rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

  (7)

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

 

6


  (8)

readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another 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 or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds given one of the three highest ratings by S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); and

 

  (11)

investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) of this definition; and,

in the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) assets and investments of the type and, to the extent applicable, maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) and clauses (10) and (11) of this definition 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 (11) of this definition and in this paragraph.

In addition, in the case of Investments by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) such Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in issuers rated BBB (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Baa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case at the time of such Investment and (b) any Investment with a maturity of more than 12 months that would otherwise constitute Cash Equivalents of the kind described in any of clauses (1) through (11) of this definition or clause (a) of this paragraph, if the maturity of such Investment was 12 months or less; provided that the effective maturity of such Investment does not exceed 15 years.

 

7


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

At any time at which the value, calculated in accordance with GAAP, of all investments of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that were deemed, when made, to be Cash Equivalents in accordance with clauses (1) through (11) of this definition exceeds the Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, “Cash Equivalents” shall also mean any investment (a “Qualifying Investment”) that satisfies the following two conditions: (x) the Qualifying Investment is of a type described in clauses (1) through (10) of the first paragraph of this definition, but has an effective maturity (whether by reason of final maturity, a put option or, in the case of an asset-backed security, an average life) of five years and one month or less from the date of such Qualifying Investment (notwithstanding any provision contained in such clauses (1) through (10) requiring a shorter maturity); and (y) the weighted average effective maturity of such Qualifying Investment and all other investments that were made as Qualifying Investments in accordance with this paragraph does not exceed two years from the date of such Qualifying Investment.

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

 

  (1)

the sale, lease or transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person; or

 

  (2)

the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50.0% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (directly or through the acquisition of voting power of Voting Stock of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies);

provided, however, that (1) a transaction in which any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer becomes a Subsidiary of another Person (other than a Person that is an individual, such Person that is not an individual, the “Other Person”) shall not constitute a Change of Control if (a) the shareholders “beneficially owning” 100.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately prior to such transaction “beneficially own” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of such parent, immediately following the consummation of such transaction, and no

 

8


“person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately following such transaction if such “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) did not “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent prior to such transaction or (b) immediately following the consummation of such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above), other than the Other Person (but including the holders of the Equity Interests of the Other Person), “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent or the Other Person; (2) any holding company whose only significant asset is Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer shall not itself be considered a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) for purposes of this definition; (3) the transfer of assets between or among the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture shall not itself constitute a Change of Control; and (4) a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) shall not be deemed to “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or any voting or option agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Change of Control will be deemed to occur as a result of the Transactions.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A. or any successor securities clearing agency.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” as defined in any Collateral Document and shall include the Mortgaged Properties.

Collateral Documents” means each security agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge agreement, Intercreditor Agreement, collateral trust agreement or other instrument or document creating, granting, perfecting or establishing the security interests of the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Holders, in the Collateral and the priority thereof, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

 

  (1)

The Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Effective Date or thereafter pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article XII hereof, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer and each Guarantor, in each case to the extent a party thereto and where applicable;

 

  (2)

[reserved];

 

  (3)

[reserved];

 

9


  (4)

all Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Collateral Documents shall have been secured by a first priority security interest in (i) all Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests of (x) Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary, in the case of this clause (y) to the extent such Equity Interests are not required to be pledged under the corresponding provisions of the Senior Credit Facilities) of each wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiary of either Issuer or any Guarantor that is a direct Subsidiary of an Issuer or any Guarantor and (ii) 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests (and 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Equity Interests, if any) of each wholly-owned Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by either Issuer or any Guarantor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC);

 

  (5)

except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, all Obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture and the Collateral Documents shall have been secured by a perfected security interest (other than in the case of mortgages, to the extent such security interest may be perfected by delivering certificated securities, filing UCC financing statements, entering into control agreements with respect to deposit accounts and securities accounts or making any necessary filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office) in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of each Issuer and each other Guarantor (including accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, intercompany notes, Intellectual Property, other general intangibles, owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents; provided that security interests in real property shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties (as defined below in this definition of “Collateral Requirement”);

 

  (6)

none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens; and

 

  (7)

the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property required to be delivered pursuant to Article XII hereof (the “Mortgaged Properties”) duly authorized, executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company in customary form (as determined by the Issuers), (iii) a current ALTA survey and a surveyor’s certificate, in customary form (as determined by the Issuers); provided, however, that, with respect to any Mortgaged Property, the applicable Issuer or Guarantor shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of this clause (iii) if the title insurance policy for the applicable Mortgage does not include a general exception concerning matters a survey would show based on an existing survey together with an affidavit of no change; (iv) to the extent the same is delivered pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities, an opinion of counsel, in the state where such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded; and (v) no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the delivery

 

10


  of the Mortgage, the following documents and instruments, in order to comply with the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (including the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System): (1) a complete standard flood hazard determination form, (2) if any portion of the improvements on any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, a notification to the Issuer and, if applicable, notification to the Issuer that flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) is not available because the community does not participate in NFIP and (3) such other customary related documentation, to the extent the same is provided under the Senior Credit Facilities,

in each case, subject to each of the paragraphs below in this definition of “Collateral Requirement.”

The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as, in the good faith determination of the Issuers (and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt), the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom.

The Issuers and the Guarantors will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the Collateral Requirement as soon as commercially practicable following the Effective Date; provided that it shall not be a Default or an Event of Default hereunder if the Issuers and the Guarantors are unable to comply with the Collateral Requirement after using commercially reasonable efforts. In addition, to the extent the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities grants extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets, such extension shall automatically apply to the Collateral Requirement and the other requirements of the Collateral Documents (provided, that such Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt).

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Indenture or any Collateral Document to the contrary, (a) with respect to leases of real property entered into by any Issuer or Guarantor, such Issuer or Guarantor shall not be required to take any action with respect to creation or perfection of security interests with respect to such leases, (b) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents, to customary exceptions and limitations in any applicable foreign jurisdiction (as determined by the Issuer in good faith, and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt) and, so long as the Senior Credit Facilities are outstanding and constitute First Lien Debt, such exceptions and limitations as may be agreed between the Issuer and the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities, (c) the Collateral Requirement shall not apply to any of the following assets: (i) any fee owned real property that is not a Material Real Property and any leasehold interests in real property, (ii) all commercial tort

 

11


claims that are not expected to result in a judgment or settlement payment in excess of $5,000,000 (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), (iii) assets in respect of which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by law or by agreements containing anti assignment clauses not overridden by Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and (iv) any assets as to which the Issuers determine in good faith (and with the agreement or consent of the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities to the extent such agreement or consent is required thereby and the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt ) that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value to the Holders of the security to be afforded thereby, (d) the Collateral Requirement shall not require perfection of the security interest in the following assets: (i) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (ii) letter of credit rights and (iii) assets (including deposit accounts and securities accounts, but excluding any deposit account or securities account with an average balance for the preceding year in excess of $5,000,000) specifically requiring perfection through control agreements, in each case of clauses (i) to (iii), other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement, and (e) other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, no actions in any non-United States jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-United States jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that, other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-United States jurisdiction).

In addition, so long as any First Lien Debt is outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities, the Collateral Requirement shall not require any action to grant or perfect the security interest hereunder, or provide any opinion, certification or documentation relating thereto, unless, where applicable, the comparable action is being taken or comparable opinion, certification or documentation is being delivered under the Senior Credit Facilities, it being understood that the intention of the Collateral Requirement is that the actions and documentation required to create and perfect the security interests hereunder and under the Collateral Documents be substantially consistent with, and no more onerous than, the corresponding actions and documentation required under the Senior Credit Facilities (for so long as the Senior Credit Facilities constitute First Lien Debt).

The Collateral Requirement shall be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in all respects.

consolidated” means, with respect to any financial information of the Issuer, that such information has been prepared based on the consolidation of the accounts of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company with those of the Company in accordance with GAAP; provided that such consolidated financial information will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an investment. For purposes of this Indenture, except to the extent the context requires otherwise, for periods ending on or prior to the Effective Date, references to the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer shall be to the combined financial statements of the Company, with pro forma effect being given to the Transactions (with Subsidiaries of the Company after giving effect to the Transactions being deemed Subsidiaries of the Company), as the context may require.

 

12


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

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

 

  (1)

consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount 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 Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (t) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (u) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (v) any “additional interest” owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement with respect to securities, (w) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees, (y) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and (z) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

 

  (2)

consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

  (3)

interest paid, directly or indirectly (through dividends or otherwise), on Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent all of the proceeds of such Indebtedness have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

 

  (4)

interest income for such period.

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

 

13


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

 

  (1)

any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives), Transaction Expenses, severance, relocation costs, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded,

 

  (2)

the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

 

  (3)

any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

 

  (4)

any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses 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, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,

 

  (6)

solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(A) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, 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, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

 

14


  (7)

the effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

 

  (8)

any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Hedging 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 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 non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge arising from any grant of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other rights shall be excluded,

 

  (11)

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

 

  (12)

accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions (or within twelve months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded, and

 

  (13)

the following items shall be excluded:

 

  (a)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging; and

 

  (b)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those (i) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (ii) resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk.

 

15


In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expense or charge that is covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 hereof only (other than clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchase or redemption of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayment of loans or advance that constitutes a Restricted Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens on the property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of First Lien Debt as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to the amount of First Lien Debt, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

 

16


Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any letter of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder, Hedging Obligations and all obligations relating to Qualified Securitization Facilities), in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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

 

  (1)

to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

 

  (2)

to advance or supply funds

 

  (a)

for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

 

  (b)

to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

  (3)

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

Corporate Trust Office” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 14.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer.

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, debt securities, letters of credit, capital market financings, receivables financings or other borrowings or other extensions of credit, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments, and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof, in whole or in part, and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund, supplement or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other

 

17


credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding, supplemental or refinancing facility, arrangement or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings or issuances is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender or group of lenders or other holders.

Custodian means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

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

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

Depositary” means, with respect to the Global Notes, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, executed on or about the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that, if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased

 

18


by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided further that any Capital Stock held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors of the Issuer (or the compensation committee thereof) that is redeemable or subject to repurchase, in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or stockholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Distribution” means the distribution of all of the shares of common stock of the Company owned by Merck to shareholders of Merck as of the relevant record date.

Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

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

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

 

  (1)

increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

  (a)

provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital gains, including federal, foreign, and state income tax, franchise, excise and similar taxes (such as the Pennsylvania capital tax) and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (b)

Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank 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)(t) through (z) in the definition thereof) to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

19


  (c)

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (d)

any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including, but not limited to, (i) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the offering of the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes, the Unsecured Notes or the Senior Credit Facilities and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes, the Unsecured Notes or the Senior Credit Facilities and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (e)

the amount of any restructuring charges, integration costs or other business optimization expenses, costs associated with establishing new facilities or reserves deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date, and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

 

  (f)

any other non-cash charges, including any write offs or write downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

 

  (g)

the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority Equity Interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (h)

[Reserved];

 

  (i)

the amount of net cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than 24 months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period for which EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings,

 

20


  operating expense reductions, and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; plus

 

  (j)

the amount of loss on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets, and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

 

  (k)

any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

 

  (l)

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

 

  (m)

any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; plus

 

  (n)

interest income or investment earnings on retiree medical and intellectual property, royalty, or license receivables;

 

  (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 increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced 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 EBITDA in such prior period; plus

 

  (b)

any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; and

 

  (3)

increased or decreased (without duplication), as applicable, by any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 460, Guarantees.

 

21


Effective Date Repayment” means the repayment, on or around the Effective Date, in one or more steps, of one or more intercompany loans or notes owed by the Company to a Merck Affiliate.

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

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

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

 

  (1)

public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

  (2)

issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

 

  (3)

any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

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

Euro Secured Notes” means the 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers issued under the Euro Secured Notes Indenture.

Euro Secured Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated the Issue Date, relating to the 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank SA/NV or any successor clearing agency.

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

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer from

 

  (1)

contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

  (2)

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

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed on or about the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

 

22


fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Issuer in good faith.

First Lien Debt” means (a) the Notes, (b) the Euro Secured Notes, (c) Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, and (d) any other Indebtedness (including any related Obligations (which may include Hedging Obligations and/or Obligations under any Bank Products)) secured by Liens on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Notes, which other Indebtedness is subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated on or about the Effective Date, by and among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the Senior Credit Facilities, as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

First Liens” means Liens securing First Lien Debt.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the pro forma calculation of Fixed Charges for purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof (and for the purposes of other provisions of this Indenture that refer to Section 4.09(a)) shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or on such other subsequent date which would otherwise require pro forma effect to be given to such incurrence) pursuant to Section 4.09(b) hereof (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b) and (14) thereunder).

For purposes of making the computation described in the prior paragraph of this definition, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations, and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such

 

23


period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

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

With respect to any four-quarter period beginning prior to the Effective Date for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated, the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be made on a pro forma basis to give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

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

 

  (1)

Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

 

24


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

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date of any calculation or determination required hereunder; provided, that at any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to establish that GAAP shall mean the GAAP as in effect as of any date on or after the Issue Date and on or prior to the date of such election; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable. At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture), including as to the ability of the Issuer to make an election pursuant to the previous sentence; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that the Issuer may only make such election if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Issuer, including pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in IFRS. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders. If there occurs a change in IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be, and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures (including all computations of amounts and ratios) used in this Indenture (an “Accounting Change”), then the Issuer may elect that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for purposes of Section 4.03 herein, GAAP shall mean the GAAP (or IFRS, if the election described above has been made) as in effect from time to time.

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

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

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit, and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

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

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

 

25


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

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

  (1)

any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (a)

in respect of borrowed money;

 

  (b)

evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

  (c)

representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid after becoming due and payable; or

 

  (d)

representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligation” and as set forth in Section 1.05 in respect of leases); provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer appearing upon the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded;

 

  (2)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person (whether or not such item would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of a negotiable instrument for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

26


  (3)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (b) any operating lease as such an instrument would be determined in accordance with GAAP on the Issue Date or (c) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided further that Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

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

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property, including without limitation patents, copyrights, trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable), and any applications therefor and reissues, continuations, extensions, renewals, or similar extension of rights thereof; goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; together with all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property and the goodwill associated therewith.

Intercreditor Agreement” means, as applicable, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Initial Notes” is defined in the recitals hereto.

Initial Purchaser” means any of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, SG Americas Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Bancroft Capital, LLC, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Drexel Hamilton LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC and Stern Brothers & Co., or any of their respective affiliates.

Interest Payment Date” means April 30 and October 30 of each year to stated maturity, beginning with October 30, 2021.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency or nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

 

27


Investment Grade Securities” means:

 

  (1)

securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

  (2)

debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

  (3)

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

 

  (4)

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

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances and extensions of credit to customers and vendors, and commission, travel, and similar advances to officers, employees, directors and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. In no event shall a guarantee of an operating lease or other business contract of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary be deemed an Investment. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (a)

the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

 

  (b)

the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

  (2)

any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

 

28


The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date” means April 22, 2021.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee and Authenticating Agent (if any).

Junior Lien Debt” means Indebtedness secured by Junior Liens.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means a customary intercreditor agreement entered into by and among, as applicable, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and/or the Collateral Agent, the collateral agent under the Senior Credit Facilities or other First Lien Debt, and/or one or more administrative agent, collateral agent, trustee or other debt representative of Indebtedness secured by Junior Liens, providing for Liens that are subject to customary lien subordination terms (including a customary standstill period) and provisions customary for such Indebtedness (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified, replaced or restated in accordance with the terms thereof.

Junior Liens” means Liens securing Indebtedness and any related Obligations, which Liens rank junior to the Liens securing the Notes and any other First Lien Debt; provided that such Indebtedness secured by junior-ranking Liens is subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

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

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

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (1) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(9) multiplied by (2) 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.

 

29


Material Domestic Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Issuer’s Domestic Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements for each quarter or fiscal year in such period have been or are required to be delivered pursuant Section 4.03 (the “Test Period”) were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Domestic Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries selected by the Issuer which is required to ensure that all Material Domestic Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided further that in no case shall Material Domestic Subsidiary mean any Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than Equity Interests of one or more (i) Foreign Subsidiaries that are controlled foreign corporations that are related to the Issuer within the meaning of Section 864(d) of the Code or (ii) Domestic Subsidiaries that are described in this proviso.

Material Foreign Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Issuer’s Foreign Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Foreign Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries selected by the Issuer which is required to ensure that all Material Foreign Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by either Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is material to the operation of the business of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole).

Material Real Property” means any real property in the United States owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000.

Merck” means Merck & Co., Inc.

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

 

30


Mortgage” means each deed of trust, trust deed, hypothec and mortgage, in each case, as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, made by any Issuer or any Guarantor in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the secured parties hereunder, and any other mortgage executed and delivered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article XII hereof.

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

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

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

Non-US Pledge Agreements” means (i) pledge agreements with respect to the pledge of shares in the Co-Issuer, Organon International Holdings B.V. and OBS International 9 B.V. (which entity may also be known as Organon International 9 B.V.) and (ii) to the extent there has been a reorganization, restructuring or any similar activity of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor after the Effective Date, each other pledge or security agreement creating a security interest in the Equity Interests of each Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor, to the extent such other pledge or security agreement is required pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the Senior Credit Agreement.

Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture. The Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements

 

31


(including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages, and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Offering Memorandum” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated April 8, 2021, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer, or any other officer of the Issuer designated by any of the foregoing individuals.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer, or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof.

Permitted Investments” means:

 

  (1)

any Investment in the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (2)

any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

  (3)

any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit or product line) if as a result of such Investment:

 

  (a)

such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, including by means of a Division; or

 

  (b)

such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or such division, business unit or product line), including by means of a Division, to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

 

32


and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, transfer, or Division;

 

  (4)

any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions described under Section 4.10 hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

  (5)

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

 

  (6)

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

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

  (c)

in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, trade debtors, licensors, licensees and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business; or

 

  (d)

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

 

  (7)

(x) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and (y) Investments deemed to arise in connection with ordinary course transfers pursuant to Bank Products and other cash pooling agreements, intercompany payables and receivables arising in the ordinary course of business and tax matters or sharing agreements (including pursuant to any employee matters or other similar agreement) existing on the Issue Date or the Effective Date or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

33


  (8)

any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $280.0 million and 10% of 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 (8) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (8);

 

  (9)

Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;

 

  (10)

guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 4.09 hereof; performance guarantees in the ordinary course of business and the creation of Liens on the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with Section 4.12 hereof;

 

  (11)

any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in clauses (1), (2), (4), (6) and (12) of Section 4.11(b) hereof);

 

  (12)

Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, equipment, or other assets or services or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

  (13)

Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at the time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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, however, that, if any Investment pursuant to this clause (13) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (13);

 

  (14)

Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good-faith determination of the Issuer are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

 

34


  (15)

advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees or members of management not in excess of $25.0 million outstanding at any time, in the aggregate;

 

  (16)

loans and advances to officers, directors, employees, members of management, and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, and other similar expenses or payroll advances, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

 

  (17)

advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (18)

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

 

  (19)

Investments in the Notes and Guarantees, the Euro Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof and the Unsecured Notes and the guarantees thereof;

 

  (20)

Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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);

 

  (21)

any Investment in or by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the provision of insurance to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;

 

  (22)

additional Investments if, at the time of the making of any such Investment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including, without limitation, to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Investment), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.25 to 1.00;

 

  (23)

any Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor in any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor;

 

  (24)

additional Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor; provided that all such Investments pursuant to this clause (24) shall (A), other than Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000, be in the form of intercompany loans and evidenced by notes that have been pledged (individually or pursuant to a global note) as Collateral (provided that in

 

35


  order to comply with the laws and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, Investments may instead be structured as an equity contribution or otherwise in a form other than an intercompany note) and (B) not exceed an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (24) that are at the time outstanding, equal to the sum of (x) the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA and (y) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on or prior to the Effective Date; and

 

  (25)

any Investments in connection with the Transactions.

For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, in the event that a proposed Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (25) above, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Investment (or a portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (25) in any manner that otherwise complies with this definition.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1)

pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation, or other insurance-related obligations or indemnification obligations to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good-faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2)

Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors or other like Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or if more than 30 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (3)

Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP or as a result of such Person being included in a fiscal unity for Dutch corporate income tax and/or Dutch VAT purposes;

 

36


  (4)

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

 

  (5)

minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, cable television, telegraph, and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Person;

 

  (6)

Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4) or (12)(b) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided that (i) any such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (4) extend only to the assets, the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement of which is financed thereby, and any replacements thereof, additions and accessions thereto and any income or profits thereof and (ii) any such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (12)(b) constitute Junior Liens;

 

  (7)

Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than the liens securing the Notes and the Euro Secured Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities);

 

  (8)

Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or shares of stock or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

  (9)

Liens on property or other assets at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger, or consolidation; provided further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or assets or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

37


  (10)

Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (11)

Liens securing (i) Hedging Obligations and (ii) obligations in respect of Bank Products, in each case, permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (12)

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 bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

  (13)

leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

 

  (14)

Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;

 

  (15)

Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (16)

Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to clients of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (17)

Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

  (18)

Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals, or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and this clause (18); provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on, and replacements of, such property and the products and proceeds thereof), (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under such clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (c) if such new Lien is a Lien on the Collateral, then either (i) such new Lien shall have no greater priority than the original Lien, (ii) such new Lien shall be junior in priority to the First Liens that secure the Notes and shall not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money or (iii) such new Lien shall be a Junior Lien;

 

38


  (19)

deposits made or other security in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

  (20)

other Liens securing obligations which do not exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA at the time of any incurrence of such obligations; provided that such Liens are either First Liens or Junior Liens;

 

  (21)

Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) of Section 6.01 hereof;

 

  (22)

Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (23)

Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

  (24)

Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (25)

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

 

  (26)

Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (27)

Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any Bank Products;

 

39


  (28)

during a Suspension Period only, Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is secured equally and ratably with (or on a basis subordinated to) the Notes), and Indebtedness represented by Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in an amount not to exceed 15.0% of Total Assets at any time outstanding;

 

  (29)

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

 

  (30)

Liens on the Equity Interests and Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (31)

(i) Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) customary restrictions or dispositions of assets to be disposed of pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements;

 

  (32)

any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor secured by a lessor’s, sub-lessor’s, licensor’s or sub-licensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (33)

Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (34)

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

 

  (35)

ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

 

  (36)

Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

  (37)

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;

 

  (38)

Liens on assets securing any Indebtedness owed to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (39)

First Liens securing First Lien Debt (or Junior Liens securing Junior Lien Debt), in each case incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1);

 

40


  (40)

Junior Liens securing Junior Lien Debt permitted to be incurred Section 4.09; provided that at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00; and

 

  (41)

(a) First Liens securing obligations under (x) the Notes and any Guarantees thereof or (y) the Euro Secured Notes and any guarantees thereof, in each case to the extent such Notes or Euro Secured Notes are issued on the Issue Date, (b) Liens on assets not constituting Collateral securing the Notes pursuant to clause (2) of Section 4.12 and (c) prior to the Escrow Release Date, Liens pursuant to the Escrow Agreement or any similar agreement relating to amounts deposited in escrow relating to indebtedness or other obligations under the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes issued on the Issue Date.

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

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

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

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

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events, and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any and (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any, are made at fair market value.

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

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

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

 

41


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

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

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

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

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

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

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Period” means, in respect of any Note issued under Regulation S, the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S applicable to such Note.

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

 

42


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty, or other revenue streams, and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables purchase facilities, factoring arrangements 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, indemnities and other customary limited recourse made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable 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 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 in, one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Senior Credit Agreement” means that certain Senior Secured Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Effective Date, among the Issuer, as lead borrower, the Co-Issuer, as co-borrower, the guarantors party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced, renewed, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

43


Senior Credit Facilities” means the credit facilities provided from time to time pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreement.

Separation” means the separation of the women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses from Merck through a distribution of shares of common stock of the Company to the Merck shareholders as of the relevant record date and the other transactions contemplated by the separation and distribution agreement to be entered into between Merck and the Company.

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

Similar Business” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any reasonable extension thereof or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, related, complementary, incidental or ancillary to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Issue Date.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1)

any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

 

  (2)

any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(x) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity, and voting interests, or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interest or otherwise, and

 

44


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

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that Guarantees the Notes.

Test Period” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Material Domestic Subsidiary.”

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent internal consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer with such pro forma adjustments thereto as are consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Transaction Agreements” means, collectively, the separation and distribution agreement, the transition services agreements, the interim operating agreements, the regulatory agreements, the manufacturing and supply agreements, the trademark license agreements, the intellectual property agreements, the tax matters agreement, the employee matters agreement, in each case which are described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with Merck” in the Offering Memorandum, and any other instruments, assignments, documents and agreements contemplated thereby and executed in connection therewith, in each case as may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time (provided, that any such amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification is not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred, paid by or allocated to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Transactions” means, collectively, any and all of the following (whether or not consummated): (i) the Separation, (ii) the Distribution, (iii) the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements, and all the transactions thereunder, (iv) the payment of the Effective Date Repayment in the amount of approximately $9.0 billion on or about the Effective Date in connection with the Separation and Distribution, (v) the entry into this Indenture, the Euro Secured Notes Indenture and the Unsecured Notes Indenture, and the offer and issuance of the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes, (vi) the Assumption, (vii) the Merger, (viii) the entry into the Senior Credit Facilities, and the initial incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder, (ix) the payment of Transaction Expenses and (x) all other transactions relating to or in furtherance of the foregoing, including without limitation, any corporate reorganization transactions, restructuring or similar activities or transactions in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date with respect to the Notes, the yield to maturity as of the earlier of (1) such Redemption Date or (2) the date on which the Notes are defeased or satisfied and discharged, of the most recently issued United States Treasury

 

45


securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to April 30, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to April 30, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used; provided, further that if the Treasury Rate determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, the Treasury Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Indenture. Any such Treasury Rate shall be obtained by the Issuer.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary), other than the Co-Issuer, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that

 

  (1)

any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer;

 

  (2)

such designation complies with Section 4.07 hereof; and

 

  (3)

each of:

 

46


  (a)

the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

 

  (b)

its Subsidiaries

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

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

 

  (1)

the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

  (2)

the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Issuers shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

Unsecured Notes” means the 5.125% senior notes due 2031 of the Issuers issued under the Unsecured Notes Indenture.

Unsecured Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated the Issue Date, relating to the 5.125% senior notes due 2031 of the Issuers, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

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

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

 

47


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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

Acceptable Commitment    4.10
Additional Amounts    2.14
Affiliate Transaction    4.11
Agent Members    2.01
Alternate Offer    4.14
Applicable AML Law    14.15
Applicable Premium Deficit    8.04
ASC 842    1.05
Asset Sale Offer    4.10
Assumption    Recitals
Authenticating Agent    2.02
Authentication Order    2.02
Change of Control Offer    4.14
Change of Control Payment    4.14
Change of Control Payment Date    4.14
Co-Issuer    Recitals
Company    Recitals
Covenant Defeasance    8.03
Covenant Suspension Event    4.16
Declined Proceeds    4.10
Deemed Date    4.09
DTC    2.03
Effective Date    3.11
Escrow Account    13.01
Escrow Agent    13.01
Escrow Agreement    13.01
Escrowed Property    13.01
Escrow Release Conditions    13.02

 

48


Term

  

Defined in Section

Escrow Release Date    13.02
Event of Default    6.01
Excess Proceeds    4.10
Fixed Charge Coverage Test    4.09
Foreign Disposition    4.10
Increased Amount    4.12
incur    4.09
incurrence    4.09
Internal Revenue Code    1.01
Issuer    Recitals
Issuers    Recitals
Legal Defeasance    8.02
Merger    Recitals
maximum fixed repurchase price    1.03
Note Register    2.03
Offer Amount    3.09
Offer Period    3.09
Outside Date    3.11
Paying Agent    2.03
Payor    2.14
Permitted Co-Issuer Division    5.01
Purchase Date    3.09
Redemption Date    3.07
Refinancing Indebtedness    4.09
Refunding Capital Stock    4.07
Related Person    12.07
Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction    2.14
Registrar    2.03
Restricted Payments    4.07
Reversion Date    4.16
Second Commitment    4.10
Special Mandatory Redemption    3.11
Special Mandatory Redemption Date    3.11
Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event    3.11
Successor Company    5.01
Successor Person    5.01
Suspended Covenants    4.16
Suspension Date    4.16
Suspension Period    4.16
Taxes    2.14
Transaction Agreement Date    1.05
Transfer Agent    2.03
Treasury Capital Stock    4.07
Trustee    Recitals

 

49


Section 1.03 Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

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

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

(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

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

(l) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to any gender;

(m) 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”;

(n) (i) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock at any time shall be (A) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock at such time or (B) the maximum mandatory redemption; and (ii) the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer;

 

50


(o) the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include PDFs, e-mails and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated;

(p) this Indenture is not subject to any provision of the TIA, except to the extent the TIA is specifically incorporated by reference in or made a part of this Indenture; and

(q) for avoidance of doubt, the term “Issuers” shall refer to the Escrow Issuer only prior to the Assumption, unless the context requires otherwise.

Section 1.04 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

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

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

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

(e) The Issuers may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

 

51


(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this Section 1.04(f) shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

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

Section 1.05 Measuring Compliance.

(a) With respect to any (x) Investment or acquisition, in each case, for which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer may not terminate its obligations (or may not do so without incurring significant expense) due to a lack of financing for such Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise), as applicable, and (y) repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar irrevocable notice), which may be conditional, has been delivered, in each case, for purposes of determining:

(i) whether any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(ii) whether any Lien being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness or to secure any such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.12 hereof or the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

 

52


(iii) whether any other transaction undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes; and

(iv) any calculation of the ratios, including Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA or Total Assets and, whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with the foregoing,

at the option of the Issuer, the date the definitive agreement for such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is entered into or irrevocable notice, which may be conditional, of such repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is given to the holders of such Indebtedness (each, a “Transaction Agreement Date”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “EBITDA”.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to use the Transaction Agreement Date as the applicable date of determination in accordance with the foregoing, (1) any fluctuation or change in the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA, or Total Assets of the Issuer from the Transaction Agreement Date to the date of consummation of such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness, will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether (x) any Indebtedness or Lien that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred or (y) any other transaction undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes, and (2) until such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is consummated or such definitive agreement is terminated, such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given pro forma effect when determining compliance of other transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens unrelated to such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness) that are consummated after the Transaction Agreement Date and on or prior to the date of such consummation or termination.

(c) The compliance with any requirement relating to the absence of a Default or Event of Default may be determined as of the Transaction Agreement Date and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture.

(d) For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but giving effect to any returns or distributions of capital or repayment of principal actually received in cash by such Person with respect thereto.

 

53


(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated solely for purposes of Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof, with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other basket (other than a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio) on the same date. Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio test.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the Issuer elects otherwise, all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to adoption by the Issuer of Accounting Standards Codification topic 482, Leases (“ASC 842”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations or Indebtedness) for purposes of all financial definitions, calculations and deliverables herein (including the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and EBITDA) (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASC 842 or any other change in accounting treatment or otherwise (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as or to be re-characterized as financing or capital lease obligations or otherwise accounted for as liabilities in financial statements. Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

 

54


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

The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes and only registered Holders shall have rights under this Indenture and the Notes. Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) and Persons who hold beneficial interests in a Global Note through an Agent Member shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary. The Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any agent of the foregoing as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any agent of the foregoing from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of the designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear and Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent as hereinafter provided.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note upon certification in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer that those interests are owned by (i) non-U.S. Persons or (ii) U.S. Persons who acquired those interests pursuant to another exemption from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Terms. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

55


The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. Subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes from time to time ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes without notice to or consent of the Holders, and such Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes, except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance (or such other date specified by the Issuer); provided that, if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP and/or ISIN, as applicable. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

(e) DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream Applicable Procedures. Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.06, the Applicable Procedures of DTC shall be applicable to and shall control transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes for so long as DTC is the Depositary. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Agent Members through Euroclear or Clearstream.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication. At least one Officer of the Issuer (or Issuers, when applicable) shall execute the Notes on behalf of such Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “PDF”) signature (except as otherwise required by the Applicable Procedures).

If an Officer of any Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, as the case may be, by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents (each an “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

56


Section 2.03 Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be transferred or exchanged (the “Transfer Agent”), and (iii) an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar and Transfer Agent shall keep a register of the Notes (the “Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange and will facilitate transfers of the Notes on behalf of the Issuer. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more transfer agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any additional transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. For avoidance of doubt, there shall be only one Note Register.

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

The Issuers initially appoint U.S. Bank National Association, as Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent with respect to the Notes. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and actions of each Agent under this Indenture are several and not joint or joint and several, and the Agents shall only be obliged to perform those duties expressly set out in this Indenture and shall have no implied duties.

The Issuers may change the Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall, to the extent that it is capable, act as such. An Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

If, and to the extent that, the Notes are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers shall satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and will comply with any notice requirements required under such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall no later than two Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due, send to the Paying Agent an irrevocable payment instruction. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent that is not a party to this Indenture to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment

 

57


over to the Trustee under this Section 2.04, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to any Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, a Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements (including to the Holders) (i) for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 2.04 and (ii) until they have confirmed receipt of funds sufficient to make the relevant payment. No money held by an Agent needs to be segregated except as is required by law. The Agents will hold all funds as banker subject to the terms of this Indenture and as a result, such money will not be held in accordance with the rules established by the Financial Conduct Authority in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Handbook of rules and guidance from time to time in relation to client money.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists. The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Paying Agent is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Paying Agent and the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

Every Holder, by receiving and holding Notes, agrees with the Issuers and the Trustee that none of the Issuers or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (A) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depositary for such Global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed within 120 days, (B) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a clearing and settlement agency and a successor clearing agency is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (C) if the Depositary so requests following an Event of Default, or (D) the Issuers, in their sole discretion, determines that all Global Notes should be exchanged for Definitive Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary or the Issuers, in each case, in accordance with the Depositary’s respective customary procedures. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or

 

58


2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided that, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person other than pursuant to Rule 144A. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certifications required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B). Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

59


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

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

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

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

(A) such Notes are sold or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or

(B) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

 

60


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

61


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

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Agent Member. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) (except for transfers pursuant to clause (F) above) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

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

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

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

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

 

62


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

63


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

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

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

the Registrar shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

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

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

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

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

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

 

64


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

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

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In the event that the requesting Holder does not transfer the entire principal amount of Notes represented by any such Definitive Note, the Registrar shall cancel or cause to be canceled such Definitive Note and the Issuers (who will have been informed of such cancelation) shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the requesting Holder and any transferee Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amounts to reflect such transfer. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):

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

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

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

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

 

65


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

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

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

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

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

(f) [Reserved].

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

(i) Private Placement Legend.

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

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.

 

66


THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH ANY ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO ANY ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) (I) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.”

 

67


Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and Definitive Note issued in a transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S shall also bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.”

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

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

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

 

68


PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS NOMINEE OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

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

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

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

 

69


(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.04 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or tendered in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

(v) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.03 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery;

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part;

(C) to register the transfer or exchange of a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or

(D) to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

 

70


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

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

(viii) At the option of the Holder, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by electronic delivery.

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

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar, or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss, or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirement of the Trustee, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent, and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

 

71


Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section 2.07 shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Notes.

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

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

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding (including for accounting purposes) and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, a Guarantor or by any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuers, a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

72


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

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

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers of any such special record date. At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

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

Section 2.13 CUSIPs and ISINs . The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIPs and ISINs (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIPs and ISINs in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIPs and ISINs.

 

73


Section 2.14 Additional Amounts.

(a) All payments made by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor (a “Payor”) under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed (collectively, “Taxes” by the United States, the Netherlands, any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor is then incorporated, organized, engaged in business for tax purposes, or resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which any such payment is made by or on behalf of any Payor or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (each, a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”)), unless such deduction or withholding is required by law.

(b) In the event such deduction or withholding of Taxes is required with respect to payments under or with respect to the Notes by law of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (other than the United States), subject to the limitations described below, the Payors will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that every net payment received by the beneficial owner of such Note of principal of or interest or any other amount payable on the Notes (including upon redemption), after deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes, will not be less than the amount that would have been received in respect of such payments in the absence of such deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes. Payment of Additional Amounts shall be made in accordance with the procedures of any applicable securities depositary. However, the Payors’ obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply to:

(i) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for:

(A) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner, if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a nominee, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including such Holder or beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner or person having such a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or having or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction;

(B) the failure of such Holder or beneficial owner to comply with a request to provide any certification, information or other reporting requirement, if compliance is required under tax laws and regulations of Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction to establish entitlement to a partial or complete exemption from such Taxes (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (with any required attachment), or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto);

 

74


(ii) any Taxes imposed by reason of the Holder or beneficial owner:

(A) owning or having owned, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Issuer’s stock, as described in section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,

(B) being a bank receiving interest as described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

(C) being a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Issuer or any Guarantor by stock ownership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(iii) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for the presentation by the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the Note is duly provided for and notice is given to such Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that such Holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Note on any date during such 30-day period;

(iv) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property, capital gains, wealth or similar Taxes;

(v) any Taxes payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment on such Note or with respect to any note Guarantee;

(vi) any Taxes payable by a Holder that is not the beneficial owner of the Note, or that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, but, in each case, only to the extent that a beneficial owner, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or member or partner of such partnership, limited liability company or similar entity would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had such beneficial owner, beneficiary, settlor, member or partner received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

(vii) any Taxes required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;

(viii) any Taxes imposed under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or successor provision that is substantively comparable), any current or future regulations or official interpretation thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rule or practice adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing;

 

75


(ix) any Taxes imposed under or in connection with the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act (Wet bronbelasting 2021) with respect to a Holder, or, where applicable, a beneficiary of the Notes that is an entity that is related (gelieerd) to the Issuer within the meaning of the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act; or

(x) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix).

(c) For purposes of this Section 2.14, the acquisition, ownership, enforcement, or holding of or the receipt of any payment with respect to a Note will not constitute a connection (x) between the Holder or beneficial owner and the United States or (y) between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity and the United States.

(d) Any reference in this Indenture or in the Notes to principal or interest or other payment on the Notes shall be deemed to refer also to Additional Amounts that may be payable under the provisions of this Section 2.14.

(e) Except as specifically provided under this Section 2.14, the Issuer will not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States. The foregoing obligations will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor to a Payor is organized or otherwise considered to be a resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee and Paying Agent, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee or Paying Agent) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be redeemed in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Paying Agent shall deem fair and appropriate and otherwise in such manner as complies with the Applicable Procedures. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for any selection made by it in accordance with this paragraph (including the procedures of the relevant depositaries).

 

76


The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than $200,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least $200,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.07(f), 3.09 and 3.11 hereof, the Issuer shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI hereof. For Notes held by DTC or a nominee of DTC, notices of redemption shall be delivered in accordance with DTC’s Applicable Procedures.

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

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(i) any condition to such redemption.

 

77


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

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is given in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(f) hereof). The notice, if given in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07(f) hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

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

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

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

78


Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     102.063

2025

     101.031

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date) at a redemption price equal to 104.125% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(d) The Issuers or their Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, exchange offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions, or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as the Issuers or their Affiliates may determine, which may be more or less than the consideration for which the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes are initially sold and could be for cash or other consideration.

 

79


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

(f) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided herein, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed; provided that if a Redemption Date or purchase date is delayed, the setting of any new Redemption Date or purchase date shall be subject to the Applicable Procedures. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11.

Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

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

(b) The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer

 

80


Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Euro Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions thereof have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required), such other First Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis, if applicable, with adjustments as necessary so that no Note or other First Lien Debt will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination), or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other First Lien Debt tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Purchase Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall send electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Euro Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions thereof have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required), to the holders of such other First Lien Debt. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

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

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

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

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

(v) that any Holder electing to have less than all of the aggregate principal amount of its Notes purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

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

 

81


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

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other First Lien Debt surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, subject to the Applicable Procedures, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and such other First Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such other First Lien Debt tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof will be purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); provided that the unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, subject to the Applicable Procedures, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis as described in clause (d)(viii) of this Section 3.09, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

(f) The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

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

 

82


Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 3.10 Taxation Redemption.

(a) The Notes may be redeemed at the Issuers’ option, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption and all Additional Amounts, if any, then due, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, at any time, in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof if:

(i) the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts on the next interest payment date as a result of (x) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of the any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction affecting taxation, or (y) any change in or amendment to an official application, interpretation, administration or enforcement of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum; or

(ii) any action shall have been taken by a taxing authority, or any action has been brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, in any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including any of those actions specified in (i) above, whether or not such action was taken or brought with respect to the Issuer, or any change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings in any such case, that have not been publically announced before, and are officially proposed on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum, which results or will result in the Issuer being required to pay Additional Amounts on the next Interest Payment Date (each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), a “Change in Tax Law”).

(b) The Change in Tax Law must become effective on or after the date of this offering memorandum (or, if the applicable Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction after the date of this Indenture, such a change that occurs after such later date). The Issuers will not give any such notice of redemption earlier than 60 days nor later than 10 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption for the reasons specified in Section 3.10(a) hereof, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee:

(i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Issuers are entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the Issuer’s right so to redeem have occurred, and

(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment or that the Issuers are or will be required to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such action or proposed change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation, as the case may be.

 

83


(c) Such notice, once delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee, will be irrevocable.

Section 3.11 Special Mandatory Redemption.

(a) In the event that (i) satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (the date of such satisfaction, the “Effective Date”) does not take place on or prior to September 30, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); (ii) the Escrow Issuer fails to make, or cause to be made, any required deposits into the Escrow Account on or prior to three (3) Business Days after the applicable required deposit date as set forth in Section 13.01 or (iii) the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such conditions will not be satisfied by the Outside Date and gives written notice and instruction to the Trustee and the Escrow Agent that it has elected to redeem the Notes (each a “Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event”), the funds in the Escrow Account will be released to the Trustee for the purpose of effecting the mandatory redemption (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”) of the Notes in accordance with the requirements of this Section 3.11. The Issuer will not be required to make a Special Mandatory Redemption on or following the Effective Date.

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event, the Escrow Issuer will redeem the Notes, on the date that is five Business Days (subject to the requirements of the Depositary) after the date of such Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”), at a cash redemption price of 100.0% of the aggregate initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the Issue Date, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”).

(c) At least three Business Days before the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Escrow Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth: (i) the provisions pursuant to which the Special Mandatory Redemption shall occur, (ii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, (iii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, (iv) the CUSIP and ISIN of the Notes to be redeemed and (v) instructions to deliver the notice of redemption referred to in Section 3.11(d) to Holders.

(d) The Trustee will send a notice of such redemption on behalf of the Escrow Issuer to the Holders as soon as practicable after the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event.

(e) Prior to the Trustee sending such notice of redemption, the Escrow Issuer will provide the Trustee with a calculation of the redemption amount, including accrued and unpaid interest to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.11 shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.07 hereof. For avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.11 (other than this sentence) will not apply after the Assumption is consummated.

 

84


ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be presented for payment or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of its obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Issuers hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information.

(a) After the Effective Date, whether or not the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as the Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its website or file with the SEC for public availability:

(1) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer), an annual report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports;

 

85


(2) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by a non-accelerated filer), a quarterly report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q if the Issuer were required to file such reports; and

(3) as soon as practicable (and in any event no later than five days after the period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K) after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, a current report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports; provided, however, that, if the last day of any such period is not a Business Day, such report will be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to such reports. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports (x) will not be required to include separate financial information that would be required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X and (y) will not be subject to the Trust Indenture Act.

After the Effective Date, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will maintain a public or non-public website on which Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts are given access to the annual and quarterly financial information described above (and if applicable, the quarterly information described in Section 4.03(b)). If the website containing the financial reports is not available to the public, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will direct Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts on its publicly available website to contact the Issuer to obtain access to the non-public website.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or prior to the date 45 days after June 30, 2021, the Escrow Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its (or the Company’s or Merck’s) website or file or cause to be filed with the SEC for public availability interim financial statements and a Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations (“MD&A”) with respect to the three and six-months ending June 30, 2021, in each case substantially comparable to the audited combined financial statements and MD&A included in the Offering Memorandum (provided that such interim financial statements shall not be required to be audited; provided further, that if such interim financial statements and MD&A are included in the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement filed with the SEC for public availability on or prior to such date, the requirements of this Section 4.03(b) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

(c) If any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer files reports with the SEC in accordance with Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act, whether voluntarily or otherwise, in compliance with the filing periods specified in Section 4.03(a) hereof, then the Issuer shall be deemed to comply with this Section 4.03. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports need not

 

86


include separate financial information required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X; provided that, if such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer has more than de minimis operations separate and apart from its ownership in the Issuer, then the financial statements of the direct or indirect parent company will be required to provide consolidating information, which need not be audited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

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

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of clause (3) under Section 6.01 hereof until 120 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03, and failure to comply with this Section 4.03 shall be automatically cured when the Issuer or its direct or indirect parent company provides all required reports to the Holders (including to the Trustee for delivery to the Holders) or files all required reports with the SEC.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether any report has been filed by the Issuer or posted on the Issuer’s website.

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

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or 120 days after the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date), a certificate from any Officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge, on behalf of the Issuer, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled in all material respects each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions in this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

87


(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuers shall within 20 Business Days after becoming aware of such Default (unless such Default shall have been cured or waived prior to the expiration of such 20 Business Day period) deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Reserved.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(I) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend, payment or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation other than:

(A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests of the Issuer; or

(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(II) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger or consolidation, in each case, held by Persons other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

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

 

88


(A) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7), (8), and (9) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; or

(B) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition, or retirement; or

(IV) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) in this Section 4.07(a) (other than any exception thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by, Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on April 1, 2021 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

(i)     (A) Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

(x) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner

 

89


of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the Effective Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and

(B) to the extent such net cash proceeds or other property are actually contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof); or

(ii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

provided that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock applied in accordance with clause (2) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than (i) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, (ii) contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Excluded Contributions, and (iv) proceeds of Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such proceeds have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries); plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than, in each case, to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof), in each case, after the Effective Date; or

 

90


(ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date; plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment); plus

(F) the greater of $420.0 million and 15% of EBITDA at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(G) the aggregate amount of Declined Proceeds since the Effective Date.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of the redemption notice, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (within 90 days of such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or other Restricted Payment) (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”), (b) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this Section 4.07(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the

 

91


Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement, and (c) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale of Refunding Capital Stock (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) made within 90 days of such sale;

(3) the prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, or (B) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, which, in each case, is incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, plus the amount of any premium (including tender premiums) required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith;

(B) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired;

(C) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and

 

92


(D) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes);

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement (and including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest on any notes issued by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in connection such repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition and any tax related thereto); provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $60.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $85.0 million in any calendar year); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

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

(C) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to employees, officers, directors, members of management, or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that are foregone in return for receipt of Equity Interests; less

(D) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (4);

and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer from any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s

 

93


direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this Section 4.07(b); provided, in the case of each of (A) and (C) of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) 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 $280.0 million and 10% of 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);

(8) (A) payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of Equity Interests by any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family

 

94


members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; and (B) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of options, warrants, or similar instruments if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof or required withholding or similar taxes;

(9) (a) so long as the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio does not exceed 3.50 to 1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and (b) if the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is greater than 3.50:1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange;

(10) Restricted Payments in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions made;

(11) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA at such time;

(12) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(13) [Reserved];

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

(15) Restricted Payments to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (15) do not exceed in any calendar year $50.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years);

(16) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Cash Equivalents);

 

95


(17) the repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with (A) any dividend, distribution, split, reverse split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or other business combination, in each case, to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture, or (B) the exercise or settlement of options, warrants or similar instruments convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

(18) the making of any Restricted Payment if, at the time of the making of such payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such payments), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; and

(19) any Restricted Payment pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions;

provided that, at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (11), (16) and (18) of this Section 4.07(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (18) of this Section 4.07(b) or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof, the Issuer will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (18) and Section 4.07(a) hereof in a manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07; except that the Issuer may not reclassify any Restricted Payment as having been made under clause (18) of this Section 4.07(b) if originally made under any other clause of this Section 4.07(b) or under Section 4.07(a) hereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof or under clause (7), (10), (11), or (18) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”, and, if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Indenture.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, (a) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be permitted to contribute, dispose of or otherwise transfer legal title to, or license on an exclusive basis, any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (b) the Issuers shall not be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary that

 

96


holds Material Intellectual Property as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether upon initial designation or subsequent investment), in each case, other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (i) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) to facilitate a Restricted Payment or (iii) in connection with a liability management transaction.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i)     (A) pay a dividend or make any other distribution to the Issuer or any Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(ii) make any loan or advance to the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Guarantor.

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) (i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in connection with the Transactions and all transactions in connection therewith;

(2) (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes and the guarantees thereof (iii) the Collateral Documents, (iv) the Euro Secured Notes Indenture, (v) the Euro Secured Notes (and the guarantees thereof) (vi) the Unsecured Notes Indenture, (vii) the Unsecured Notes (and the guarantees thereof), (viii) the Senior Credit Facilities (and the guarantees thereof and any collateral documents relating thereto), (ix) the Transaction Agreements, and (x) Hedging Obligations;

(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof on the property so acquired;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is

 

97


assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired, designated or assumed;

(6) any contract or agreement for the sale of assets, including any customary restriction with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and either (A) the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities as in effect on the Issue Date or (B) any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due;

(10) customary provisions in any operating agreement, joint venture agreement, asset sale agreement or other similar agreement, or other similar arrangements;

(11) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) any encumbrance or restriction of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2), and (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing of any of the contracts, instruments, or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) and (13) through (15) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing is, in the good-faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive taken as a whole with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

 

98


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

(14) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale, or other agreement to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder, or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary; and

(15) restrictions contained in agreements (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course of business; provided that such restrictions do not prohibit (except upon an event of default thereunder) the payment of dividends in an amount sufficient, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due.

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”), with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Test”), determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided further that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13) and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(12)(b) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13)) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this Section 4.09(a).

 

99


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

(1) the incurrence of (A) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof); provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred or issued under this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) does not exceed the sum of (a) the greater of $2,100.0 million and 75% of EBITDA, plus (b) $6,000.0 million, plus (c) the maximum amount of Indebtedness such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence (in a manner consistent with the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio), the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 2.75 to 1.00 (provided that, for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this subclause (c), all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) shall be deemed to be First Lien Debt) and (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to clause (A) of this clause (1), including additional Indebtedness incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection with such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance;

(2) the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Guarantee) (other than any Additional Notes), the Euro Secured Notes (including any guarantee thereof) (other than any “Additional Notes” as defined in the Euro Secured Notes Indenture) and the Unsecured Notes (including any guarantee thereof) (other than any “Additional Notes” as defined in the Unsecured Notes Indenture);

(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.09(b));

(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment, or other fixed or capital assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the date of the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement or is created within 365 days thereafter; provided, further that the aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference of all such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (4), when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all

 

100


other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (4), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (4) exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA.

(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit 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;

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

(7) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (9);

 

101


(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

(11) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 or industry practices;

(12) (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than proceeds of Excluded Contributions or Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(B) and (3)(C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued or incurred in reliance on this clause (12)(a) and (ii) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed that are applied to make any Restricted Payments shall be excluded for purposes of incurring or issuing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to this clause (12)(a); and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not at any time outstanding exceed the greater of $1,400.0 million and 50% of EBITDA; provided, that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (12)(b) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding at the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (12)(b);

 

102


(13) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) hereof and clauses (2), (3), (4), and (12) of this Section 4.09(b), this clause (13) and clause (14) of this Section 4.09(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

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

(B) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (i) Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed, or defeased or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and

(C) shall not include:

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

(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

(iii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and provided further that subclause (A) of this clause (13) shall not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal, or defeasance of Indebtedness that matures prior to the Notes;

 

103


(14) (x) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets), merger, or consolidation or (y) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation, if more than $200.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) above, is at any time outstanding under this clause (14), either

(A) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation;

(15) Indebtedness (a) arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft, or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business (provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 30 Business Days of its incurrence) and (b) in respect of Bank Products;

(16) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(17) (A) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer is permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(18) (a) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present, or former officers, directors, employees, members of management and consultants (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing), in each case, to finance the purchase, or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof and (b) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees or directors of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in the ordinary course of business;

(19) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased or services rendered in the ordinary course of business;

 

104


(20) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis of no longer than 30 days to any bank or other financial institution incurred in the ordinary course of business with such bank or financial institution, which arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(21) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred, or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length, commercial terms on a recourse basis;

(22) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(23) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, vendors, distributors, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees that, in each case, are non-Affiliates;

(24) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as seller or servicer under a Securitization Facility and any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Indebtedness; and

(25) Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued by a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease, redeem, or satisfy, and discharge the Notes in accordance with this Indenture.

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

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (25) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding (or deemed outstanding) under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Effective Date will be treated as incurred on the Effective Date under clause (1) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and shall not be reclassified;

(2) the Issuer will be entitled to divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, any item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b) hereof without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) that may be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a);

 

105


(3) any guarantee of, or obligation in respect of any letter of credit relating to, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.09; and

(4) in connection with the incurrence or issuance, as applicable, of (x) revolving loan Indebtedness under this Section 4.09 or (y) any commitment relating to the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Section 4.09 and the granting of any Lien to secure such Indebtedness, the Issuer or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate such incurrence or issuance and the granting of any Lien therefor as having occurred on the date of first incurrence of such revolving loan Indebtedness or commitment (such date, the “Deemed Date”), and any related subsequent actual incurrence or issuance and granting of such Lien therefor will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been incurred or issued and granted on such Deemed Date, including for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, usage of any baskets under this Indenture (if applicable), the Consolidated First Lien Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio and EBITDA (and all such calculations on and after the Deemed Date until the termination or funding of such commitment shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to the deemed incurrence or issuance, the granting of any Lien therefor and related transactions in connection therewith).

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same class, and accretion or amortization of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will each not be deemed to be an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for purposes of this Section 4.09.

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

 

106


(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

(g) For the purposes of this Indenture, Indebtedness that is unsecured is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, and Senior Indebtedness is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate, directly or indirectly, an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto, or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Issuer’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 Issuer) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale, or that are assumed by the transferee (or any third party on behalf of such transferee) of any such assets or Equity Interests, in each case, pursuant to a written agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities,

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

 

107


(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

shall, in each case, be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this Section 4.10 and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 450 days after the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale consummated on and following the Effective Date, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(1) to reduce:

(A) Obligations under Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a Lien on assets that do not constitute Collateral (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(B) Obligations under the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes, the Senior Credit Facilities and/or other First Lien Debt (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under such Indebtedness, and if such reduction did not consist of a reduction in Obligations under the Notes on an equal and ratable basis (or an offer to repurchase the Notes on an equal and ratable basis in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof), then the Issuer shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes by (i) redeeming the Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof, (ii) purchasing the Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (iii) making an offer to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid, which offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof (including the provisions requiring an offer to be made to holders of other First Lien Debt; provided that such Asset Sale Offer shall not be made to the holders of the Euro Secured Notes to the extent the Euro Secured Notes were the First Lien Debt that triggered the requirements of the first proviso of this clause (B)); or

(C) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

 

108


(2) to make (a) an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, further that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such business constitutes or continues to constitute a Guarantor), (b) an Investment in properties (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such properties constitute Collateral), (c) capital expenditures (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such capital expenditures constitute or are made with respect to assets that constitute Collateral), or (d) acquisitions of other assets (provided that if the assets disposed of in the applicable Asset Sale constitute Collateral, such other assets constitute Collateral);

(3) solely to the extent such Asset Sale constitutes a disposition of Collateral, which Collateral consists of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock or capital contribution, and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary), (B) an Investment in properties, (C) capital expenditures or (D) acquisitions of other assets,; or

(4) any combination of the foregoing;

provided that, in the case of clause (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment entered into within 450 days after the Asset Sale shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good-faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided further that, if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Cash Proceeds are applied, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that (i) any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sales by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States or (ii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would result in material adverse tax consequences, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10; provided that, within 450 days of the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition, the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit repatriation of such proceeds that would otherwise be subject to this Section 4.10 without violating applicable local law or incurring material adverse tax consequences, and, if such proceeds may be repatriated, within such 450 day period, such proceeds shall be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10.

 

109


(c) Any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) hereof (it being understood that any portion of such net proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in Section 4.10(b)(1) hereof, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuers shall make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any other First Lien Debt (including the Euro Secured Notes, unless the applicable provisions of the Euro Secured Notes or the Euro Secured Notes Indenture have been amended or waived such that such offer is no longer required) to the holders of such other First Lien Debt, to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such other First Lien Debt, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other First Lien Debt was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreements governing any such First Lien Debt. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 10 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent. The Issuers may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 450 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $200.0 million or less.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and, if applicable, other First Lien Debt tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (“Declined Proceeds”) for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and, if applicable, First Lien Debt surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Issuers shall select the Notes and such First Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such First Lien Debt tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or First Lien Debt will be purchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds upon such completion). Upon consummation or expiration of any Asset Sale Offer, any remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds and the Issuers may use such Net Cash Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. An Asset Sale Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees (but the Asset Sale Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

(d) Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

110


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

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates. (a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, unless:

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

(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.11(a) will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof (including any payments that are exceptions to the definition of Restricted Payments set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) of Section 4.07(a)) and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of or for the benefit of, current or former officers, directors, employees, members of management or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(4) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

 

111


(5) any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Issue Date, and any transaction pursuant thereto or contemplated thereby, or any amendment, modification or supplement thereto or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(6) (a) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (b) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture partner or joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

(7) the sale or issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(8) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(9) (a) loans or advances or guarantees in respect thereof (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or otherwise made on behalf of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith, and (b) payments to, and transactions with, any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith; and any employment agreement, stock option plan and other compensatory arrangement (and any successor plan thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement benefit plan or arrangement with any such director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(10) payments by the Issuer (and any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer (and any such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries;

(11) any guarantee by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that was permitted by this Indenture;

 

112


(12) any transaction with a Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such Person;

(13) any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, on the other hand, which is approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(14) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(15) any contribution to the Capital Stock of the Issuer;

(16) transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary solely because a director of such Person, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent company of such Person is also a director of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any direct or direct parent company of the Issuer; provided that, such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer, such Restricted Subsidiary, or such parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, on any such transaction;

(17) transactions with Affiliates solely in their capacity as holders of Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, so long as such transaction is with all holders of such class (and there are non-Affiliate holders) and such Affiliates are treated no more favorably than all other holders of such Indebtedness or Equity Interests generally;

(18) pledges of Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(19) the Transactions, all transactions in connection therewith (including the financing thereof and the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements), and the payment of Transaction Expenses.

Section 4.12 Liens. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset, property or right of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless:

(1) in the case of any Lien on assets, property or rights constituting Collateral, such Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(2) in the case of any Lien on assets, property or rights that do not constitute Collateral, either (a) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or (b) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness other than Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that in the case of Liens described in this clause (2), none of the foregoing shall apply to or restrict Permitted Liens.

 

113


Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to clause (2) of the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (a) the release by the holders of the Indebtedness described in such clause (2) of their Lien on the property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including any deemed release upon payment in full of all obligations under such Indebtedness (except upon foreclosure or default of such Indebtedness)), (b) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person other than the Issuer or any Guarantor of the property or assets secured by such Lien, or of all of the Capital Stock held by the Issuer or any Guarantor in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Subsidiary Guarantor creating such Lien, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, (c) payment in full of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes, or (d) a defeasance or discharge of the Notes in accordance with Article VIII or Article XI hereof.

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

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, (x) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens but may be incurred under any combination of such categories (including in part under one such category and in part under any one or more of such other such categories) and (y) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of such categories, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.12 and the definition of “Permitted Liens.

Section 4.13 Company Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, and except in connection with the Merger, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its company existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer), if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to change their respective organizational forms.

 

114


Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. (a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously sent a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its rights to redeem all the outstanding Notes pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent, to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the Note Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures with the following information:

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

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 10 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control in accordance with clause (c) of this Section 4.14;

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

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

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

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

(7) that Holders (other than Holders of a Global Note) whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least $200,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

115


(8) if such notice is sent prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, a statement that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control and, if applicable, a statement that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time as the Change of Control shall have occurred, or that such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event the Change of Control shall not have occurred by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

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

The notice, if delivered electronically, mailed or caused to be mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for purchase shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of any other Note.

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

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

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

(2) have deposited with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. (New York Time) an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

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

(c) The Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) in connection with or in contemplation of any such Change of Control, the Issuers (or any Affiliate thereof) have made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than

 

116


the Change of Control Payment and have purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer. Additionally, the Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if the Issuers have previously issued a notice of redemption for all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 or 3.10 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, and the Change of Control Payment Date may be extended automatically until such Change of Control occurs. A Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or Guarantees (but the Change of Control Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

(d) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Guarantor or the Co-Issuer, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities unless such Restricted Subsidiary within 45 days of such guarantee executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, and executes and delivers a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and takes all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture.

The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor. In addition, the Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to guarantee the Notes, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer that may guarantee the Notes in the future shall not be subject to any of the covenants or restrictions of this Indenture. Any guarantee of the Notes provided by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer may be released at any time in the Issuer’s sole discretion.

Section 4.16 Suspension of Covenants.

(a) If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”) then, beginning on that day (the “Suspension Date”) and continuing until the Reversion Date, hereof, Section 4.08 hereof, Section 4.09 hereof, Section 4.10 hereof, Section 4.11 hereof, Section 4.15 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof shall not be applicable to the Notes (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

 

117


(b) During any period that the Suspended Covenants have been suspended, the Issuers may not designate any of their Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

(c) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) the Notes do not carry an Investment Grade Rating from at least one Rating Agency, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to events occurring on or after the Reversion Date unless and until there shall be a new Suspension Date. The period between a Suspension Date and a Reversion Date is referred to in this Section 4.16 as a “Suspension Period.” The Guarantees of the Guarantors will be suspended during the Suspension Period. Additionally, upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Cash Proceeds shall be reset to zero.

(d) During any Suspension Period, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for in Section 4.12 hereof (including Permitted Liens) and any Permitted Liens that refer to one or more Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for Section 4.12 hereof).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(3); (3) all Liens incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred under clause (7) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; (4) any Affiliate Transaction entered into after such reinstatement pursuant to all agreements and arrangements entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(5) hereof; (5) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof that becomes effective during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.08(b)(1) hereof; and (6) no Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be required to comply with Section 4.15 hereof after such reinstatement with respect to any guarantee entered into by such Subsidiary during any Suspension Period.

In addition, for purposes of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, all events set forth in such clause (3) occurring during a Suspension Period shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the amount of Restricted Payments the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to make pursuant to such clause (3).

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

 

118


(e) The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event and any Reversion Date; provided that such notification shall not be a condition for the suspension of the Suspended Covenants to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date.

Section 4.17 Reserved.

Section 4.18 Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption. Prior to the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer shall not:

(a) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or operations other than those incidental to its existence or incidental to its issuance of the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes and the performance of its obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Euro Secured Notes, the Euro Secured Notes Indenture, the Unsecured Notes, the Unsecured Notes Indenture, the Escrow Agreement or the Transactions (including, for avoidance of doubt, activities to facilitate the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities);

(b) establish any Subsidiaries;

(c) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities or financial obligations (other than Indebtedness, liabilities or financial obligations (i) relating to the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes issued on the Issue Date, this Indenture, the Euro Secured Notes Indenture and the Unsecured Notes Indenture, or the Escrow Agreement or (ii) incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or otherwise relating to acting as the initial Issuer of the Notes, the Euro Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes or facilitating the Transactions (including facilitating the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities)); or

(d) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets (including cash and cash equivalents) other than the Escrowed Property, its rights under this Indenture, the Euro Secured Notes Indenture, the Unsecured Notes Indenture or the Escrow Agreement, or other properties or assets that are incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or the incidental to activities described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above or de minimis in amount.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.18 (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply once the Assumption is consummated, and upon, and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the provisions of this Article IV shall apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer), as and to the extent provided herein (it being understood that the provisions of this Article IV do not apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries until, and subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Date).

 

119


ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer and the Co-Issuer each may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (a) in the case of a Division where the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the Dividing Person, either (x) all Division Successors shall become co-issuers of the Notes (this clause (x), a “Permitted Co-Issuer Division”) or (y) the Division, as to any Division Successor that will not be a co-issuer, is permitted by Section 4.10 hereof and (b) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division or wind-up (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;

(4) only in the case of the Issuer, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing or debt reduction transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(5) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(1)(B) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Successor Company shall, as

 

120


applicable, have executed and delivered a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and taken all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture; and

(6) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; provided that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any such consolidation, merger, wind-up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition.

(b) The Successor Company, if not the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes and in such event the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Notwithstanding clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and

(2) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, may merge with an Affiliate thereof solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (in the case of the Issuer), or in any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (in either case), so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not materially increased thereby.

(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, on and following the Effective Date, no Subsidiary Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division, or wind-up (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person being herein called the “Successor Person”);

 

121


(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments and executed and delivered a supplement or joinder to the applicable Collateral Documents or new Collateral Documents and taken all actions required thereunder to perfect the Liens created thereunder with the priority required under this Indenture;

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

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance, Division, or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; or

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof.

(d) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee and in such event such Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may (1) consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or transfer all or part of its properties and assets, including by means of a Division, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another jurisdiction so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby and so long as the surviving entity (if not the Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee in connection with such reorganization, (3) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Holders, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in Section 5.01(c) hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 5.01 shall not apply to (a) any consolidation, merger or winding up or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) any of the Transactions.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.01, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a limited liability company may consummate a Division as the Dividing Person if, immediately upon the consummation of the Division, the assets of the applicable Dividing Person are held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries at such time, or, with respect to assets not so held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, such Division, in the aggregate, would otherwise result in an Asset Sale permitted by Section 4.10 hereof.

 

122


(g) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, none of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor may consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Issuer or Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person, if such transaction would result in a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the consent of the holders of at least two thirds of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to such the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer or Co-Issuer, as applicable, shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of such Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” means any one of the following events:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above);

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that

 

123


taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $100.0 million or more at any time outstanding;

(5) failure by the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million (net of any amounts which are covered by independent third-party insurance), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and, in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6) either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

124


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

(i) for relief against either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case;

(ii) that appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or for all or substantially all of the property of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(iii) that orders the liquidation of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture;

(9) unless such Liens have been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and/or the Collateral Documents, the Liens securing the Notes with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable, or the Issuers shall assert or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Guarantor, the Issuers fail to cause such Guarantor to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Issuers have actual knowledge of such assertions;

(10) the failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure with its other agreements contained in the Collateral Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the Holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral, taken as a whole; or

(11) failure by the Issuer (a) to comply with any material term of the Escrow Agreement that is not cured within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Escrow Agent, the Trustee or holders representing 30% or more of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee), (b) to consummate the Special Mandatory Redemption as described in Section 3.11 or (c) to comply in any material respect with Section 4.18 (it being understood that this clause (11) shall be of no further force or effect after the Effective Date).

 

125


Section 6.02 Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee may, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, in each case, declare the principal, premium, if any, interest, and any other monetary obligations on all the then-outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that, so long as any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture as part of the Senior Credit Facilities shall be outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of:

(1) acceleration of any such Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities; or

(2) five Business Days after the giving of written notice of such acceleration by the Trustee or any Holder to the Issuers and the administrative agent with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities.

Upon the effectiveness of any declaration of acceleration, the principal and interest on the Notes shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01 hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived, and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

(2) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.

 

126


Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers; provided that any waiver or rescission under this Section 6.04 shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holder has offered the Trustee indemnity, security, and/or prefunding reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration with respect to the Notes may not be given by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes (or any other action taken on the assertion of any Default) with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders of the Notes, more than two years prior to such notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration (or other action).

 

127


A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any action is unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, deletion of, or waiver with respect to any of the covenants or provisions of Article III or Article IV hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (provided such amendment, deletion or waiver is made or given in accordance with Article IX hereof).

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

128


Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.13 Priorities. If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(i) to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent (other than the Issuer or its Subsidiaries), their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(ii) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(iii) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct including a Guarantor, if applicable. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.13.

 

129


Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

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

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Article VI hereof.

 

130


(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity, security and/or prefunding, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, against any loss, liability, claim, or expense.

(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee or Paying Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuers and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate of an Issuer or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

131


(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any matter (including any Default or Event of Default) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice thereof is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from an Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes, or from any Holder, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each Agent (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary acting as Agent), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or a duty to so, unless so specified herein.

(l) The Trustee will not be liable to the Holders if prevented or delayed in performing any of its obligations or discretionary functions under this Indenture by reason of any present or future law applicable to it, by any governmental or regulatory authority or by any circumstances beyond its control.

(m) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to do anything which, in its opinion, may be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation.

(n) The Trustee may retain counsel at the expense of the Issuers to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture. The Trustee may consult with such counsel, and the advice or opinion of such counsel relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(o) The Issuers and the Agents acknowledge and agree that in the event of a Default or Event of Default, the Trustee may, by notice in writing to the Issuers and the Agents, require that the Agents (other than to the extent the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as an agent) act as agents of, and take instructions exclusively from, the Trustee. Prior to receiving such written notice from the Trustee, the Agents shall be agents of the Issuers and need have no concern for the interests of the Holders.

(p) The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.

 

132


Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall electronically deliver or mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been waived or cured. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Agent, or any other agent of the Issuers or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Agent, or such other agent; provided, however, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In the event of being requested by the Issuers to undertake duties which the Trustee reasonably determines to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the normal duties of the Trustee, or in the event the Trustee is obligated to take actions under Article VI hereof, the Issuers shall pay to the Trustee additional reasonable remuneration. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all disbursements, advances and expenses properly incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the properly incurred compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage,

 

133


claims, liability or expense (including properly incurred attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the properly incurred costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the properly incurred fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor need reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability, claim, or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof, to secure the payment obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 7.07, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and by each agent (including the Agents), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee or Agents. A resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Agent, as the case may be, shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Agent’s, as the case may be, acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee or an Agent may resign in writing at any time by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or an Agent by so notifying the Trustee, such Agent and the Issuers, as the case may be, in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee and any Agent, as the case may be, if:

(A) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

134


(B) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(C) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee, an Agent or their respective property;

(D) the Trustee or an Agent becomes incapable of acting; or

(E) the Trustee is not in compliance with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

If the Trustee or an Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or an Agent for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be. Within one year after the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, to replace the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee or Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or Agent resigns or is removed, (i) the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent, at the expense of the Issuers or (ii) the retiring Trustee or Agent may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, at any time prior to the date on which a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office; provided that such appointment shall be satisfactory to the Issuers.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee or Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or Agent shall electronically deliver or mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

 

135


Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee or an Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust, paying agent, transfer agent or registrar business, as the case may be, to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be.

Any corporation into which the Trustee or an Agent for the time being may be merged or converted shall, on the date when such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale or transfer becomes effective and to the extent permitted by applicable law, be a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Indenture. After the effective date all references in this Indenture to that Trustee or Agent shall be deemed to be references to that corporation.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of England and Wales, Luxembourg, or the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power and which is recognized as a corporation which customarily performs such corporate trustee roles and provides such corporate trustee services in transactions similar in nature to the offering of the Notes as described in the Offering Memorandum.

Section 7.11 Limitation on Duty of Trustee in Respect of Collateral; Indemnification.

(a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Trustee shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Trustee shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith.

(b) The Trustee and Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and Collateral Agent, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Issuer to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral (except with respect to certificates, if any, delivered to the Collateral Agent representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents). The Trustee and Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture or the Collateral Documents by the Issuers, any Guarantor or any other party thereto or representative thereof.

 

136


ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article VIII.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and all Events of Default cured on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) of this Section 8.02 (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes), and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then-existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Agents, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

137


Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.17 hereof, clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that the Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to all outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified in this Section 8.03, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(4), 6.01(5), 6.01(6) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuers), 6.01(7) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuer) and 6.01(8) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes to the stated maturity date or to the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

138


(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B) since the original issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditor of the Issuer, any Guarantor or others; and

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

 

139


Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) of this Section 8.04 with respect to Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including any Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees.

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers. Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by any Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to such Issuer on its request or pursuant to applicable law or (if then held by such Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the applicable Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and Guarantees shall be revived and

 

140


reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided that, if any Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and/or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder in any material respect;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(9) to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(10) to add a Guarantor or co-obligor under this Indenture or to release a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(11) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum;

 

141


(12) to amend the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(13) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Holders, as security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes, in any property or assets;

(14) to provide for the succession of any parties to this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature);

(15) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary; or

(16) to secure additional extensions of credit and additional secured creditors holding other First Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt so long as such First Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt is not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 9.05 hereof (subject to the last sentence of Section 9.05 hereof), the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, and the Collateral Documents with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

142


Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon the filing with the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects any such parties’ own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case any such party may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 or under the Collateral Documents to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, waiver, or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion of, any of the covenants described under Article IV or Section 5.01 hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder representing 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or consent may:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to (i) notice periods (to the extent consistent with applicable requirements of clearing and settlement systems) for redemption and conditions to redemption and (ii) Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof);

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

 

143


(7) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(8) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(9) contractually subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens thereon to secure this Indenture and the Notes.

Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

144


Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. Each of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of such party. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive, upon request, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

Section 9.06 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any Notes may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee. Upon the occurrence of the Effective Date, and from and after the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees the Senior Credit Facilities to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto pursuant to which each such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor. Subject to this Article X, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior secured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent and to the Trustee, the Agents and their successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same promptly. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable

 

145


discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture or under the Notes). Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

If any Holder, any Agent, or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, then any amount paid either to the Trustee, such Agent, or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Until released in accordance with Section 10.06 hereof, each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

146


The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general secured senior obligation of such Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery. To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its authorized officers or other representatives.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuers shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article X, to the extent applicable.

Section 10.04 Subrogation. Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

 

147


Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees. A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force and effect, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(1) any sale, exchange, disposition, or transfer (by merger, consolidation, dividend, distribution, or otherwise) of (a) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, in each case, made in compliance with Section 4.10(a)(1) and Section 4.10(a)(2) hereof;

(2) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, except a discharge or release by, or as a result of, payment under such guarantee;

(3) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.07 hereof and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(4) upon the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor; or

(5) the exercise by the Issuers of the Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article VIII hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee in accordance with this Section 10.06; provided that no such notification shall be a condition for the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee. Upon any event or circumstance giving rise to a release of a Guarantee as specified above, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall, at the sole cost and written request of the Issuers, without recourse, representation or warranty, execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuers in order to evidence or effect such release or discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations under the Collateral Documents. Upon any release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee, such Guarantor shall also be released from its obligations under the Collateral Documents.

 

148


ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to the Notes when either:

 

  (1)

all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has heretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Registrar for cancellation; or

 

  (2)

(A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(B) no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

149


(C) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(D) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at or prior to maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied; provided that any such counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing subclauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01).

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

150


ARTICLE XII

COLLATERAL

Section 12.01 Security; Collateral Documents.

(a) Upon and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the Guarantees thereof when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent lawful), if any, on the Notes and the Guarantees thereof and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, shall be secured by first-priority Liens and security interests, on the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens), as and to the extent required by the Collateral Requirement and as provided in the Collateral Documents that the Issuer and the Guarantors, as the case may be, have entered into on or after the Effective Date pursuant to the Collateral Requirement, and shall be secured by all Collateral Documents hereafter delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. All Collateral Documents shall be subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) As of the Effective Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors hereby agree, that the Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral for the benefit of all of the Holders and the Trustee, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(c) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Guarantees, irrevocably consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure), as the same may be in effect or as may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform its obligations and exercise its rights under the Collateral Documents and any Intercreditor Agreement in accordance therewith. The Holders agree that the Collateral Agent is authorized to execute and deliver the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(d) The Trustee and each Holder, by accepting the Notes and the Guarantees, acknowledges that, as more fully set forth in the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral as of the Effective Date or as thereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the Lien of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents in respect of the Trustee and the Holders is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and actions that may be taken thereunder.

Section 12.02 Release of Collateral.

(a) Collateral may be released from the First Liens and security interest created by the Collateral Documents at any time and from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture, the Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents under any one or more of the following circumstances:

 

151


  (1)

upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as set forth in Section 11.01;

 

  (2)

upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes as set forth in Sections 8.02 and 8.03;

 

  (3)

in whole or in part, upon any sale, exchange, disposition, transfer or transaction, as a result of which such Collateral ceases to be owned by any Issuer or a Guarantor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction as a result of which the entity owning such Collateral ceases to be a Guarantor);

 

  (4)

upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged; or

 

  (5)

in whole or in part, with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with the provisions described in Article IX.

In addition, the Collateral will be released from the First Liens and security interest created by the Collateral Documents as and when required pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, if at any time any property or assets that constitute Collateral cease to constitute Collateral pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents or this Indenture, such property or assets shall no longer be subject to the First Liens which secure the Notes. In addition, the Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to (i) the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents, or (ii) the subordination of the First Liens securing the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees and the applicable Collateral Documents on such property or other assets, in each case, to the extent such property or other assets are subject to Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(4).

(b) Upon any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 12.02, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver such documents and instruments as the Issuer and the Guarantors may request in writing to evidence such termination and release (without any representation or warranty) without the consent of the holders of the Notes. To the extent the Issuer or the Guarantors make such a request that the Trustee or the Collateral Agent execute and deliver any documents or instruments to evidence such termination or release, the Issuer or the Guarantors, as the case may be, at the request of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent (or its respective agent), as applicable, an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel with respect to such release. For avoidance of doubt, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not be required to comply with all or any portion of the TIA relating to releases of Collateral. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, as and when instructed in writing by the Issuers, the Trustee shall (at the Issuers’ expense) execute or deliver, or cause to be executed or delivered, as applicable, such amendments or releases to perfection documents (which shall be prepared by the Issuers) solely to the extent necessary to delete any such released Collateral from the description of assets in any previously filed financing statements or other perfection documents.

(c) No purchaser or grantee of any property or rights purporting to be released shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee or Collateral Agent to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions herein prescribed for the exercise of such authority so long as the conditions set forth in Section 12.02 have been satisfied.

 

152


Section 12.03 Authorization of Receipt of Funds Under the Collateral Documents. Subject to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee are authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 12.04 Further Assurances; After-Acquired Property.

(a) The Issuer will, and will cause the Guarantors to, at their sole expense, do all acts which may be necessary to confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, duly created, enforceable and perfected first-priority Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Collateral, in each case subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents and the definition of “Collateral Requirement”.

(b) As necessary, the Issuers will, and will cause the Guarantors to, at their sole expense, execute, acknowledge and deliver such documents and instruments and take such other actions as may be necessary to assure, perfect, transfer and confirm the rights conveyed by the Collateral Documents, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(c) From and after the Effective Date, if the Issuers or any Guarantor acquires any property which is of a type constituting Collateral under the Collateral Documents and as to which the Collateral Agent does not have a perfected First Lien (subject to Permitted Liens), it shall as soon as practicable after the acquisition thereof, subject, however, to all limitations set forth in this Indenture and the Collateral Documents with respect to the required perfection actions and time periods to effect such actions, execute and deliver such security instruments, financing statements, Mortgages, title insurance, surveys and such certificates and opinions of counsel as are required by the Collateral Requirement and the applicable Collateral Documents to vest in the Collateral Agent a perfected First Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens) in such after-acquired property and to have such after-acquired property added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired property to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

Section 12.05 Intercreditor Agreements

(a) On the Effective Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (which First Lien Intercreditor Agreement will be substantially consistent in all material respects with the description thereof set forth in the “Description of Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum, as determined by the Issuers in good faith). If the Issuers deliver to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement complies with the requirements of this Indenture and requests the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent and/or Trustee, as applicable, shall (and each is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the

 

153


sole expense and cost of the Issuers, including legal fees and expenses of the Trustee and Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe their respective obligations thereunder. The same procedures shall apply with respect to any amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or replacement of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents and all rights and obligations of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent hereunder are expressly subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by the Trustee or Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the limitation and provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement. Without limiting any of the rights and protections (including indemnities) of the Trustee or the Collateral Agent hereunder, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Indenture, the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement shall govern. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees that the Liens on the Collateral are subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and that the Holders shall comply with the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement applicable to them in their capacities as such to the same extent as if the Holders were parties thereto.

(c) If the Issuer or any Guarantor (i) incurs any obligations in respect of Junior Lien Debt at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting Junior Lien Debt entitled to the benefit of an existing Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Trustee and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the Junior Lien Debt so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Collateral Agent and Trustee, if applicable, shall (and each is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (at the sole expense and cost of the Issuer, including legal fees and expenses of the Trustee and Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe their respective obligations thereunder. The Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall state that the Trustee’s and/or Collateral Agent’s entry into the proposed Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is permitted by this Indenture.

Section 12.06 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XII upon the Issuers or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuers or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XII and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 12.07 Collateral Agent

 

154


(a) The Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents and the Trustee and each of the Holders by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and consents and agrees to the terms of each Collateral Document, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 12.07. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the duties of the Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Collateral Documents, to which the Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder or any grantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates (a “Related Person”), and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.

(c) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, certification, telephone message, statement, or other communication, document or conversation (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Issuers or any other grantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document. Except as

 

155


otherwise expressly provided herein, the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.

(d) The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent shall have received written notice from the Trustee or the Issuers referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article VI or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 12.07 and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

(e) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Issuers, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Collateral Agent. If the Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Issuers shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may appoint a successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Issuers (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Issuers pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12.07 (and Section 7.07 and 7.11 hereof) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Indenture.

(f) U.S. Bank National Association shall initially act as Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Collateral Documents, neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be

 

156


liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own negligence or willful misconduct.

(g) The Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Collateral Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the date of this Indenture, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Collateral Documents, (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Collateral Documents, and (iv) perform and observe its obligations under the Collateral Documents.

(h) If at any time or times the Trustee shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Indenture, except for any such proceeds or payments received by the Trustee from the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) payments from the Collateral Agent in excess of the amount required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article VI, the Trustee shall promptly turn the same over to the Collateral Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Collateral Agent such proceeds to be applied by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(i) The Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Issuers, the Trustee shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.

(j) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any grantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine whether all or the Grantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture or any Collateral Document other than pursuant to the instructions of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Collateral Documents.

 

157


(k) No provision of this Indenture or any Collateral Document shall require the Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Collateral Agent) unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or the Collateral Documents, in the event the Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the Mortgages or take any such other action if the Collateral Agent has determined that the Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause (k) if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Issuer or the Holders to be sufficient.

(l) The Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Documents or instruments referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer (and money held in trust by the Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.

(m) [Reserved].

(n) The Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Issuers or any other grantor under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture or any Collateral Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Collateral Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Obligations under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other

 

158


Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture the Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture and any Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

(o) The parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall assume, be responsible for or otherwise be obligated for any liabilities, claims, causes of action, suits, losses, allegations, requests, demands, penalties, fines, settlements, damages (including foreseeable and unforeseeable), judgments, expenses and costs (including but not limited to, any remediation, corrective action, response, removal or remedial action, or investigation, operations and maintenance or monitoring costs, for personal injury or property damages, real or personal) of any kind whatsoever, pursuant to any environmental law as a result of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or any actions taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Further, the parties hereto and the Holders hereby agree and acknowledge that in the exercise of its rights under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents, the Collateral Agent may hold or obtain indicia of ownership primarily to protect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral and that any such actions taken by the Collateral Agent shall not be construed as or otherwise constitute any participation in the management of such Collateral.

(p) Upon the receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written request of the Issuers signed by an Officer (a “Collateral Document Order”), subject to Section 12.05, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and enter into, and shall execute and enter into, without the further consent of any Holder or the Trustee, any Collateral Document or amendment or supplement thereto to be executed after the date of this Indenture; provided that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute or enter into any such Collateral Document which, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable opinion is reasonably likely to adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Collateral Agent or that the Collateral Agent determines is reasonably likely to involve the Collateral Agent in personal liability. Such Collateral Document Order shall (i) state that it is being delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to, and is a Collateral Document Order referred to in, this Section 12.07(p), and (ii) instruct the Collateral Agent to execute and enter into such Collateral Document. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, any such execution of a Collateral Document shall be at the direction and expense of the Issuers, upon delivery to the Collateral Agent of an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of the Collateral Document have been satisfied. The Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, hereby authorize and direct the Collateral Agent to execute such Collateral Documents (subject to the first sentence of this Section 12.07(p)).

(q) Subject to the provisions of the applicable Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, and subject to Section 12.05, agrees that the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Collateral Documents, First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and

 

159


instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or the Trustee, as applicable. Each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, authorizes and directs the Trustee to execute and deliver the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in its capacity as Authorized Representative (as defined therein) and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof and any other intercreditor or subordination agreement.

(r) After the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee, acting at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may direct the Collateral Agent in connection with any action required or permitted by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(s) The Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements and to the extent not prohibited under any Intercreditor Agreement for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

(t) In each case that the Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Collateral Document or under any Intercreditor Agreement to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.

(u) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any Collateral Document, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any of the Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.

 

160


(v) Before the Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Issuer or the Guarantors, other than as set forth in this Indenture, it may require an Officers’ Certificate, which shall conform to the provisions of this Section 12.07, Section 14.03 and Section 14.04 hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate.

(w) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee with respect to the Collateral Documents and the Collateral, except as otherwise set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(x) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any duties or obligations under hereunder or under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Collateral Document except those expressly set forth herein or therein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required to acquire title to an asset for any reason, or take any managerial action of any kind in regard thereto, in order to carry out any fiduciary or trust obligation for the benefit of another, which in the Collateral Agent’s or the Trustee’s sole discretion may cause it to be considered an “owner or operator” under the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. §9601, et seq., or otherwise cause it to incur liability under CERCLA or any other federal, state or local law, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee each reserves the right, instead of taking such action, to either resign or arrange for the transfer of the title or control of the asset to a court-appointed receiver. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable to any person for any environmental claims or contribution actions under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation by reason of the Collateral Agent’s actions and conduct as authorized, empowered and directed hereunder or relating to the discharge, release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment. If at any time it is necessary or advisable for the Collateral to be possessed, owned, operated or managed by any person other than the Grantor, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall direct the Collateral Agent or Trustee, as applicable, to appoint an appropriately qualified person who they shall designate to possess, own, operate or manage, as the case may be, the Collateral.

(y) The rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections given to the Trustee under this Indenture are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Collateral Agent as if the Collateral Agent were named as the Trustee herein and the Collateral Documents were named as this Indenture herein. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to compensation, reimbursement and indemnity as set forth in Section 7.07, as if references therein to Trustee were references to Collateral Agent.

ARTICLE XIII

ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS

Section 13.01 Escrow Accounts. Pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), to be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Escrow Issuer, the Trustee and Citibank, N.A., as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), (i) the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be deposited into an escrow account with the Escrow Agent (the “Escrow

 

161


Account”) and (ii) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash sufficient, together with the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event occurring on June 2, 2021 (collectively, and together with any other property from time to time held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account, the “Escrowed Property”). The Escrow Agreement will provide further that, until either the Effective Date or a Special Mandatory Redemption occurs, on the second (2nd) day of each calendar month (commencing June 2, 2021) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash (in each case, as calculated by the Escrow Issuer in accordance with this Indenture) sufficient, together with amounts already in the Escrow Account, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event occurring on the earlier of (i) one calendar month after such date of deposit and (ii) five Business Days after the Outside Date; provided that if any deposit required by this Section 13.01 would be due on a date that is not a Business Day, such deposit shall be made on the preceding Business Day. The Escrow Issuer will grant to the Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes, a first-priority security interest in the Escrow Account and Escrowed Property.

Section 13.02 Release of Escrow Property. Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, upon delivery by the Escrow Issuer to the Escrow Agent and the Trustee, not later than the Outside Date, of an officer’s certificate (in the form and substance as set forth in the Escrow Agreement) instructing the Escrow Agent to release the Escrowed Property and certifying that the following conditions (collectively, the “Escrow Release Conditions”) have been or, substantially concurrent with the release of the Escrowed Property will be, satisfied:

 

  (1)

the transactions which upon consummation thereof will result in the Separation and Distribution are being initiated, and it is anticipated that the Separation and Distribution will be consummated promptly (which may be on the day, or Business Day, following the Effective Date) on or following the release of funds from the Escrow Account;

 

  (2)

there being no Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(6) or Section 6.01(7) hereunder;

 

  (3)

the completion of the Assumption and, as soon as commercially practicable thereafter, the Merger; and

 

  (4)

the term loan lenders for the “term loan B” facilities under the Senior Credit Facilities have funded, or substantially concurrently will be funding, the term loans thereunder in an aggregate principal amount of (i) $3,000 million in respect of the U.S. dollar denominated facility and (ii) €750 million in respect of the Euro denominated facility, in each case less any applicable discounts, fees and expenses,

the funds in the Escrow Account shall be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer (the date on which such funds are released, the “Escrow Release Date”).

 

162


Any excess funds remaining in the Escrow Account after the Special Mandatory Redemption and payment of any fees and expenses of the Trustee and Escrow Agent will be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer. Upon release of the Escrowed Property from the Escrow Account, the security interest granted in favor of the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, shall automatically be released.

Section 13.03 Consummation of the Assumption. To consummate the Assumption, on the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each of the Company and the Co-Issuer to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

Section 13.04 Amendment of Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein (including Article IX) to the contrary, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement (including, without limitation, those relating to the release of the Escrowed Property) may be waived or modified in any manner, when taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding. To the extent such provisions relate to the Escrow Issuer’s obligation to redeem the Notes in a Special Mandatory Redemption, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement or this Indenture may be waived or modified in any manner materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of each such Holder. However, the Escrow Agreement may be amended without the consent of any other Person to conform to the description thereof in the “Description of the Secured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum.

This Article XIII is subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, and in the event of a conflict between this Article XIII and the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreement shall control. For avoidance of doubt, this Article XIII (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply after the Assumption is consummated.

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic mail in PDF format, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

secretaryoffice@organon.com

 

163


With a courtesy copy to (the provision of which copy shall not be required in order to effectuate notice under this Indenture):

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Office of General Counsel

If to the Trustee and Collateral Agent:

U.S Bank National Association

City Place I

185 Asylum Street, 27th Floor

Hartford, CT 06103

Attention: Global Corporate Trust/Laurel Casasanta

laurel.casasanta@usbank.com

The Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee or any Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; on the first date on which publication or electronic delivery is made, if given by publication or electronic delivery; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If an Issuer delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it shall deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

 

164


Section 14.02 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 14.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by an Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee or Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Collateral Agent:

(A) An Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(B) An Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as applicable (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied;

provided that no such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication and delivery of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

Section 14.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof) shall include:

(A) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(B) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

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

(D) (D) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

165


Section 14.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Transfer Agent, Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 14.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, member, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuers, any Guarantor, or any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of any such obligation or its creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 14.07 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, AND THE GUARANTEES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 14.08 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 14.09 Force Majeure. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. Neither the Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

Section 14.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers or the Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 14.11 Successors. All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 14.12 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

166


Section 14.13 Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. The Trustee, any Agent and the Collateral Agent may, in their discretion, require that such documents and signatures executed electronically or delivered by electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature executed electronically or delivered by electronic means. Any signed communication sent to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by a digital signature provider specified in writing by an authorized officer of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any such Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 14.14 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 14.15 USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable AML Law”), the Trustee and Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and Agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and Agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and Agents to comply with Applicable AML Law.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

167


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

 

Very truly yours,
ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:   /s/ Rita Karachun
Name:   Rita Karachun
Title:   President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as TRUSTEE
By:   /s/ Laurel Casasanta
  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as COLLATERAL AGENT
By:   /s/ Laurel Casasanta
  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


CUSIP [            ]

ISIN [            ]1

[RULE 144A] [REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

4.125% Senior Note due 2028

 

No. ___    [$______________]

Organon Finance 1 LLC., a Delaware limited liability company (with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer), promises to pay to [________] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]2 [of             dollars]3 on April 30, 2028.

Interest Payment Dates: April 30 and October 30, commencing October 30, 20214

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

1 

144A CUSIP: 68622T AA9
144A ISIN: US68622TAA97
Regulation S CUSIP: U6835W AA2
Regulation S ISIN: USU6835WAA28

2 

Insert in Global Notes only.

3 

Insert in Definitive Notes only.

4 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


Dated: [             ]

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, certifies that is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[BACK OF NOTE]

4.125% Senior Note due 2028

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Organon Finance 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum set forth below from April 22, 2021 until maturity. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 20215 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day. The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15 (each, a “Record Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including April 22, 2021. The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Interest on this Note will accrue at the rate of 4.125% per annum and be payable in cash.

2. Assumption. Upon the Assumption, all of the obligations of Organon Finance 1 LLC will be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer. For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of Organon & Co. and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC, as the context may require).

3. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest will be made at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, payments of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depositary (or its nominee) will be made through the Paying Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered Holder or Holders thereof. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

5 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-5


4. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

5. Indenture. The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively referred to herein as the “Notes”) shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions in the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

6. Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2024, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2024

     102.063

2025

     101.031

2026 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date) at

 

A-6


a redemption price equal to 104.125% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date, to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

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

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

 

A-7


7. Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Indenture.

8. Taxation Redemption. The Notes shall be subject to optional redemption for tax reasons as described in Section 3.10 of the Indenture.

9. Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.03 and 3.09 of the Indenture, notice of redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture. Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than $200,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least $200,000, shall be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

10. Offers to Repurchase. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuers shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

11. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee will require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers will require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

12. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of this Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

13. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

14. Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. The remedies with respect thereto are as provided under Article VI or the Indenture and the other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

 

A-8


15. Security. On and after the Effective Date, the Notes and the Guarantees will be secured as provided in the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

16. Authentication. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIPs and ISINs. The Issuers have caused CUSIPs and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIPs and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:     
   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint     

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                                     

 

Your Signature:     
   (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                  

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box

below:                                 

☐  Section 4.10            ☐  Section  4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount ($200,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):

$_____________

Date: _______________________

 

Your Signature:     
   (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:     

Signature Guarantee*: __________________________________

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $________.

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of
decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Amount of
increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee,
Custodian or
Registrar

 

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

 

  Re:

4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

______________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to ____________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1.        ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2.        ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the

 

B-1


Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3.        ☐  CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a)       ☐  such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

(b)       ☐  such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c)       ☐  such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4.        ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a)       ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


(b)       ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c)       ☐  CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Dated: ____________________

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐144A Global Note ([CUSIP: 68622T AA9] [ISIN: US68622TAA97]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP: U6835W AA2] [ISIN: USU6835WAA28), or

 

  (b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐144A Global Note ([CUSIP: 68622T AA9] [ISIN: US68622TAA97]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP: U6835W AA2] [ISIN: USU6835WAA28), or

 

  (iii)

☐ Unrestricted Global Note ([            ]); or

 

  (b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c)

☐ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

 

  Re:

4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, the Trustee, the Collateral Agent, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

____________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $____________in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


(b)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


(b)       ☐  CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note, in each case, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers and are dated ___________________________.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Dated: _______________________

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY THE ISSUERS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE]

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of _____________, among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuers’ obligations as Issuer under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer,

 

D-1


respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

D-2


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of _____________, among _________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of _________, 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances [, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,] the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

E-1


(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

E-2


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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

E-3

Exhibit 10.7

Execution Version

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 22, 2021

among

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC,

(with obligations to be assumed by

ORGANON & CO.,

as Issuer, and

ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.

as Co-Issuer),

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee,

5.125% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     1  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

  Other Definitions      42  

Section 1.03

  Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act      44  

Section 1.04

  Acts of Holders      45  

Section 1.05

  Measuring Compliance      46  

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

     48  

Section 2.01

  Form and Dating; Terms      48  

Section 2.02

  Execution and Authentication      50  

Section 2.03

  Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent      51  

Section 2.04

  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      51  

Section 2.05

  Holder Lists      52  

Section 2.06

  Transfer and Exchange      52  

Section 2.07

  Replacement Notes      65  

Section 2.08

  Outstanding Notes      66  

Section 2.09

  Treasury Notes      66  

Section 2.10

  Temporary Notes      66  

Section 2.11

  Cancellation      67  

Section 2.12

  Defaulted Interest      67  

Section 2.13

  CUSIPs and ISINs      67  

Section 2.14

  Additional Amounts      68  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION

     69  

Section 3.01

  Notices to Trustee      69  

Section 3.02

  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      69  

Section 3.03

  Notice of Redemption      70  

Section 3.04

  Effect of Notice of Redemption      71  

Section 3.05

  Deposit of Redemption Price      71  

Section 3.06

  Notes Redeemed in Part      71  

Section 3.07

  Optional Redemption      72  

Section 3.08

  Mandatory Redemption      73  

Section 3.09

  Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      73  

Section 3.10

  Taxation Redemption      76  

Section 3.11

  Special Mandatory Redemption      77  

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     78  

Section 4.01

  Payment of Notes      78  

Section 4.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      78  


Section 4.03

  Reports and Other Information      78  

Section 4.04

  Compliance Certificate      80  

Section 4.05

  Reserved      81  

Section 4.06

  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      81  

Section 4.07

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      81  

Section 4.08

  Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      90  

Section 4.09

  Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      92  

Section 4.10

  Asset Sales      100  

Section 4.11

  Transactions with Affiliates      103  

Section 4.12

  Liens      106  

Section 4.13

  Company Existence      107  

Section 4.14

  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      107  

Section 4.15

  Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      109  

Section 4.16

  Suspension of Covenants      110  

Section 4.17

  Reserved      111  

Section 4.18

  Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption      111  

ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS

     112  

Section 5.01

  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      112  

Section 5.02

  Successor Person Substituted      115  

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     115  

Section 6.01

  Events of Default      115  

Section 6.02

  Acceleration      117  

Section 6.03

  Other Remedies      118  

Section 6.04

  Waiver of Past Defaults      118  

Section 6.05

  Control by Majority      119  

Section 6.06

  Limitation on Suits      119  

Section 6.07

  Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment      120  

Section 6.08

  Collection Suit by Trustee      120  

Section 6.09

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      120  

Section 6.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      120  

Section 6.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      120  

Section 6.12

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      120  

Section 6.13

  Priorities      121  

Section 6.14

  Undertaking for Costs      121  

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

     122  

Section 7.01

  Duties of Trustee      122  

Section 7.02

  Rights of Trustee      123  

Section 7.03

  Individual Rights of Trustee      124  

Section 7.04

  Trustee’s Disclaimer      125  

 

ii


Section 7.05

  Notice of Defaults      125  

Section 7.06

  May Hold Notes      125  

Section 7.07

  Compensation and Indemnity      125  

Section 7.08

  Replacement of Trustee or Agents      126  

Section 7.09

  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      127  

Section 7.10

  Eligibility; Disqualification      128  

ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     128  

Section 8.01

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      128  

Section 8.02

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      128  

Section 8.03

  Covenant Defeasance      129  

Section 8.04

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      129  

Section 8.05

  Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      131  

Section 8.06

  Repayment to Issuers      132  

Section 8.07

  Reinstatement      132  

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     132  

Section 9.01

  Without Consent of Holders      132  

Section 9.02

  With Consent of Holders      133  

Section 9.03

  Revocation and Effect of Consents      135  

Section 9.04

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes      135  

Section 9.05

  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc      136  

Section 9.06

  Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount      136  

ARTICLE X GUARANTEES

     136  

Section 10.01

  Guarantee      136  

Section 10.02

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      138  

Section 10.03

  Execution and Delivery      138  

Section 10.04

  Subrogation      139  

Section 10.05

  Benefits Acknowledged      139  

Section 10.06

  Release of Guarantees      139  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     140  

Section 11.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge      140  

Section 11.02

  Application of Trust Money      141  

ARTICLE XII [RESERVED]

     142  

ARTICLE XIII ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS

     142  

Section 13.01

  Escrow Accounts      142  

Section 13.02

  Release of Escrow Property      142  

 

iii


Section 13.03

  Consummation of the Assumption      143  

Section 13.04

  Amendment of Escrow Agreement      143  

ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS

     143  

Section 14.01

  Notices      143  

Section 14.02

  Communication by Holders with Other Holders      145  

Section 14.03

  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      145  

Section 14.04

  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      145  

Section 14.05

  Rules by Trustee and Agents      146  

Section 14.06

  No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members and Stockholders      146  

Section 14.07

  Governing Law      146  

Section 14.08

  Waiver of Jury Trial      146  

Section 14.09

  Force Majeure      146  

Section 14.10

  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      146  

Section 14.11

  Successors      146  

Section 14.12

  Severability      146  

Section 14.13

  Counterpart Originals      147  

Section 14.14

  Table of Contents, Headings, etc      147  

Section 14.15

  USA Patriot Act      147  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Form of Note
Exhibit B    Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C    Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered By the Issuers on the Effective Date
Exhibit E    Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

iv


This INDENTURE, dated as of April 22, 2021, is among Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”), a Delaware limited liability company, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 5.125% senior notes due 2031 (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck;

WHEREAS, it is intended that on the Effective Date (as defined herein), (i) Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (including its successors and assigns, the “Company”), will assume the rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer as issuer under the Notes and this Indenture, (ii) Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) will, as co-issuer jointly and severally with the Company, assume all rights and obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture; and (iii) each of the Guarantors will guarantee the notes, in each case pursuant to a supplemental indenture (each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Assumption”). Following the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company of such merger (the “Merger”). For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to the Escrow Issuer and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of the Company and the Co-Issuer (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to the Escrow Issuer, as the context may require).

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

NOW, THEREFORE, each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01 Definitions.

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

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


  (1)

Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging or consolidating with or into, winding up into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, or

 

  (2)

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

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.

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

Agents” means any Paying Agent, Registrar, Transfer Agent, and Authenticating Agent.

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

 

  (1)

1.0% of the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note; and

 

  (2)

the excess, if any, of

 

  (a)

the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of the Note on April 30, 2026 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(b) hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through April 30, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over

 

  (b)

the then-outstanding principal amount of such Note.

The Issuer shall calculate the Applicable Premium. For the avoidance of doubt, calculation of the Applicable Premium shall not be an obligation or duty of the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

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

 

2


Asset Sale” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

in each case, other than:

 

  (a)

any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, worn out or surplus property in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b)

the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

 

  (c)

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

 

  (d)

any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than the greater of $200.0 million and 7% of EBITDA;

 

  (e)

any disposition of property or assets by a Restricted Subsidiary, or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary, in either case, to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary, or by the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (f)

to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), or comparable law or regulation, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

 

  (g)

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

 

  (h)

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

 

3


  (i)

any foreclosure, condemnation or similar action on assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

  (j)

sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets, in each case, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

  (k)

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

 

  (l)

the sale, discount, or other disposition of inventory, accounts receivable, notes receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

  (m)

the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property, software or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (n)

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

 

  (o)

the unwinding of Hedging Obligations;

 

  (p)

sales, transfers, and other 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;

 

  (q)

the lapse, abandonment, or disposition of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which rights, in the reasonable, good-faith determination of the Issuer, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  (r)

the issuance of director qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law;

 

  (s)

the granting of a Lien that is permitted under Section 4.12 hereof or any Permitted Lien;

 

  (t)

any transfer of property subject to a casualty event upon receipt of the net cash proceeds of such casualty event;

 

  (u)

any disposition to a Captive Insurance Subsidiary;

 

4


  (v)

(i) any disposition of non-core assets or property for fair market value in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million and (ii) any disposition of non-core assets or property acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate, or disposed of in order to obtain approval for, an acquisition or Investment permitted under this Indenture; and

 

  (w)

any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions.

Bank Products” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit, or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, cash pooling, and other cash management arrangements.

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

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

Capital Stock” means:

 

  (1)

in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

  (4)

any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, as GAAP was in effect on November 5, 2018.

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

 

5


Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Issuer operating solely for the purpose of (a) insuring the businesses, operations or properties owned or operated by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, including their future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, members, partners, independent contractors or consultants, and related benefits and/or (b) conducting any activities or business incidental thereto (it being understood and agreed that activities which are relevant or appropriate to qualify as an insurance company for U.S. federal or state tax purposes shall be considered “activities or business incidental thereto”) or (ii) any Subsidiary of any such insurance subsidiary operating for the same purpose described in clause (i) above.

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

  (1)

United States dollars;

 

  (2)

(a) pounds sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; and

 

  (b)

local currencies of any other jurisdiction held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (3)

securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any government of any member of the European Union or the United Kingdom 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 one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $250.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

 

  (5)

repurchase obligations for underlying securities of any of the types described in clauses (3), (4), (7), and (8) of this definition entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) of this definition;

 

  (6)

commercial paper and variable- or fixed-rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

 

  (7)

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

 

6


  (8)

readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another 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 or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds given one of the three highest ratings by S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); and

 

  (11)

investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) of this definition; and,

in the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) assets and investments of the type and, to the extent applicable, maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) and clauses (10) and (11) of this definition 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 (11) of this definition and in this paragraph.

In addition, in the case of Investments by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, Cash Equivalents shall also include (a) such Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in issuers rated BBB (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Baa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case at the time of such Investment and (b) any Investment with a maturity of more than 12 months that would otherwise constitute Cash Equivalents of the kind described in any of clauses (1) through (11) of this definition or clause (a) of this paragraph, if the maturity of such Investment was 12 months or less; provided that the effective maturity of such Investment does not exceed 15 years.

 

7


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

At any time at which the value, calculated in accordance with GAAP, of all investments of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that were deemed, when made, to be Cash Equivalents in accordance with clauses (1) through (11) of this definition exceeds the Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, “Cash Equivalents” shall also mean any investment (a “Qualifying Investment”) that satisfies the following two conditions: (x) the Qualifying Investment is of a type described in clauses (1) through (10) of the first paragraph of this definition, but has an effective maturity (whether by reason of final maturity, a put option or, in the case of an asset-backed security, an average life) of five years and one month or less from the date of such Qualifying Investment (notwithstanding any provision contained in such clauses (1) through (10) requiring a shorter maturity); and (y) the weighted average effective maturity of such Qualifying Investment and all other investments that were made as Qualifying Investments in accordance with this paragraph does not exceed two years from the date of such Qualifying Investment.

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

 

  (1)

the sale, lease or transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person; or

 

  (2)

the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50.0% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer (directly or through the acquisition of voting power of Voting Stock of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies);

provided, however, that (1) a transaction in which any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer becomes a Subsidiary of another Person (other than a Person that is an individual, such Person that is not an individual, the “Other Person”) shall not constitute a Change of Control if (a) the shareholders “beneficially owning” 100.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately prior to such transaction “beneficially own” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of such parent, immediately following the consummation of such transaction, and no

 

8


“person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent immediately following such transaction if such “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) did not “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent prior to such transaction or (b) immediately following the consummation of such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above), other than the Other Person (but including the holders of the Equity Interests of the Other Person), “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined above), directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, more than 50.0% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of such parent or the Other Person; (2) any holding company whose only significant asset is Capital Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer shall not itself be considered a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) for purposes of this definition; (3) the transfer of assets between or among the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture shall not itself constitute a Change of Control; and (4) a “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined above) shall not be deemed to “beneficially own” (as such term is defined above) securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or any voting or option agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Change of Control will be deemed to occur as a result of the Transactions.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A. or any successor securities clearing agency.

consolidated” means, with respect to any financial information of the Issuer, that such information has been prepared based on the consolidation of the accounts of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company with those of the Company in accordance with GAAP; provided that such consolidated financial information will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an investment. For purposes of this Indenture, except to the extent the context requires otherwise, for periods ending on or prior to the Effective Date, references to the consolidated financial statements of the Issuer shall be to the combined financial statements of the Company, with pro forma effect being given to the Transactions (with Subsidiaries of the Company after giving effect to the Transactions being deemed Subsidiaries of the Company), as the context may require.

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

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

 

9


  (1)

consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount 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 Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (e) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (t) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (u) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (v) any “additional interest” owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement with respect to securities, (w) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees, (y) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and (z) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

 

  (2)

consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

  (3)

interest paid, directly or indirectly (through dividends or otherwise), on Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent all of the proceeds of such Indebtedness have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; less

 

  (4)

interest income for such period.

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

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

 

  (1)

any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to any multi-year strategic initiatives), Transaction Expenses, severance, relocation costs, and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded,

 

10


  (2)

the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

 

  (3)

any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

 

  (4)

any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses 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, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period,

 

  (6)

solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(A) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, 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, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

 

  (7)

the effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

 

  (8)

any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Hedging Obligations or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

 

11


  (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 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 non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge arising from any grant of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other rights shall be excluded,

 

  (11)

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

 

  (12)

accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transactions (or within twelve months after the closing of any acquisition that are so required to be established as a result of such acquisition) in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded, and

 

  (13)

the following items shall be excluded:

 

  (a)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging; and

 

  (b)

any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those (i) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (ii) resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expense or charge that is covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 hereof only (other than clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchase or redemption of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayment of loans or advance that constitutes a Restricted Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clause (3)(D) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

 

12


Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens on the property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, less the aggregate amount of Cash Equivalents held by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date, to (2) the Issuer’s EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Cash Equivalents, and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes and similar instruments (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any letter of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder, Hedging Obligations and all obligations relating to Qualified Securitization Facilities), in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition) and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and all Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and maximum fixed repurchase prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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

 

13


whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,

 

  (1)

to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

 

  (2)

to advance or supply funds

 

  (a)

for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

 

  (b)

to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

  (3)

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

Corporate Trust Office” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 14.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer.

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

Custodian means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

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

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

 

14


Depositary” means, with respect to the Global Notes, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, executed on or about the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that, if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations; provided further that any Capital Stock held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors of the Issuer (or the compensation committee thereof) that is redeemable or subject to repurchase, in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or stockholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.

Distribution” means the distribution of all of the shares of common stock of the Company owned by Merck to shareholders of Merck as of the relevant record date.

Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division.”

 

15


Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.

Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division. A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.

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

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

 

  (1)

increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

  (a)

provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital gains, including federal, foreign, and state income tax, franchise, excise and similar taxes (such as the Pennsylvania capital tax) and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (b)

Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses on Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank 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)(t) through (z) in the definition thereof) to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (c)

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (d)

any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including, but not limited to, (i) such fees, expenses, or charges related to the offering of the Notes, the Secured Notes, or the Senior Credit Facilities and (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes, the Secured Notes or the Senior Credit Facilities and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

16


  (e)

the amount of any restructuring charges, integration costs or other business optimization expenses, costs associated with establishing new facilities or reserves deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions after the Issue Date, and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

 

  (f)

any other non-cash charges, including any write offs or write downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

 

  (g)

the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority Equity Interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (h)

[Reserved];

 

  (i)

the amount of net cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than 24 months after the end of such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period for which EBITDA is being determined and as if such cost savings, operating expense reductions, and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; plus

 

  (j)

the amount of loss on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets, and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; plus

 

  (k)

any costs or expense incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Issuer or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

 

17


  (l)

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

 

  (m)

any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; plus

 

  (n)

interest income or investment earnings on retiree medical and intellectual property, royalty, or license receivables;

 

  (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 increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced 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 EBITDA in such prior period; plus

 

  (b)

any net income from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; and

 

  (3)

increased or decreased (without duplication), as applicable, by any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification topic 460, Guarantees.

Effective Date Repayment” means the repayment, on or around the Effective Date, in one or more steps, of one or more intercompany loans or notes owed by the Company to a Merck Affiliate.

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

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

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

 

  (1)

public offerings with respect to the Issuer’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

  (2)

issuances to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; and

 

  (3)

any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

 

18


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

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank SA/NV or any successor clearing agency.

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

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Issuer from

 

  (1)

contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

  (2)

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

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed on or about the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.

fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Issuer in good faith.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the pro forma calculation of Fixed Charges for purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof (and for the purposes of other provisions of this Indenture that refer to Section 4.09(a)) shall not give effect to any Indebtedness being incurred on such date (or on such other subsequent date which would otherwise require pro forma effect to be given to such incurrence) pursuant to Section 4.09(b) hereof (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clauses (1)(b) and (14) thereunder).

 

19


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

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

With respect to any four-quarter period beginning prior to the Effective Date for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated, the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be made on a pro forma basis to give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

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

 

  (1)

Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

 

  (2)

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

 

20


  (3)

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

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

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date of any calculation or determination required hereunder; provided, that at any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to establish that GAAP shall mean the GAAP as in effect as of any date on or after the Issue Date and on or prior to the date of such election; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable. At any time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may elect to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture), including as to the ability of the Issuer to make an election pursuant to the previous sentence; provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further, that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuer’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that the Issuer may only make such election if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by the Issuer, including pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in IFRS. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders. If there occurs a change in IFRS or GAAP, as the case may be, and such change would cause a change in the method of calculation of any standards, terms or measures (including all computations of amounts and ratios) used in this Indenture (an “Accounting Change”), then the Issuer may elect that such standards, terms or measures shall be calculated as if such Accounting Change had not occurred. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for purposes of Section 4.03 herein, GAAP shall mean the GAAP (or IFRS, if the election described above has been made) as in effect from time to time.

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

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

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit, and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

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

 

21


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

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

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

  (1)

any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (a)

in respect of borrowed money;

 

  (b)

evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

  (c)

representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and is not paid after becoming due and payable; or

 

  (d)

representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Capitalized Lease Obligation” and as set forth in Section 1.05 in respect of leases); provided that Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer appearing upon the balance sheet of the Issuer solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP shall be excluded;

 

  (2)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person (whether or not such item would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of a negotiable instrument for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

22


  (3)

to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of the type referred to in clause (1) above of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person;

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (b) any operating lease as such an instrument would be determined in accordance with GAAP on the Issue Date or (c) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities or Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations); provided further that Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to Accounting Standards Codification topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

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

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property, including without limitation patents, copyrights, trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable), and any applications therefor and reissues, continuations, extensions, renewals, or similar extension of rights thereof; goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; together with all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property and the goodwill associated therewith.

Initial Notes” is defined in the recitals hereto.

Initial Purchaser” means any of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, SG Americas Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Bancroft Capital, LLC, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Drexel Hamilton LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC and Stern Brothers & Co., or any of their respective affiliates.

Interest Payment Date” means April 30 and October 30 of each year to stated maturity, beginning with October 30, 2021.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency or nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

 

23


  (1)

securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

  (2)

debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;

 

  (3)

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

 

  (4)

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

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances and extensions of credit to customers and vendors, and commission, travel, and similar advances to officers, employees, directors and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. In no event shall a guarantee of an operating lease or other business contract of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary be deemed an Investment. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (a)

the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

 

  (b)

the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

  (2)

any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

 

24


The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date” means April 22, 2021.

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee and Authenticating Agent (if any).

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

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

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (1) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(9) multiplied by (2) 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.

Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by either Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is material to the operation of the business of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole).

Material Real Property” means any real property in the United States owned by any Issuer or any Guarantor with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000.

Merck” means Merck & Co., Inc.

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

Net Cash Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and

 

25


sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required (other than required by clause (1) of Section 4.10(b) hereof) to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

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

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

Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture. The Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

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

Offering Memorandum” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated April 8, 2021, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer, or any other officer of the Issuer designated by any of the foregoing individuals.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer, or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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

 

26


Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and Cash Equivalents between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof.

Permitted Investments” means:

 

  (1)

any Investment in the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (2)

any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

  (3)

any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit or product line) if as a result of such Investment:

 

  (a)

such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, including by means of a Division; or

 

  (b)

such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or such division, business unit or product line), including by means of a Division, to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation, transfer, or Division;

 

  (4)

any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions described under Section 4.10 hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

  (5)

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

 

  (6)

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

 

  (a)

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

 

27


  (b)

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

 

  (c)

in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, trade debtors, licensors, licensees and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business; or

 

  (d)

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

 

  (7)

(x) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (10) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and (y) Investments deemed to arise in connection with ordinary course transfers pursuant to Bank Products and other cash pooling agreements, intercompany payables and receivables arising in the ordinary course of business and tax matters or sharing agreements (including pursuant to any employee matters or other similar agreement) existing on the Issue Date or the Effective Date or entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (8)

any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $280.0 million and 10% of 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 (8) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (8);

 

  (9)

Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (exclusive of Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;

 

  (10)

guarantees of Indebtedness not prohibited by Section 4.09 hereof; performance guarantees in the ordinary course of business and the creation of Liens on the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with Section 4.12 hereof;

 

  (11)

any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in clauses (1), (2), (4), (6) and (12) of Section 4.11(b) hereof);

 

28


  (12)

Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, equipment, or other assets or services or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

  (13)

Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (13) that are at the time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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, however, that, if any Investment pursuant to this clause (13) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer 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 (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (13);

 

  (14)

Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good-faith determination of the Issuer are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

 

  (15)

advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors, employees or members of management not in excess of $25.0 million outstanding at any time, in the aggregate;

 

  (16)

loans and advances to officers, directors, employees, members of management, and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses, and other similar expenses or payroll advances, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

 

  (17)

advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (18)

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

 

  (19)

Investments in the Notes and Guarantees and the Secured Notes and the guarantees thereof;

 

  (20)

Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (20) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of 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);

 

29


  (21)

any Investment in or by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the provision of insurance to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;

 

  (22)

additional Investments if, at the time of the making of any such Investment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including, without limitation, to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Investment), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.25 to 1.00;

 

  (23)

any Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor in any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor;

 

  (24)

additional Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor; provided that all such Investments pursuant to this clause (24) shall (A), other than Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000, be in the form of intercompany loans (provided that in order to comply with the laws and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, Investments may instead be structured as an equity contribution or otherwise in a form other than an intercompany loan) and (B) not exceed an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (24) that are at the time outstanding, equal to the sum of (x) the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA and (y) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on or prior to the Effective Date; and

 

  (25)

any Investments in connection with the Transactions.

For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, in the event that a proposed Investment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (25) above, the Issuer shall be entitled to divide or classify or later divide or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Investment (or a portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (25) in any manner that otherwise complies with this definition.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1)

pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation, or other insurance-related obligations or indemnification obligations to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good-faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

30


  (2)

Liens imposed by law, such as landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction contractors or other like Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or if more than 30 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (3)

Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP or as a result of such Person being included in a fiscal unity for Dutch corporate income tax and/or Dutch VAT purposes;

 

  (4)

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

 

  (5)

minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, cable television, telegraph, and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Person;

 

  (6)

Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4) or (12)(b) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; provided that any such Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to such clause (4) extend only to the assets, the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement of which is financed thereby, and any replacements thereof, additions and accessions thereto and any income or profits thereof;

 

  (7)

Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than the liens securing the Secured Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities);

 

31


  (8)

Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or shares of stock or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

  (9)

Liens on property or other assets at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger, or consolidation; provided further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the proceeds or products of such property or assets or improvements thereon or replacements thereof);

 

  (10)

Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (11)

Liens securing (i) Hedging Obligations and (ii) obligations in respect of Bank Products, in each case, permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (12)

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 bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

  (13)

leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

 

  (14)

Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;

 

  (15)

Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

 

  (16)

Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to clients of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (17)

Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

 

32


  (18)

Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals, or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and this clause (18); provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on, and replacements of, such property and the products and proceeds thereof) and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under such clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

  (19)

deposits made or other security in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

  (20)

other Liens securing obligations which do not exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA at the time of any incurrence of such obligations;

 

  (21)

Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under clause (5) of Section 6.01 hereof;

 

  (22)

Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (23)

Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

  (24)

Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;

 

  (25)

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

 

  (26)

Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

33


  (27)

Liens securing obligations owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any Bank Products;

 

  (28)

during a Suspension Period only, Liens securing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness that is secured equally and ratably with (or on a basis subordinated to) the Notes), and Indebtedness represented by Sale and Lease-Back Transactions in an amount not to exceed 15.0% of Total Assets at any time outstanding;

 

  (29)

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

 

  (30)

Liens on the Equity Interests and Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (31)

(i) Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) customary restrictions or dispositions of assets to be disposed of pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements;

 

  (32)

any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor secured by a lessor’s, sub-lessor’s, licensor’s or sub-licensor’s interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (33)

Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (34)

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

 

  (35)

ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

 

  (36)

Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

  (37)

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;

 

34


  (38)

Liens on assets securing any Indebtedness owed to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (39)

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

 

  (40)

Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred Section 4.09; provided that at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00; and

 

  (41)

Liens securing (a) obligations under the Notes and any Guarantees thereof, (b) obligations under the Secured Notes and any guarantees thereof, to the extent such Secured Notes are issued on the Issue Date, and (c) prior to the Escrow Release Date, Liens pursuant to the Escrow Agreement or any similar agreement relating to amounts deposited in escrow relating to indebtedness or other obligations under the Notes and the Secured Notes issued on the Issue Date.

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

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

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

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

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Issuer shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events, and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any and (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, if any, are made at fair market value.

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

 

35


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

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

Restricted Period” means, in respect of any Note issued under Regulation S, the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S applicable to such Note.

 

36


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Secured Notes” means (i) the €1,250.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers and (ii) the $2,100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers, in each case issued under the applicable Secured Notes Indenture.

Secured Notes Indentures” means the indentures, dated the Issue Date, relating to the (i) the €1,250.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2.875% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers and (ii) the $2,100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% senior secured notes due 2028 of the Issuers, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty, or other revenue streams, and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables purchase facilities, factoring arrangements 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, indemnities and other customary limited recourse made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable 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 to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

37


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 in, one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Senior Credit Agreement” means that certain Senior Secured Credit Agreement, to be dated on or about the Effective Date, among the Issuer, as lead borrower, the Co-Issuer, as co-borrower, the guarantors party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced, renewed, extended or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Credit Facilities” means the credit facilities provided from time to time pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreement.

Separation” means the separation of the women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses from Merck through a distribution of shares of common stock of the Company to the Merck shareholders as of the relevant record date and the other transactions contemplated by the separation and distribution agreement to be entered into between Merck and the Company.

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

Similar Business” means (1) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any reasonable extension thereof or (2) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, related, complementary, incidental or ancillary to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Issue Date.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

38


  (1)

any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

 

  (2)

any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(x) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity, and voting interests, or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interest or otherwise, and

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

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that Guarantees the Notes.

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent internal consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer with such pro forma adjustments thereto as are consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Transaction Agreements” means, collectively, the separation and distribution agreement, the transition services agreements, the interim operating agreements, the regulatory agreements, the manufacturing and supply agreements, the trademark license agreements, the intellectual property agreements, the tax matters agreement, the employee matters agreement, in each case which are described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Agreements with Merck” in the Offering Memorandum, and any other instruments, assignments, documents and agreements contemplated thereby and executed in connection therewith, in each case as may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time (provided, that any such amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification is not materially adverse to the Holders of the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Issuer).

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred, paid by or allocated to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Transactions” means, collectively, any and all of the following (whether or not consummated): (i) the Separation, (ii) the Distribution, (iii) the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements, and all the transactions thereunder, (iv) the payment of the Effective Date Repayment in the amount of approximately $9.0 billion on or about the Effective Date in connection with the Separation and Distribution, (v) the entry into this Indenture and the Secured

 

39


Notes Indentures, and the offer and issuance of the Notes and the Secured Notes, (vi) the Assumption, (vii) the Merger, (viii) the entry into the Senior Credit Facilities, and the initial incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder, (ix) the payment of Transaction Expenses and (x) all other transactions relating to or in furtherance of the foregoing, including without limitation, any corporate reorganization transactions, restructuring or similar activities or transactions in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date with respect to the Notes, the yield to maturity as of the earlier of (1) such Redemption Date or (2) the date on which the Notes are defeased or satisfied and discharged, of the most recently issued United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to April 30, 2026; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to April 30, 2026 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used; provided, further that if the Treasury Rate determined in accordance with the foregoing shall be less than zero, the Treasury Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes of this Indenture. Any such Treasury Rate shall be obtained by the Issuer.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

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

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

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary), other than the Co-Issuer, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that

 

40


  (1)

any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer;

 

  (2)

such designation complies with Section 4.07 hereof; and

 

  (3)

each of:

 

  (a)

the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

 

  (b)

its Subsidiaries

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

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

 

  (1)

the Issuer could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

  (2)

the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Issuers shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

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

 

41


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

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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

Acceptable Commitment

   4.10

Additional Amounts

   2.14

Affiliate Transaction

   4.11

Agent Members

   2.01

Alternate Offer

   4.14

Applicable AML Law

   14.15

Applicable Premium Deficit

   8.04

ASC 842

   1.05

Asset Sale Offer

   4.10

Assumption

   Recitals

Authenticating Agent

   2.02

Authentication Order

   2.02

Change of Control Offer

   4.14

Change of Control Payment

   4.14

Change of Control Payment Date

   4.14

Co-Issuer

   Recitals

Company

   Recitals

Covenant Defeasance

   8.03

Covenant Suspension Event

   4.16

Declined Proceeds

   4.10

Deemed Date

   4.09

DTC

   2.03

Effective Date

   3.11

Escrow Account

   13.01

Escrow Agent

   13.01

 

42


Term

  

Defined in Section

Escrow Agreement    13.01
Escrowed Property    13.01
Escrow Release Conditions    13.02
Escrow Release Date    13.02
Event of Default    6.01
Excess Proceeds    4.10
Fixed Charge Coverage Test    4.09
Foreign Disposition    4.10
Increased Amount    4.12
incur    4.09
incurrence    4.09
Internal Revenue Code    1.01
Issuer    Recitals
Issuers    Recitals
Legal Defeasance    8.02
Merger    Recitals
maximum fixed repurchase price    1.03
Note Register    2.03
Offer Amount    3.09
Offer Period    3.09
Outside Date    3.11
Paying Agent    2.03
Payor    2.14
Permitted Co-Issuer Division    5.01
Purchase Date    3.09
Redemption Date    3.07
Refinancing Indebtedness    4.09
Refunding Capital Stock    4.07
Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction    2.14
Registrar    2.03
Restricted Payments    4.07
Reversion Date    4.16
Second Commitment    4.10
Special Mandatory Redemption    3.11
Special Mandatory Redemption Date    3.11
Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event    3.11
Successor Company    5.01
Successor Person    5.01
Suspended Covenants    4.16
Suspension Date    4.16
Suspension Period    4.16
Taxes    2.14
Transaction Agreement Date    1.05
Transfer Agent    2.03
Treasury Capital Stock    4.07
Trustee    Recitals

 

43


Section 1.03 Rules of Construction and Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

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

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

(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

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

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

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

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

(l) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to any gender;

(m) 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”;

(n) (i) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock at any time shall be (A) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock at such time or (B) the maximum mandatory redemption; and (ii) the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Issuer;

 

44


(o) the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include PDFs, e-mails and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated;

(p) this Indenture is not subject to any provision of the TIA, except to the extent the TIA is specifically incorporated by reference in or made a part of this Indenture; and

(q) for avoidance of doubt, the term “Issuers” shall refer to the Escrow Issuer only prior to the Assumption, unless the context requires otherwise.

Section 1.04 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

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

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

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

 

45


(e) The Issuers may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this Section 1.04(f) shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

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

Section 1.05 Measuring Compliance.

(a) With respect to any (x) Investment or acquisition, in each case, for which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer may not terminate its obligations (or may not do so without incurring significant expense) due to a lack of financing for such Investment or acquisition (whether by merger, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise), as applicable, and (y) repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar irrevocable notice), which may be conditional, has been delivered, in each case, for purposes of determining:

(i) whether any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof;

 

46


(ii) whether any Lien being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness or to secure any such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.12 hereof or the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(iii) whether any other transaction undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes; and

(iv) any calculation of the ratios, including Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA or Total Assets and, whether a Default or Event of Default exists in connection with the foregoing,

at the option of the Issuer, the date the definitive agreement for such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness is entered into or irrevocable notice, which may be conditional, of such repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is given to the holders of such Indebtedness (each, a “Transaction Agreement Date”) may be used as the applicable date of determination, as the case may be, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “EBITDA”.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Issuer elects to use the Transaction Agreement Date as the applicable date of determination in accordance with the foregoing, (1) any fluctuation or change in the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, EBITDA, or Total Assets of the Issuer from the Transaction Agreement Date to the date of consummation of such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness, will not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether (x) any Indebtedness or Lien that is being incurred in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred or (y) any other transaction undertaken in connection with such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes, and (2) until such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness is consummated or such definitive agreement is terminated, such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase, or refinancing of Indebtedness and all transactions proposed to be undertaken in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens) will be given pro forma effect when determining compliance of other transactions (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens unrelated to such Investment, acquisition or repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness) that are consummated after the Transaction Agreement Date and on or prior to the date of such consummation or termination.

(c) The compliance with any requirement relating to the absence of a Default or Event of Default may be determined as of the Transaction Agreement Date and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture.

 

47


(d) For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but giving effect to any returns or distributions of capital or repayment of principal actually received in cash by such Person with respect thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated solely for purposes of Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof, with respect to such incurrence, issuance or other transaction without giving effect to amounts being utilized under any other basket (other than a ratio basket based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio) on the same date. Each item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is incurred or issued, each Lien incurred and each other transaction undertaken will be deemed to have been incurred, issued or taken first, to the extent available, pursuant to the relevant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio or Consolidated Total Debt Ratio test.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the Issuer elects otherwise, all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to adoption by the Issuer of Accounting Standards Codification topic 482, Leases (“ASC 842”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations or Indebtedness) for purposes of all financial definitions, calculations and deliverables herein (including the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and EBITDA) (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASC 842 or any other change in accounting treatment or otherwise (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as or to be re-characterized as financing or capital lease obligations or otherwise accounted for as liabilities in financial statements. Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

48


(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Registrar or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes and only registered Holders shall have rights under this Indenture and the Notes. Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) and Persons who hold beneficial interests in a Global Note through an Agent Member shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary. The Depositary may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any agent of the foregoing as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any agent of the foregoing from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of the designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear and Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent as hereinafter provided.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note upon certification in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer that those interests are owned by (i) non-U.S. Persons or (ii) U.S. Persons who acquired those interests pursuant to another exemption from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

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

 

49


The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. Subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes from time to time ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes without notice to or consent of the Holders, and such Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes, except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance (or such other date specified by the Issuer); provided that, if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP and/or ISIN, as applicable. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

(e) DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream Applicable Procedures. Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.06, the Applicable Procedures of DTC shall be applicable to and shall control transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes for so long as DTC is the Depositary. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Agent Members through Euroclear or Clearstream.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication. At least one Officer of the Issuer (or Issuers, when applicable) shall execute the Notes on behalf of such Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “PDF”) signature (except as otherwise required by the Applicable Procedures).

If an Officer of any Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, as the case may be, by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents (each an “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

50


Section 2.03 Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be transferred or exchanged (the “Transfer Agent”), and (iii) an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar and Transfer Agent shall keep a register of the Notes (the “Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange and will facilitate transfers of the Notes on behalf of the Issuer. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and one or more transfer agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any additional transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. For avoidance of doubt, there shall be only one Note Register.

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

The Issuers initially appoint U.S. Bank National Association, as Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent with respect to the Notes. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and actions of each Agent under this Indenture are several and not joint or joint and several, and the Agents shall only be obliged to perform those duties expressly set out in this Indenture and shall have no implied duties.

The Issuers may change the Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall, to the extent that it is capable, act as such. An Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent.

If, and to the extent that, the Notes are listed on an exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuers shall satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and will comply with any notice requirements required under such exchange in connection with any change of paying agent, registrar or transfer agent.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall no later than two Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due, send to the Paying Agent an irrevocable payment instruction. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent that is not a party to this Indenture to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any

 

51


default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee under this Section 2.04, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to any Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, a Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements (including to the Holders) (i) for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 2.04 and (ii) until they have confirmed receipt of funds sufficient to make the relevant payment. No money held by an Agent needs to be segregated except as is required by law. The Agents will hold all funds as banker subject to the terms of this Indenture and as a result, such money will not be held in accordance with the rules established by the Financial Conduct Authority in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Handbook of rules and guidance from time to time in relation to client money.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists. The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Paying Agent is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Paying Agent and the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Paying Agent and the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

Every Holder, by receiving and holding Notes, agrees with the Issuers and the Trustee that none of the Issuers or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (A) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depositary for such Global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed within 120 days, (B) the Depositary notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as a clearing and settlement agency and a successor clearing agency is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (C) if the Depositary so requests following an Event of Default, or (D) the Issuers, in their sole discretion, determines that all Global Notes should be exchanged for Definitive Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary or the Issuers, in each case in accordance with the Depositary’s respective customary

 

52


procedures. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events described in clauses (A) through (D) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

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

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided that, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person other than pursuant to Rule 144A. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any

 

53


certifications required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B). Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

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

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

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

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

(A) such Notes are sold or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or

(B) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

 

54


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

55


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

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Agent Member. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) (except for transfers pursuant to clause (F) above) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

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

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

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

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

 

56


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

57


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

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

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

the Registrar shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

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

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

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

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

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

 

58


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

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

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In the event that the requesting Holder does not transfer the entire principal amount of Notes represented by any such Definitive Note, the Registrar shall cancel or cause to be canceled such Definitive Note and the Issuers (who will have been informed of such cancelation) shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the requesting Holder and any transferee Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amounts to reflect such transfer. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):

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

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

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

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

 

59


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

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

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

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

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

(f) [Reserved]

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

(i) Private Placement Legend.

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

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.

 

60


THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH ANY ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO ANY ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS’ AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) (I) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE AND AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.”

 

61


Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and Definitive Note issued in a transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S shall also bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT.”

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

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

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

 

62


PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS NOMINEE OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

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

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

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

 

63


(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.04 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption or tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or tendered in part; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

(v) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.03 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery;

(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part;

(C) to register the transfer or exchange of a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or

(D) to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer.

 

64


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

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

(viii) At the option of the Holder, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by electronic delivery.

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

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar, or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss, or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and satisfaction of any other requirement of the Trustee, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent, and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

 

65


Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section 2.07 shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Notes.

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

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

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

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding (including for accounting purposes) and shall cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, a Guarantor or by any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuers, a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers considers appropriate for temporary

Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

66


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

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

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers of any such special record date. At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

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

Section 2.13 CUSIPs and ISINs. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIPs and ISINs (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIPs and ISINs in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIPs and ISINs.

 

67


Section 2.14 Additional Amounts.

(a) All payments made by or on behalf of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor (a “Payor”) under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed (collectively, “Taxes” by the United States, the Netherlands, any other jurisdiction in which the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or any Guarantor is then incorporated, organized, engaged in business for tax purposes, or resident for tax purposes, any jurisdiction from or through which any such payment is made by or on behalf of any Payor or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (each, a “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”)), unless such deduction or withholding is required by law.

(b) In the event such deduction or withholding of Taxes is required with respect to payments under or with respect to the Notes by law of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (other than the United States), subject to the limitations described below, the Payors will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that every net payment received by the beneficial owner of such Note of principal of or interest or any other amount payable on the Notes (including upon redemption), after deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes, will not be less than the amount that would have been received in respect of such payments in the absence of such deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes. Payment of Additional Amounts shall be made in accordance with the procedures of any applicable securities depositary. However, the Payors’ obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply to:

(i) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for:

(A) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner, if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a nominee, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including such Holder or beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner or person having such a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or having or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction;

(B) the failure of such Holder or beneficial owner to comply with a request to provide any certification, information or other reporting requirement, if compliance is required under tax laws and regulations of Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction to establish entitlement to a partial or complete exemption from such Taxes (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (with any required attachment), or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto);

(ii) any Taxes imposed by reason of the Holder or beneficial owner:

(A) owning or having owned, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Issuer’s stock, as described in section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,

(B) being a bank receiving interest as described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, or

(C) being a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Issuer or any Guarantor by stock ownership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(iii) any Taxes that would not have been so imposed but for the presentation by the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the Note is duly provided for and notice is given to such Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that such Holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Note on any date during such 30-day period;

(iv) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property, capital gains, wealth or similar Taxes;

(v) any Taxes payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment on such Note or with respect to any note Guarantee;

(vi) any Taxes payable by a Holder that is not the beneficial owner of the Note, or that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, but, in each case, only to the extent that a beneficial owner, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or member or partner of such partnership, limited liability company or similar entity would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had such beneficial owner, beneficiary, settlor, member or partner received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

(vii) any Taxes required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment on any Note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;

(viii) any Taxes imposed under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or successor provision that is substantively comparable), any current or future regulations or official interpretation thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rule or practice adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing;

 

68


(ix) any Taxes imposed under or in connection with the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act (Wet bronbelasting 2021) with respect to a Holder, or, where applicable, a beneficiary of the Notes that is an entity that is related (gelieerd) to the Issuer within the meaning of the 2021 Dutch Withholding Tax Act; or

(x) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix).

(c) For purposes of this Section 2.14, the acquisition, ownership, enforcement, or holding of or the receipt of any payment with respect to a Note will not constitute a connection (x) between the Holder or beneficial owner and the United States or (y) between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, partner or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity and the United States.

(d) Any reference in this Indenture or in the Notes to principal or interest or other payment on the Notes shall be deemed to refer also to Additional Amounts that may be payable under the provisions of this Section 2.14.

(e) Except as specifically provided under this Section 2.14, the Issuer will not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States. The foregoing obligations will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor to a Payor is organized or otherwise considered to be a resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee and Paying Agent, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee or Paying Agent) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be redeemed in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Paying Agent shall deem fair and appropriate and otherwise in such manner as complies with the Applicable Procedures. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for any selection made by it in accordance with this paragraph (including the procedures of the relevant depositaries).

 

69


The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than $200,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least $200,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.07(f), 3.09 and 3.11 hereof, the Issuer shall send electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI hereof. For Notes held by DTC or a nominee of DTC, notices of redemption shall be delivered in accordance with DTC’s Applicable Procedures.

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

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(i) any condition to such redemption.

 

70


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

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is given in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(f) hereof). The notice, if given in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07(f) hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

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

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

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

71


Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2026, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2026, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2026

     102.563

2027

     101.708

2028

     100.854

2029 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date) at a redemption price equal to 105.125% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(d) The Issuers or their Affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, exchange offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions, or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as the Issuers or their Affiliates may determine, which may be more or less than the consideration for which the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes are initially sold and could be for cash or other consideration.

 

72


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

(f) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided herein, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed; provided that if a Redemption Date or purchase date is delayed, the setting of any new Redemption Date or purchase date shall be subject to the Applicable Procedures. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11.

Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

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

 

73


(b) The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required by the terms of any other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment (on a pro rata basis, if applicable, with adjustments as necessary so that no Note or other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment will be repurchased in part in an unauthorized denomination), or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Purchase Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall send electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, to the holders of such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

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

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

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

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

(v) that any Holder electing to have less than all of the aggregate principal amount of its Notes purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

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

 

74


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

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, subject to the Applicable Procedures, the Paying Agent shall select the Notes and such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof will be purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); provided that the unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, subject to the Applicable Procedures, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis as described in clause (d)(viii) of this Section 3.09, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

(f) The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that new Notes will only be issued in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

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

 

75


Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 3.10 Taxation Redemption.

(a) The Notes may be redeemed at the Issuers’ option, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption and all Additional Amounts, if any, then due, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, at any time, in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof if:

(i) the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts on the next interest payment date as a result of (x) any change in or amendment to the laws, regulations or rulings of the any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction affecting taxation, or (y) any change in or amendment to an official application, interpretation, administration or enforcement of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum; or

(ii) any action shall have been taken by a taxing authority, or any action has been brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, in any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including any of those actions specified in (i) above, whether or not such action was taken or brought with respect to the Issuer, or any change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings in any such case, that have not been publically announced before, and are officially proposed on or after the date of the Offering Memorandum, which results or will result in the Issuer being required to pay Additional Amounts on the next Interest Payment Date (each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), a “Change in Tax Law”).

(b) The Change in Tax Law must become effective on or after the date of this offering memorandum (or, if the applicable Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction becomes a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction after the date of this Indenture, such a change that occurs after such later date). The Issuers will not give any such notice of redemption earlier than 60 days nor later than 10 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption for the reasons specified in Section 3.10(a) hereof, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee:

(i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Issuers are entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the Issuer’s right so to redeem have occurred, and

 

76


(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Issuers have or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment or that the Issuers are or will be required to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such action or proposed change, clarification, amendment, application or interpretation, as the case may be.

(c) Such notice, once delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee, will be irrevocable.

Section 3.11 Special Mandatory Redemption.

(a) In the event that (i) satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (the date of such satisfaction, the “Effective Date”) does not take place on or prior to September 30, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); (ii) the Escrow Issuer fails to make, or cause to be made, any required deposits into the Escrow Account on or prior to three (3) Business Days after the applicable required deposit date as set forth in Section 13.01 or (iii) the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such conditions will not be satisfied by the Outside Date and gives written notice and instruction to the Trustee and the Escrow Agent that it has elected to redeem the Notes (each a “Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event”), the funds in the Escrow Account will be released to the Trustee for the purpose of effecting the mandatory redemption (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”) of the Notes in accordance with the requirements of this Section 3.11. The Issuer will not be required to make a Special Mandatory Redemption on or following the Effective Date.

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event, the Escrow Issuer will redeem the Notes, on the date that is five Business Days (subject to the requirements of the Depositary) after the date of such Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”), at a cash redemption price of 100.0% of the aggregate initial issue price of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the Issue Date, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”).

(c) At least three Business Days before the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Escrow Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth: (i) the provisions pursuant to which the Special Mandatory Redemption shall occur, (ii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, (iii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, (iv) the CUSIP and ISIN of the Notes to be redeemed and (v) instructions to deliver the notice of redemption referred to in Section 3.11(d) to Holders.

(d) The Trustee will send a notice of such redemption on behalf of the Escrow Issuer to the Holders as soon as practicable after the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event.

(e) Prior to the Trustee sending such notice of redemption, the Escrow Issuer will provide the Trustee with a calculation of the redemption amount, including accrued and unpaid interest to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.11 shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.07 hereof. For avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.11 (other than this sentence) will not apply after the Assumption is consummated.

 

77


ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be presented for payment or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of its obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Issuers hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information.

(a) After the Effective Date, whether or not the Issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, so long as the Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its website or file with the SEC for public availability:

(1) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer), an annual report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports;

 

78


(2) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (or such other period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by a non-accelerated filer), a quarterly report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q if the Issuer were required to file such reports; and

(3) as soon as practicable (and in any event no later than five days after the period then in effect under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K) after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, a current report as would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports; provided, however, that, if the last day of any such period is not a Business Day, such report will be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to such reports. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports (x) will not be required to include separate financial information that would be required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X and (y) will not be subject to the Trust Indenture Act.

After the Effective Date, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will maintain a public or non-public website on which Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts are given access to the annual and quarterly financial information described above (and if applicable, the quarterly information described in Section 4.03(b)). If the website containing the financial reports is not available to the public, the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer will direct Holders, prospective investors and securities analysts on its publicly available website to contact the Issuer to obtain access to the non-public website.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or prior to the date 45 days after June 30, 2021, the Escrow Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Holders or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders or post on its (or the Company’s or Merck’s) website or file or cause to be filed with the SEC for public availability interim financial statements and a Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations (“MD&A”) with respect to the three and six-months ending June 30, 2021, in each case substantially comparable to the audited combined financial statements and MD&A included in the Offering Memorandum (provided that such interim financial statements shall not be required to be audited; provided further, that if such interim financial statements and MD&A are included in the Company’s Form 10 Registration Statement filed with the SEC for public availability on or prior to such date, the requirements of this Section 4.03(b) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

(c) If any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer files reports with the SEC in accordance with Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act, whether voluntarily or otherwise, in compliance with the filing periods specified in Section 4.03(a) hereof, then the Issuer shall be deemed to comply with this Section 4.03. For the avoidance of doubt, such reports need not

 

79


include separate financial information required by Rules 3-10 and 3-16 of Regulation S-X; provided that, if such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer has more than de minimis operations separate and apart from its ownership in the Issuer, then the financial statements of the direct or indirect parent company will be required to provide consolidating information, which need not be audited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

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

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of clause (3) under Section 6.01 hereof until 120 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03, and failure to comply with this Section 4.03 shall be automatically cured when the Issuer or its direct or indirect parent company provides all required reports to the Holders (including to the Trustee for delivery to the Holders) or files all required reports with the SEC.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether any report has been filed by the Issuer or posted on the Issuer’s website.

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

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or 120 days after the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date), a certificate from any Officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge, on behalf of the Issuer, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled in all material respects each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions in this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

80


(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuers shall within 20 Business Days after becoming aware of such Default (unless such Default shall have been cured or waived prior to the expiration of such 20 Business Day period) deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Reserved.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(I) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend, payment or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation other than:

(A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Equity Interests of the Issuer; or

(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(II) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger or consolidation, in each case, held by Persons other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

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

 

81


(A) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (7), (8), and (9) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; or

(B) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition, or retirement; or

(IV) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) in this Section 4.07(a) (other than any exception thereto) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

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

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Effective Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by, Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on April 1, 2021 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

(i) (A)Equity Interests of the Issuer, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

 

82


(x) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries after the Effective Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and

(B) to the extent such net cash proceeds or other property are actually contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof); or

(ii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

provided that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock applied in accordance with clause (2) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Issuer sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Issuer after the Effective Date (other than (i) net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to clause (12)(a) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, (ii) contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Excluded Contributions, and (iv) proceeds of Indebtedness of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent such proceeds have been contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Indebtedness has been guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries); plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of, or other returns on Investments from, Restricted Investments made by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than, in each case, to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof), in each case, after the Effective Date; or

 

83


(ii) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date; plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or the assets transferred), at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets (other than, in each case, to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or clause (11) of Section 4.07(b) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment); plus

(F) the greater of $420.0 million and 15% of EBITDA at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

(G) the aggregate amount of Declined Proceeds since the Effective Date.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of the redemption notice, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (within 90 days of such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or other Restricted Payment) (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent contributed to the Issuer (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”), (b) if, immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this Section 4.07(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the

 

84


Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement, and (c) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of a sale of Refunding Capital Stock (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) made within 90 days of such sale;

(3) the prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, or (B) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the sale (made within 90 days of such prepayment, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange, acquisition or retirement) of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, which, in each case, is incurred or issued, as applicable, in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, plus the amount of any premium (including tender premiums) required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith;

(B) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired, or retired;

(C) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes); and

(D) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so prepaid, defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes);

 

85


(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies held by any future, present or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement (and including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest on any notes issued by the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer in connection such repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition and any tax related thereto); provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed in any calendar year $60.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $85.0 million in any calendar year); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and, to the extent contributed to the Issuer, Equity Interests of any of the Issuer’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; plus

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

(C) the amount of any cash bonuses otherwise payable to employees, officers, directors, members of management, or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that are foregone in return for receipt of Equity Interests; less

(D) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (4);

and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer from any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of the Issuer’s

 

86


direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(5) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Issuer from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this Section 4.07(b); provided, in the case of each of (A) and (C) of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) 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 $280.0 million and 10% of 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);

(8) (A) payments made or expected to be made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of Equity Interests by any future, present, or former employee, officer, director, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family

 

87


members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; and (B) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise or settlement, as the case may be, of options, warrants, or similar instruments if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof or required withholding or similar taxes;

(9) (a) so long as the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio does not exceed 3.50 to 1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $500.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and (b) if the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio is greater than 3.50:1.00, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount per calendar year not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) the corresponding percentage of the Market Capitalization of the Issuer as of the close of trading on the first day on or following the Effective Date that the Issuer’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange;

(10) Restricted Payments in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions made;

(11) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 27% of EBITDA at such time;

(12) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(13) [Reserved];

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

(15) Restricted Payments to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (15) do not exceed in any calendar year $50.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years);

(16) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Cash Equivalents);

 

88


(17) the repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur in connection with paying cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares in connection with (A) any dividend, distribution, split, reverse split, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, or other business combination, in each case, to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture, or (B) the exercise or settlement of options, warrants or similar instruments convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer;

(18) the making of any Restricted Payment if, at the time of the making of such payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including to the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such payments), the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio would not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; and

(19) any Restricted Payment pursuant to or in connection with the Transactions;

provided that, at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (11), (16) and (18) of this Section 4.07(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (18) of this Section 4.07(b) or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof, the Issuer will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (18) and Section 4.07(a) hereof in a manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07; except that the Issuer may not reclassify any Restricted Payment as having been made under clause (18) of this Section 4.07(b) if originally made under any other clause of this Section 4.07(b) or under Section 4.07(a) hereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof or under clause (7), (10), (11), or (18) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”, and, if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Indenture.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, (a) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be permitted to contribute, dispose of or otherwise transfer legal title to, or license on an exclusive basis, any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (b) the Issuers shall not be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary that

 

89


holds Material Intellectual Property as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether upon initial designation or subsequent investment), in each case, other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (i) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) to facilitate a Restricted Payment or (iii) in connection with a liability management transaction.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i) (A) pay a dividend or make any other distribution to the Issuer or any Guarantor on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(ii) make any loan or advance to the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any Guarantor.

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) (i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in connection with the Transactions and all transactions in connection therewith;

(2) (i) this Indenture, (ii) the Notes and the guarantees thereof (iii) the Secured Notes Indentures, (iv) the Secured Notes (and the guarantees thereof and any collateral documents relating thereto) (v) the Senior Credit Facilities (and the guarantees thereof and any collateral documents relating thereto), (vi) the Transaction Agreements, and (vii) Hedging Obligations;

(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof on the property so acquired;

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

(5) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into or wound up into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case, that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but, in any such case, not created in

 

90


contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired, designated or assumed;

(6) any contract or agreement for the sale of assets, including any customary restriction with respect to a Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(7) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred or issued subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof and either (A) the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, than the provisions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities as in effect on the Issue Date or (B) any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due;

(10) customary provisions in any operating agreement, joint venture agreement, asset sale agreement or other similar agreement, or other similar arrangements;

(11) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses, or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(12) any encumbrance or restriction of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2), and (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing of any of the contracts, instruments, or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) and (13) through (15) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement, or refinancing is, in the good-faith judgment of the Issuer, not materially more restrictive taken as a whole with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing;

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

 

91


(14) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale, or other agreement to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder, or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary; and

(15) restrictions contained in agreements (other than Indebtedness) arising in the ordinary course of business; provided that such restrictions do not prohibit (except upon an event of default thereunder) the payment of dividends in an amount sufficient, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, to make principal or interest payments on the Notes when due.

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”), with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Issuer will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Test”), determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided further that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13) and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(12)(b) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause Section 4.09(b)(13)) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this Section 4.09(a).

 

92


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

(1) the incurrence of (A) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof); provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred or issued under this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) does not exceed the sum of (a) the greater of $2,100.0 million and 75% of EBITDA, plus (b) $6,000.0 million, plus (c) the maximum amount of Indebtedness such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence (in a manner consistent with the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio), the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 3.25 to 1.00 (provided that, for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this subclause (c), all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1) (including, for avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this clause (1)) shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on property of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) and (B) Indebtedness under Credit Facilities by the Issuer or any Guarantor that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to clause (A) of this clause (1), including additional Indebtedness incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection with such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance;

(2) the incurrence by the Issuer and any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any Guarantee) (other than any Additional Notes) and the Secured Notes (including any guarantee thereof) (other than any “Additional Notes” as defined in the applicable Secured Notes Indenture);

(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.09(b));

(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment, or other fixed or capital assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the date of the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement, or improvement or is created within 365 days thereafter; provided, further that the aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference of all such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (4), when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (4), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not as of the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (4) exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA.

 

93


(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit 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;

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

(7) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Preferred Stock constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosed thereon)) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;

 

94


(11) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal, and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 or industry practices;

(12) (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer (in each case, other than proceeds of Excluded Contributions or Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (3)(B) and (3)(C) of Section 4.07(a) hereof; provided, however, that (i) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed shall not increase the amount available for making Restricted Payments to the extent any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued or incurred in reliance on this clause (12)(a) and (ii) any such net cash proceeds received or cash contributed that are applied to make any Restricted Payments shall be excluded for purposes of incurring or issuing Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to this clause (12)(a); and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(b), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof then outstanding and incurred pursuant to clause (13) below, does not at any time outstanding exceed the greater of $1,400.0 million and 50% of EBITDA; provided, that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock, and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this clause (12)(b) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not (together with (x) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below and (y) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock, incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred or issued by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) below) exceed the greater of $700.0 million and 25% of EBITDA outstanding at the time of any incurrence pursuant to this clause (12)(b);

(13) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) hereof and clauses (2), (3), (4), and (12) of this Section 4.09(b), this

 

95


clause (13) and clause (14) of this Section 4.09(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs and accrued interest, fees, and expenses in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

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

(B) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (i) Indebtedness subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated or pari passu to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed, or defeased or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and

(C) shall not include:

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

(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor; or

(iii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and provided further that subclause (A) of this clause (13) shall not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal, or defeasance of Indebtedness that matures prior to the Notes;

(14) (x) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets), merger, or consolidation or (y) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation, if more than $200.0 million of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred and outstanding pursuant to clause (13) above, is at any time outstanding under this clause (14), either

 

96


(A) the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is equal to or greater than immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, or consolidation;

(15) Indebtedness (a) arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft, or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business (provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within 30 Business Days of its incurrence) and (b) in respect of Bank Products;

(16) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(17) (A) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer is permitted under the terms of this Indenture;

(18) (a) Indebtedness issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present, or former officers, directors, employees, members of management and consultants (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing), in each case, to finance the purchase, or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to the extent described in clause (4) of Section 4.07(b) hereof and (b) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees or directors of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies in the ordinary course of business;

(19) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased or services rendered in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis of no longer than 30 days to any bank or other financial institution incurred in the ordinary course of business with such bank or financial institution, which arises in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

97


(21) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred, or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length, commercial terms on a recourse basis;

(22) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(23) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of (or to) suppliers, vendors, distributors, customers, franchisees, lessors and licensees that, in each case, are non-Affiliates;

(24) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, obligations of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as seller or servicer under a Securitization Facility and any guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Indebtedness; and

(25) Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued by a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease, redeem, or satisfy, and discharge the Notes in accordance with this Indenture.

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

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (25) of Section 4.09(b) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding (or deemed outstanding) under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Effective Date will be treated as incurred on the Effective Date under clause (1) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and shall not be reclassified;

(2) the Issuer will be entitled to divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, any item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(a) and Section 4.09(b) hereof without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) that may be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a);

(3) any guarantee of, or obligation in respect of any letter of credit relating to, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.09; and

 

98


(4) in connection with the incurrence or issuance, as applicable, of (x) revolving loan Indebtedness under this Section 4.09 or (y) any commitment relating to the incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under this Section 4.09 and the granting of any Lien to secure such Indebtedness, the Issuer or applicable Restricted Subsidiary may designate such incurrence or issuance and the granting of any Lien therefor as having occurred on the date of first incurrence of such revolving loan Indebtedness or commitment (such date, the “Deemed Date”), and any related subsequent actual incurrence or issuance and granting of such Lien therefor will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been incurred or issued and granted on such Deemed Date, including for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, usage of any baskets under this Indenture (if applicable), the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, the Consolidated Total Debt Ratio and EBITDA (and all such calculations on and after the Deemed Date until the termination or funding of such commitment shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to the deemed incurrence or issuance, the granting of any Lien therefor and related transactions in connection therewith).

(d) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same class, and accretion or amortization of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will each not be deemed to be an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for purposes of this Section 4.09.

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

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

99


(g) For the purposes of this Indenture, Indebtedness that is unsecured is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured, and Senior Indebtedness is not deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate, directly or indirectly, an Asset Sale, unless:

(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration for such Asset Sale, together with all other Asset Sales since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto, or if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Issuer’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 Issuer) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are extinguished in connection with the transactions relating to such Asset Sale, or that are assumed by the transferee (or any third party on behalf of such transferee) of any such assets or Equity Interests, in each case, pursuant to a written agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities,

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents, or by their terms are required to be satisfied for Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received), in each case, within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale, and

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 18% of EBITDA at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

 

100


shall, in each case, be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this Section 4.10 and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 450 days after the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale consummated on and following the Effective Date, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(1) to reduce:

(A) Obligations under Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a Lien (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(B) Obligations under the Notes and/or other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under such Indebtedness, and if such reduction did not consist of a reduction in Obligations under the Notes on an equal and ratable basis (or an offer to repurchase the Notes on an equal and ratable basis in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof), then the Issuer shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes by (i) redeeming the Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof, (ii) purchasing the Notes through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or (iii) making an offer to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid, which offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10(c) hereof (including the provisions requiring an offer to be made to holders of other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment); or

(C) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (and, if such Indebtedness is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly and permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto);

(2) to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses (provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes or continues to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary), (B) an Investment in properties, (C) capital expenditures or (D) acquisitions of other assets; or

 

101


(3) any combination of the foregoing;

provided that, in the case of clause (2) above, a binding commitment entered into within 450 days after the Asset Sale shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Cash Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good-faith expectation that such Net Cash Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before the Net Cash Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within 180 days of such cancellation or termination; provided further that, if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Cash Proceeds are applied, then such Net Cash Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that (i) any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sales by a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Disposition”) is prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States or (ii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition would result in material adverse tax consequences, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10; provided that, within 450 days of the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition, the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit repatriation of such proceeds that would otherwise be subject to this Section 4.10 without violating applicable local law or incurring material adverse tax consequences, and, if such proceeds may be repatriated, within such 450 day period, such proceeds shall be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10.

(c) Any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) hereof (it being understood that any portion of such net proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in Section 4.10(b)(1) hereof, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuers shall make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, to the holders of such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or in the event such other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture and the agreements governing any such debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment. The Issuers will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 10 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent. The Issuers may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 450 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $200.0 million or less.

 

102


To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and, if applicable, other debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (“Declined Proceeds”) for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and, if applicable, debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Issuers shall select the Notes and such debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment tendered with adjustments as necessary so that no Notes or such debt that is pari passu with the Notes in right of payment will be purchased in part in an unauthorized denomination. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero (regardless of whether there are any remaining Excess Proceeds upon such completion). Upon consummation or expiration of any Asset Sale Offer, any remaining Net Cash Proceeds shall not be deemed Excess Proceeds and the Issuers may use such Net Cash Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. An Asset Sale Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees (but the Asset Sale Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

(d) Pending the final application of any Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Cash Proceeds may apply such Net Cash Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

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

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates. (a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, unless:

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

 

103


(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $100.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) of this Section 4.11(a).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.11(a) will not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof (including any payments that are exceptions to the definition of Restricted Payments set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) of Section 4.07(a)) and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of or for the benefit of, current or former officers, directors, employees, members of management or consultants of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(4) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(5) any agreement or arrangement as in effect as of the Issue Date, and any transaction pursuant thereto or contemplated thereby, or any amendment, modification or supplement thereto or replacement thereof (so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement or replacement is not disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith);

(6) (a) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (b) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture partner or joint venture or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

104


(7) the sale or issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(8) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(9) (a) loans or advances or guarantees in respect thereof (or cancellation of loans, advances or guarantees) to any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant (or the estate, heirs, family members, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, or former domestic partner of any of the foregoing) of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or otherwise made on behalf of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith, and (b) payments to, and transactions with, any future, present, or former director, officer, employee, member of management or consultant of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith; and any employment agreement, stock option plan and other compensatory arrangement (and any successor plan thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement benefit plan or arrangement with any such director, officer, employee, member of management, or consultant that is, in each case, approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(10) payments by the Issuer (and any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Issuer (and any such direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer) and its Subsidiaries;

(11) any guarantee by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that was permitted by this Indenture;

(12) any transaction with a Person that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns an Equity Interest in or otherwise controls such Person;

(13) any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, on the other hand, which is approved by the Issuer in good faith;

(14) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(15) any contribution to the Capital Stock of the Issuer;

(16) transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary solely because a director of such Person, any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent company of such Person is also a director of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries, or any direct or direct parent company of the Issuer; provided that, such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer, such Restricted Subsidiary, or such parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, on any such transaction;

 

105


(17) transactions with Affiliates solely in their capacity as holders of Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Issuer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies, so long as such transaction is with all holders of such class (and there are non-Affiliate holders) and such Affiliates are treated no more favorably than all other holders of such Indebtedness or Equity Interests generally;

(18) pledges of Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(19) the Transactions, all transactions in connection therewith (including the financing thereof and the entry into and performance of the Transaction Agreements), and the payment of Transaction Expenses.

Section 4.12 Liens. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset, property or right of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless either (a) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; or (b) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness other than Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that nothing in this paragraph shall apply to or restrict Permitted Liens.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (a) the release by the holders of the Indebtedness described in the preceding paragraph of their Lien on the property or assets of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (including any deemed release upon payment in full of all obligations under such Indebtedness (except upon foreclosure or default of such Indebtedness)), (b) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person other than the Issuer or any Guarantor of the property or assets secured by such Lien, or of all of the Capital Stock held by the Issuer or any Guarantor in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Subsidiary Guarantor creating such Lien, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, (c) payment in full of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes, or (d) a defeasance or discharge of the Notes in accordance with Article VIII or Article XI hereof.

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

 

106


For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, (x) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens but may be incurred under any combination of such categories (including in part under one such category and in part under any one or more of such other such categories) and (y) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of such categories, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may divide and/or classify, or at any later time re-divide and/or reclassify, such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.12 and the definition of “Permitted Liens.

Section 4.13 Company Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, and except in connection with the Merger, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its company existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuer), if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to change their respective organizational forms.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. (a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuer has previously sent a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its rights to redeem all the outstanding Notes pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.10 hereof, the Issuers shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee and Paying Agent, to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing in the Note Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures with the following information:

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

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 10 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control in accordance with clause (c) of this Section 4.14;

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

 

107


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

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

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

(7) that Holders (other than Holders of a Global Note) whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of any Note must be equal to at least $200,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(8) if such notice is sent prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, a statement that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control and, if applicable, a statement that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time as the Change of Control shall have occurred, or that such purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event the Change of Control shall not have occurred by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date as so delayed; and

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

The notice, if delivered electronically, mailed or caused to be mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice as provided herein or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for purchase shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of any other Note.

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

 

108


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

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

(2) have deposited with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. (New York Time) an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

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

(c) The Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) in connection with or in contemplation of any such Change of Control, the Issuers (or any Affiliate thereof) have made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and have purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer. Additionally, the Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if the Issuers have previously issued a notice of redemption for all of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 or 3.10 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, and the Change of Control Payment Date may be extended automatically until such Change of Control occurs. A Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or Guarantees (but the Change of Control Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).

(d) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Guarantor or the Co-Issuer, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities unless such Restricted Subsidiary within 45 days of such guarantee executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

109


The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor to become a Guarantor. In addition, the Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer to guarantee the Notes, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer that may guarantee the Notes in the future shall not be subject to any of the covenants or restrictions of this Indenture. Any guarantee of the Notes provided by any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer may be released at any time in the Issuer’s sole discretion.

Section 4.16 Suspension of Covenants.

(a) If on any date following the Issue Date (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”) then, beginning on that day (the “Suspension Date”) and continuing until the Reversion Date, hereof, Section 4.08 hereof, Section 4.09 hereof, Section 4.10 hereof, Section 4.11 hereof, Section 4.15 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof shall not be applicable to the Notes (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”).

(b) During any period that the Suspended Covenants have been suspended, the Issuers may not designate any of their Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

(c) In the event that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) the Notes do not carry an Investment Grade Rating from at least one Rating Agency, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to events occurring on or after the Reversion Date unless and until there shall be a new Suspension Date. The period between a Suspension Date and a Reversion Date is referred to in this Section 4.16 as a “Suspension Period.” The Guarantees of the Guarantors will be suspended during the Suspension Period. Additionally, upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Net Cash Proceeds shall be reset to zero.

(d) During any Suspension Period, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for in Section 4.12 hereof (including Permitted Liens) and any Permitted Liens that refer to one or more Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for Section 4.12 hereof).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments made will be calculated as though Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension

 

110


Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(3); (3) all Liens incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred under clause (7) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; (4) any Affiliate Transaction entered into after such reinstatement pursuant to all agreements and arrangements entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(5) hereof; (5) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof that becomes effective during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.08(b)(1) hereof; and (6) no Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be required to comply with Section 4.15 hereof after such reinstatement with respect to any guarantee entered into by such Subsidiary during any Suspension Period.

In addition, for purposes of clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, all events set forth in such clause (3) occurring during a Suspension Period shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the amount of Restricted Payments the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is permitted to make pursuant to such clause (3).

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

(e) The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event and any Reversion Date; provided that such notification shall not be a condition for the suspension of the Suspended Covenants to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date.

Section 4.17 Reserved.

Section 4.18 Escrow Issuer Status Prior to the Assumption. Prior to the Assumption, the Escrow Issuer shall not:

(a) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or operations other than those incidental to its existence or incidental to its issuance of the Notes and the Secured Notes and the performance of its obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Secured Notes, the Secured Notes Indentures, the Escrow Agreement or the Transactions (including, for avoidance of doubt, activities to facilitate the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities);

(b) establish any Subsidiaries;

(c) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities or financial obligations (other than Indebtedness, liabilities or financial obligations (i) relating to the Notes and the Secured Notes issued on the Issue Date, this Indenture, the Secured Notes Indentures, or the Escrow Agreement or (ii) incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or otherwise relating to acting as the initial Issuer of the Notes and the Secured Notes or facilitating the Transactions (including facilitating the Company, the Co-Issuer and the Guarantors obtaining and entering into the Senior Credit Facilities)); or

 

111


(d) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets (including cash and cash equivalents) other than the Escrowed Property, its rights under this Indenture, the Secured Notes Indentures or the Escrow Agreement, or other properties or assets that are incidental to the Escrow Issuer’s existence or the incidental to activities described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above or de minimis in amount.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.18 (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply once the Assumption is consummated, and upon, and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, the provisions of this Article IV shall apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the Co-Issuer), as and to the extent provided herein (it being understood that the provisions of this Article IV do not apply to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries until, and subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Date).

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

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

(a) On and following the Effective Date, the Issuer and the Co-Issuer each may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) (a) in the case of a Division where the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the Dividing Person, either (x) all Division Successors shall become co-issuers of the Notes (this clause (x), a “Permitted Co-Issuer Division”) or (y) the Division, as to any Division Successor that will not be a co-issuer, is permitted by Section 4.10 hereof and (b) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division or wind-up (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Issuer or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

112


(4) only in the case of the Issuer, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing or debt reduction transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(5) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(1)(B) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(6) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; provided that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of any such consolidation, merger, wind-up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition.

(b) The Successor Company, if not the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, under this Indenture and the Notes and in such event the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Notwithstanding clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof,

(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and

(2) the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, may merge with an Affiliate thereof solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer or the Co-Issuer, as applicable, in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (in the case of the Issuer), or in any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (in either case), so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not materially increased thereby.

(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, on and following the Effective Date, no Subsidiary Guarantor will, and the Issuer will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

113


(1) (A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, merger, Division, or wind-up (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof, any member state of the European Union, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom (such Person being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person, if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

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

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance, Division, or other disposition and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture; or

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof.

(d) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee and in such event such Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may (1) consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into, or transfer all or part of its properties and assets, including by means of a Division, to the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another jurisdiction so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby and so long as the surviving entity (if not the Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee in connection with such reorganization, (3) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Issuer determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Issuer and is not materially disadvantageous to the Holders, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in Section 5.01(c) hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 5.01 shall not apply to (a) any consolidation, merger or winding up or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) any of the Transactions.

 

114


(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.01, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a limited liability company may consummate a Division as the Dividing Person if, immediately upon the consummation of the Division, the assets of the applicable Dividing Person are held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries at such time, or, with respect to assets not so held by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, such Division, in the aggregate, would otherwise result in an Asset Sale permitted by Section 4.10 hereof.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to such the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer, the Co-Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer or Co-Issuer, as applicable, shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of such Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” means any one of the following events:

(1) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

(3) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice of such failure given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above);

(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

 

115


(A) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(B) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $100.0 million or more at any time outstanding;

(5) failure by the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million (net of any amounts which are covered by independent third-party insurance), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and, in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(6) either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

116


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

(i) for relief against either Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary case;

(ii) that appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or for all or substantially all of the property of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary); or

(iii) that orders the liquidation of such Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture;

(9) [reserved];

(10) [reserved]; or

(11) failure by the Issuer (a) to comply with any material term of the Escrow Agreement that is not cured within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Escrow Agent, the Trustee or holders representing 30% or more of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee), (b) to consummate the Special Mandatory Redemption as described in Section 3.11 or (c) to comply in any material respect with Section 4.18 (it being understood that this clause (11) shall be of no further force or effect after the Effective Date).

Section 6.02 Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee may, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may, by notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, in each case, declare the principal, premium, if any, interest, and any other monetary obligations on all the then-outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that, so long as any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture as part of the Senior Credit Facilities shall be outstanding, no such acceleration shall be effective until the earlier of:

 

117


(1) acceleration of any such Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities; or

(2) five Business Days after the giving of written notice of such acceleration by the Trustee or any Holder to the Issuers and the administrative agent with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities.

Upon the effectiveness of any declaration of acceleration, the principal and interest on the Notes shall be due and payable immediately. The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if in the best judgment of the Trustee acceleration is not in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 6.01 hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived, and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;

(2) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuers; provided that any waiver or rescission under this Section 6.04 shall be valid and binding notwithstanding the failure to provide a copy of such notice to the Issuers) may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

118


Section 6.05 Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holder has offered the Trustee indemnity, security, and/or prefunding reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration with respect to the Notes may not be given by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes (or any other action taken on the assertion of any Default) with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders of the Notes, more than two years prior to such notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default or notice of acceleration (or other action).

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any action is unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

119


Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, deletion of, or waiver with respect to any of the covenants or provisions of Article III or Article IV hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (provided such amendment, deletion or waiver is made or given in accordance with Article IX hereof).

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any

 

120


custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.13 Priorities. If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(i) to the Trustee or any Agent (other than the Issuer or its Subsidiaries), their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(ii) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(iii) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct including a Guarantor, if applicable. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.13.

Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes.

 

121


ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

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

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

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

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

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Article VI hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity, security and/or prefunding, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, against any loss, liability, claim, or expense.

 

122


(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee or Paying Agent may agree in writing with the Issuer. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuers and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate of an Issuer or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from an Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of such Issuer.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any matter (including any Default or Event of Default) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice thereof is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from an Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes, or from any Holder, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each Agent (other than the Issuer or any Subsidiary acting as Agent), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

123


(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or a duty to so, unless so specified herein.

(l) The Trustee will not be liable to the Holders if prevented or delayed in performing any of its obligations or discretionary functions under this Indenture by reason of any present or future law applicable to it, by any governmental or regulatory authority or by any circumstances beyond its control.

(m) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to do anything which, in its opinion, may be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation.

(n) The Trustee may retain counsel at the expense of the Issuers to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture. The Trustee may consult with such counsel, and the advice or opinion of such counsel relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(o) The Issuers and the Agents acknowledge and agree that in the event of a Default or Event of Default, the Trustee may, by notice in writing to the Issuers and the Agents, require that the Agents (other than to the extent the Issuer or a Subsidiary is acting as an agent) act as agents of, and take instructions exclusively from, the Trustee. Prior to receiving such written notice from the Trustee, the Agents shall be agents of the Issuers and need have no concern for the interests of the Holders.

(p) The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 hereof.

 

124


Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall electronically deliver or mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been waived or cured. Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Agent, or any other agent of the Issuers or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Agent, or such other agent; provided, however, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. In the event of being requested by the Issuers to undertake duties which the Trustee reasonably determines to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the normal duties of the Trustee, or in the event the Trustee is obligated to take actions under Article VI hereof, the Issuers shall pay to the Trustee additional reasonable remuneration. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all disbursements, advances and expenses properly incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the properly incurred compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including properly incurred attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the properly incurred costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuers or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim for which it may seek

 

125


indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the properly incurred fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor need reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability, claim, or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof, to secure the payment obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 7.07, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and by each agent (including the Agents), custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee or Agents. A resignation or removal of the Trustee or an Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Agent, as the case may be, shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Agent’s, as the case may be, acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee or an Agent may resign in writing at any time by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or an Agent by so notifying the Trustee, such Agent and the Issuers, as the case may be, in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee and any Agent, as the case may be, if:

(A) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(B) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(C) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee, an Agent or their respective property;

(D) the Trustee or an Agent becomes incapable of acting; or

 

126


(E) the Trustee is not in compliance with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

If the Trustee or an Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or an Agent for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be. Within one year after the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, to replace the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee or Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or Agent resigns or is removed, (i) the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent, at the expense of the Issuers or (ii) the retiring Trustee or Agent may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, at any time prior to the date on which a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, takes office; provided that such appointment shall be satisfactory to the Issuers.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee or Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or Agent shall electronically deliver or mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee or an Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust, paying agent, transfer agent or registrar business, as the case may be, to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be.

 

127


Any corporation into which the Trustee or an Agent for the time being may be merged or converted shall, on the date when such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale or transfer becomes effective and to the extent permitted by applicable law, be a successor Trustee or Agent, as the case may be, under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Indenture. After the effective date all references in this Indenture to that Trustee or Agent shall be deemed to be references to that corporation.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of England and Wales, Luxembourg, or the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power and which is recognized as a corporation which customarily performs such corporate trustee roles and provides such corporate trustee services in transactions similar in nature to the offering of the Notes as described in the Offering Memorandum.

ARTICLE VIII

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article VIII.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and all Events of Default cured on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) of this Section 8.02 (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes), and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and to have cured all then-existing Events of Default, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

(b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

128


(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Agents, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Section 8.02.

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.17 hereof, clauses (4) and (5) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that the Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to all outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified in this Section 8.03, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(4), 6.01(5), 6.01(6) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuers), 6.01(7) (solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer but not with respect to the Issuer) and 6.01(8) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes to the stated maturity date or

 

129


to the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(B) since the original issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

130


(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditor of the Issuer, any Guarantor or others; and

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) of this Section 8.04 with respect to Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including any Issuer or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees.

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

131


Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers. Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by any Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to such Issuer on its request or pursuant to applicable law or (if then held by such Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the applicable Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.05 hereof; provided that, if any Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee, and/or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(4) to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder in any material respect;

(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(7) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

132


(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee or a successor Paying Agent hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(9) to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

(10) to add a Guarantor or co-obligor under this Indenture or to release a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(11) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Unsecured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum;

(12) to amend the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

(13) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Holders, as security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes, in any property or assets;

(14) to provide for the succession of any parties to this Indenture (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature); or

(15) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary.

Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.05 hereof (subject to the last sentence of Section 9.05 hereof), the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, and the Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of

 

133


Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Issuers, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects any such parties’ own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case any such party may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, waiver, or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion of, any of the covenants described under Article IV or Section 5.01 hereof shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of Holders to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall send to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Holder representing 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or consent may:

(1) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to (i) notice periods (to the extent consistent with applicable requirements of clearing and settlement systems) for redemption and conditions to redemption and (ii) Section 4.10 and Section 4.14 hereof);

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

 

134


(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(7) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(8) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

(9) contractually subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor; or

(10) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders.

Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

135


Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of such party. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, upon request, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officer’s Certificate will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

Section 9.06 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any Notes may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee. Upon the occurrence of the Effective Date, and from and after the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees the Senior Credit Facilities to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto pursuant to which each such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor. Subject to this Article X, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent and to the Trustee, the Agents and their successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee, or any Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same promptly. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

136


The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture or under the Notes). Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

If any Holder, any Agent, or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, then any amount paid either to the Trustee, such Agent, or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Until released in accordance with Section 10.06 hereof, each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

137


In case any provision of any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of such Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery. To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its authorized officers or other representatives.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture (or a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit E hereto) no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuers shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article X, to the extent applicable.

 

138


Section 10.04 Subrogation. Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders of Notes against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees. A Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force and effect, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(1) any sale, exchange, disposition, or transfer (by merger, consolidation, dividend, distribution, or otherwise) of (a) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, in each case, made in compliance with Section 4.10(a)(1) and Section 4.10(a)(2) hereof;

(2) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, except a discharge or release by, or as a result of, payment under such guarantee;

(3) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.07 hereof and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(4) upon the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to the Company, the Co-Issuer or another Guarantor; or

(5) the exercise by the Issuers of the Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article VIII hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee in accordance with this Section 10.06; provided that no such notification shall be a condition for the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee to be effective; provided further that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to inform Holders of the occurrence of the release, discharge or termination of a Guarantee. Upon any event or circumstance giving rise to a release of a Guarantee as specified above, the Trustee shall, at the sole cost and written request of the Issuers, without recourse, representation or warranty, execute any documents reasonably requested by the Issuers in order to evidence or effect such release.

 

139


ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to the Notes when either:

 

  (1)

all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has heretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Registrar for cancellation; or

 

  (2)

(A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Registrar for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that, upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date; provided further that any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(B) no Event of Default (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

140


(C) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(D) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at or prior to maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied; provided that any such counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing subclauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01).

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive.

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

141


ARTICLE XII

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XIII

ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS

Section 13.01 Escrow Accounts. Pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), to be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Escrow Issuer, the Trustee and Citibank, N.A., as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), (i) the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be deposited into an escrow account with the Escrow Agent (the “Escrow Account”) and (ii) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash sufficient, together with the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event occurring on June 2, 2021 (collectively, and together with any other property from time to time held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account, the “Escrowed Property”). The Escrow Agreement will provide further that, until either the Effective Date or a Special Mandatory Redemption occurs, on the second (2nd) day of each calendar month (commencing June 2, 2021) the Escrow Issuer will deposit (or cause to be deposited) into the Escrow Account an amount in cash (in each case, as calculated by the Escrow Issuer in accordance with this Indenture) sufficient, together with amounts already in the Escrow Account, to fund a Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes resulting from a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger Event occurring on the earlier of (i) one calendar month after such date of deposit and (ii) five Business Days after the Outside Date; provided that if any deposit required by this Section 13.01 would be due on a date that is not a Business Day, such deposit shall be made on the preceding Business Day. The Escrow Issuer will grant to the Trustee, on behalf of itself and the holders of the Notes, a first-priority security interest in the Escrow Account and Escrowed Property.

Section 13.02 Release of Escrow Property. Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, upon delivery by the Escrow Issuer to the Escrow Agent and the Trustee, not later than the Outside Date, of an officer’s certificate (in the form and substance as set forth in the Escrow Agreement) instructing the Escrow Agent to release the Escrowed Property and certifying that the following conditions (collectively, the “Escrow Release Conditions”) have been or, substantially concurrent with the release of the Escrowed Property will be, satisfied:

 

  (1)

the transactions which upon consummation thereof will result in the Separation and Distribution are being initiated, and it is anticipated that the Separation and Distribution will be consummated promptly (which may be on the day, or Business Day, following the Effective Date) on or following the release of funds from the Escrow Account;

 

  (2)

there being no Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(6) or Section 6.01(7) hereunder;

 

  (3)

the completion of the Assumption and, as soon as commercially practicable thereafter, the Merger; and

 

142


  (4)

the term loan lenders for the “term loan B” facilities under the Senior Credit Facilities have funded, or substantially concurrently will be funding, the term loans thereunder in an aggregate principal amount of (i) $3,000 million in respect of the U.S. dollar denominated facility and (ii) €750 million in respect of the Euro denominated facility, in each case less any applicable discounts, fees and expenses,

the funds in the Escrow Account shall be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer (the date on which such funds are released, the “Escrow Release Date”).

Any excess funds remaining in the Escrow Account after the Special Mandatory Redemption and payment of any fees and expenses of the Trustee and Escrow Agent will be released to the Escrow Issuer or its designee pursuant to payment instructions provided by the Escrow Issuer. Upon release of the Escrowed Property from the Escrow Account, the security interest granted in favor of the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, shall automatically be released.

Section 13.03 Consummation of the Assumption. To consummate the Assumption, on the Effective Date, the Escrow Issuer shall cause each of the Company and the Co-Issuer to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to this Indenture substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

Section 13.04 Amendment of Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein (including Article IX) to the contrary, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement (including, without limitation, those relating to the release of the Escrowed Property) may be waived or modified in any manner, when taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding. To the extent such provisions relate to the Escrow Issuer’s obligation to redeem the Notes in a Special Mandatory Redemption, no provisions of the Escrow Agreement or this Indenture may be waived or modified in any manner materially adverse to the Holders without the written consent of each such Holder. However, the Escrow Agreement may be amended without the consent of any other Person to conform to the description thereof in the “Description of the Unsecured Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum.

This Article XIII is subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, and in the event of a conflict between this Article XIII and the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreement shall control. For avoidance of doubt, this Article XIII (other than this sentence) shall no longer apply after the Assumption is consummated.

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing in the English language and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronic mail in PDF format, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

143


If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

secretaryoffice@organon.com

With a courtesy copy to (the provision of which copy shall not be required in order to effectuate notice under this Indenture):

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Office of General Counsel

If to the Trustee:

U.S Bank National Association

City Place I

185 Asylum Street, 27th Floor

Hartford, CT 06103

Attention: Global Corporate Trust/Laurel Casasanta

laurel.casasanta@usbank.com

The Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee or any Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; on the first date on which publication or electronic delivery is made, if given by publication or electronic delivery; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

144


If an Issuer delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it shall deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

Section 14.02 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.

Section 14.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by an Issuer or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(A) An Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(B) An Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied;

provided that no such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication and delivery of the Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

Section 14.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof) shall include:

(A) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(B) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

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

 

145


(D) (D) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an officer’s certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 14.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Transfer Agent, Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 14.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, member, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuers, any Guarantor, or any of their direct or indirect parent companies shall have any liability for any obligation of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of any such obligation or its creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 14.07 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, AND THE GUARANTEES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 14.08 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 14.09 Force Majeure. The Trustee shall not be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. The Trustee shall not be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.

Section 14.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuers or the Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 14.11 Successors. All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 14.12 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

146


Section 14.13 Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. The Trustee and any Agent may, in their discretion, require that such documents and signatures executed electronically or delivered by electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature executed electronically or delivered by electronic means. Any signed communication sent to the Trustee or any Agent must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by a digital signature provider specified in writing by an authorized officer of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee or any Agent, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee or any such Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 14.14 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 14.15 USA Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable AML Law”), the Trustee and Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and Agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and Agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and Agents to comply with Applicable AML Law.

[Signatures on following pages]

 

147


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

 

Very truly yours,
ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:  

/s/Rita Karachun

Name:   Rita Karachun
Title:   President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

Name:   Laurel Casasanta
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


CUSIP [         ]

ISIN [    ]1

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

5.125% Senior Note due 2031

 

No.    [$            ]

Organon Finance 1 LLC., a Delaware limited liability company (with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer), promises to pay to [            ] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]2 [of dollars]3 on April 30, 2031.

Interest Payment Dates: April 30 and October 30, commencing October 30, 20214

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

1 

144A CUSIP: 68622T AB7

144A ISIN: US68622TAB70

Regulation S CUSIP: U6835W AB0

Regulation S ISIN: USU6835WAB01

2 

Insert in Global Notes only.

3 

Insert in Definitive Notes only.

4 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


Dated: [    ]

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, certifies that is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

 

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[BACK OF NOTE]

5.125% Senior Note due 2031

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Organon Finance 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum set forth below from April 22, 2021 until maturity. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 30 of each year, commencing on October 30, 20215 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day. The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15 (each, a “Record Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including April 22, 2021. The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate then applicable to this Note. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Interest on this Note will accrue at the rate of 5.125% per annum and be payable in cash.

2. Assumption. Upon the Assumption, all of the obligations of Organon Finance 1 LLC will be assumed by Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation, as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), as Co-Issuer. For purposes hereof, references to the “Issuer” prior to the Assumption refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC and on and subsequent to the Assumption refer to each of Organon & Co. and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V. (which are collectively referred to as the “Issuers”; provided that prior to the Assumption, references to the “Issuers” shall be deemed to refer to Organon Finance 1 LLC, as the context may require).

3. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest will be made at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Issuers, payments of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depositary (or its nominee) will be made through the Paying Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the registered Holder or Holders thereof. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

5 

For Notes issued on the Issue Date.

 

A-5


4. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

5. Indenture. The Notes were issued under an Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively referred to herein as the “Notes”) shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions in the Indenture, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

6. Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to April 30, 2026, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (each date on which a redemption occurs, a “Redemption Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

(b) On and after April 30, 2026, the Issuers may on one or more occasions redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at the applicable redemption price (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 30 of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2026

     102.563

2027

     101.708

2028

     100.854

2029 and thereafter

     100.000

 

A-6


(c) In addition, prior to April 30, 2024, the Issuers may, at their option, and on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date) at a redemption price equal to 105.125% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with funds in an aggregate amount equal to the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings of the Issuers or any direct or indirect parent company of either of the Issuers after the Effective Date, to the extent such net cash proceeds are contributed to such Issuer; provided that (1) at least 60% of the total of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and (B) the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (2) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

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

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture. Notice of any redemption or purchase, whether in connection with an Equity Offering, other transaction or otherwise, may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such notice may, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If a redemption or purchase is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the Redemption Date or purchase date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice was sent) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuers in their sole discretion) or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Redemption Date or purchase date, or by the Redemption Date or purchase date as so delayed. In addition, the Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price or purchase price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption or purchase may be performed by another Person.

 

A-7


7. Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes, other than a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Indenture.

8. Taxation Redemption. The Notes shall be subject to optional redemption for tax reasons as described in Section 3.10 of the Indenture.

9. Notice of Redemption. Subject to Sections 3.03 and 3.09 of the Indenture, notice of redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by first-class mail at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a conditional redemption or Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture. Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Note of less than $200,000 can be redeemed in part, except that, if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a principal amount of at least $200,000, shall be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

10. Offers to Repurchase. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers shall make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuers shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

11. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $200,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee will require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers will require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

A-8


12. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of this Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

13. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

14. Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. The remedies with respect thereto are as provided under Article VI or the Indenture and the other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

15. Reserved.

16. Authentication. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent).

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIPs and ISINs. The Issuers have caused CUSIPs and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIPs and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint   

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                                              

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name
  appears on the face of this
  Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                              

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box

below:

 

   ☐ Section 4.10    ☐ Section 4.14   

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount ($200,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):

$                         

Date:                                         

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name
  appears on the face of this
  Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                          

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                .

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of

decrease in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

 

Amount of

increase in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

 

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

following such

decrease or

increase

 

Signature of

authorized

signatory of

Trustee,

Custodian or

Registrar

 

*

This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

 

  Re:

5.125% Senior Notes due 2031

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                         (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $                    in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to                     (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf

 

B-1


reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ☐ CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

(b) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


(b) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ☐ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                                         

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1.

The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐ 144A Global Note ([CUSIP: 68622T AA9] [ISIN: US68622TAA97]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP: U6835W AA2] [ISIN: USU6835WAA28), or

 

  (b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2.

After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a)

☐ a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i)

☐ 144A Global Note ([CUSIP: 68622T AA9] [ISIN: US68622TAA97]), or

 

  (ii)

☐ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP: U6835W AA2] [ISIN: USU6835WAA28), or

 

  (iii)

☐ Unrestricted Global Note ([ ]); or

 

  (b)

☐ a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c)

☐ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Organon & Co. / Organon Finance 1 LLC

30 Hudson Street, 33rd Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Attention: Treasurer

U.S. Bank Corporate Trust Services

111 Fillmore Ave E

2nd Floor, ATTN: Transfers

St. Paul, MN 55107

 

  Re:

5.125% Senior Notes due 2031

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2021 (the “Indenture”), among Organon Finance 1 LLC, with obligations to be assumed by Organon & Co., as Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., as Co-Issuer, and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                    in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

(a) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


(b) ☐ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [    ] 144A Global Note [    ] Regulation S Global Note, in each case, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers and are dated                                                      .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                                         

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY THE ISSUERS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE]

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of             , among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuers’ obligations as Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms,

 

D-1


provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

D-2


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow
Issuer
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER
B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                             , among                             (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Co-Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of                 , 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances[, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions,] the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

E-1


(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(6) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(7) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(8) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

E-2


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

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON & Co., as Issuer
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-3

Exhibit 10.8

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Co-Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuer’s obligations as Issuer under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral

 

1


Documents and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

2


(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(8) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow Issuer
By:  

/s/ Rita Karachun

  Name:   Rita Karachun
  Title:   President

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

  Name:   Linda van Erp
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]

Exhibit 10.9

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Co-Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

1


(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuer’s obligations as Issuer under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Documents and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture, the Collateral Documents or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

2


(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(8) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow Issuer
By:  

/s/ Rita Karachun

  Name: Rita Karachun
  Title:   President

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name: Joseph Promo
  Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

  Name: Linda van Erp
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title: Vice President

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]

Exhibit 10.10

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

First Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”) and Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a subsidiary of the Company and a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), Organon Finance 1 LLC (the “Escrow Issuer”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, the Escrow Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that upon the Effective Date, the Company and the Co-Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Company and the Co-Issuer shall unconditionally assume, as issuer and co-issuer respective, all of the Escrow Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Co-Issuer are to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture immediately prior the execution and delivery by the initial Guarantors, in connection with the Assumption, of a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Indenture;

WHEREAS, following the execution hereof, the Escrow Issuer will merge with and into the Company, with the Company the surviving entity; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Assume Obligations. Each of the Company and the Co-Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Escrow Issuer’s obligations as Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by all provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and

 

1


agreements of the Issuer and the Co-Issuer, respectively, under the Indenture. As of and after the time of execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Issuer” or the “Company” as such terms are used therein, the same as if the Company were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Issuer”, and the Co-Issuer shall have agreed to all terms, provisions, covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture which are applicable to the “Co-Issuer” as such term is used therein, the same as if the Co-Issuer were an original signatory to the Indenture as the “Co-Issuer”.

(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of the Company or the Co-Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company, the Co-Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

2


(8) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Co-Issuer.

(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON FINANCE 1 LLC, as Escrow Issuer
By:  

/s/ Rita Karachun

  Name: Rita Karachun
  Title: President

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name: Joseph Promo
  Title: Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as Co-Issuer
By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

  Name: Linda van Erp
  Title: Director

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]

Exhibit 10.11

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Second Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, Organon Trade LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon USA LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), each a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

1


(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of any Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including any Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(8) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made only by each Guaranteeing Subsidiary, severally.

 

2


(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON GLOBAL INC.
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON TRADE LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON PHARMA HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON USA LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON CANADA HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.,

    as Co-Issuer

By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

  Name: Linda van Erp
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

    as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

    as Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name: Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (2.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]

Exhibit 10.12

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Second Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, Organon Trade LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon USA LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), each a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Collateral Documents on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

1


(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of any Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including any Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(8) The Trustee and the Collateral Agent. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made only by each Guaranteeing Subsidiary, severally.

 

2


(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON GLOBAL INC.
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON TRADE LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON PHARMA HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON USA LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer
ORGANON CANADA HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

  Name:   Joseph Promo
  Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.,

    as Co-Issuer

By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

  Name:   Linda van Erp
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

    as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name:   Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.,

    as Co-Issuer

By:  

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

  Name:   Laurel Casasanta
  Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (4.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028)]

Exhibit 10.13

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Second Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of June 2, 2021, among Organon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, Organon Trade LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Organon USA LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, Organon Canada Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), each a subsidiary of Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Issuer, Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch private limited company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Issuer”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S E T H

WHEREAS, each of the Issuers has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2021, pursuant to which each such Issuer assumed all obligations, as issuer and co-issuer, respectively, under that certain Indenture (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of April 22, 2021, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances, including to effect the Assumption in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

1


(3) No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member or stockholder of any Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including any Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(4) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE APPLIED THEREBY.

(5) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Supplemental Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defence or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(6) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including supplements, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(7) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(8) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made only by each Guaranteeing Subsidiary, severally.

 

2


(9) Incorporation into the Indenture. All provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture; and the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may refer to the Indenture without making specific reference to this Supplemental Indenture, but nevertheless all such references shall include this Supplemental Indenture unless the context requires otherwise.

 

3


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

 

ORGANON LLC

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Treasurer

ORGANON GLOBAL INC.

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Treasurer

ORGANON TRADE LLC

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Treasurer

ORGANON PHARMA HOLDINGS LLC

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Treasurer

ORGANON USA LLC

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Treasurer

ORGANON CANADA HOLDINGS LLC

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:  Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


ORGANON & CO., as Issuer

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Promo

 

Name: Joseph Promo

 

Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.,

    as Co-Issuer

By:

 

/s/ Linda van Erp

 

Name: Linda van Erp

 

Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Laurel Casasanta

 

Name: Laurel Casasanta

 

Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture (5.125% Senior Notes due 2031)]

Exhibit 10.14

Execution Version

 

 

SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 2, 2021,

among

ORGANON & CO.,

as Lead Borrower,

ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V.,

as Co-Borrower,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

MORGAN STANLEY BANK N.A.,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BNP PARIBAS,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

CREDIT SUISSE AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AND

HSBC BANK USA, N.A.

as L/C Issuers,

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, and

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page  

ARTICLE I Definitions and Accounting Terms

     1  

SECTION 1.01.

 

Defined Terms

     1  

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Interpretive Provisions

     68  

SECTION 1.03.

 

Accounting Terms

     68  

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rounding

     69  

SECTION 1.05.

 

References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.

     69  

SECTION 1.06.

 

Times of Day

     69  

SECTION 1.07.

 

Timing of Payment or Performance

     69  

SECTION 1.08.

 

Currency Equivalents Generally

     69  

SECTION 1.09.

 

Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification

     70  

SECTION 1.10.

 

Divisions

     71  

ARTICLE II The Commitments and Credit Extensions

     71  

SECTION 2.01.

 

The Loans

     71  

SECTION 2.02.

 

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

     72  

SECTION 2.03.

 

Letters of Credit

     74  

SECTION 2.04.

 

[Reserved]

     81  

SECTION 2.05.

 

Prepayments

     81  

SECTION 2.06.

 

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     92  

SECTION 2.07.

 

Repayment of Loans

     93  

SECTION 2.08.

 

Interest

     93  

SECTION 2.09.

 

Fees

     94  

SECTION 2.10.

 

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

     94  

SECTION 2.11.

 

Evidence of Indebtedness

     95  

SECTION 2.12.

 

Payments Generally

     95  

SECTION 2.13.

 

Sharing of Payments

     97  

SECTION 2.14.

 

Incremental Credit Extensions

     98  

SECTION 2.15.

 

[Reserved]

     101  

SECTION 2.16.

 

Extensions of Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments

     101  

SECTION 2.17.

 

[Reserved]

     103  

SECTION 2.18.

 

Extensions of Term Loans

     103  

SECTION 2.19.

 

Refinancing Amendment

     104  

SECTION 2.20.

 

Defaulting Lenders

     106  

ARTICLE III Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

     108  

SECTION 3.01.

 

Taxes

     108  

SECTION 3.02.

 

Illegality

     110  

SECTION 3.03.

 

Alternate Rate of Interest

     111  

SECTION 3.04.

 

Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans

     113  

SECTION 3.05.

 

Funding Losses

     114  

SECTION 3.06.

 

Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation

     115  

SECTION 3.07.

 

Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances

     116  

SECTION 3.08.

 

Survival

     117  

 

-i-


       Page  

ARTICLE IV Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

     117  

SECTION 4.01.

 

Conditions to Credit Extensions on Closing Date

     117  

SECTION 4.02.

 

Conditions to All Credit Extensions

     119  

ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties

     120  

SECTION 5.01.

 

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

     120  

SECTION 5.02.

 

Authorization; No Contravention

     120  

SECTION 5.03.

 

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

     120  

SECTION 5.04.

 

Binding Effect

     121  

SECTION 5.05.

 

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

     121  

SECTION 5.06.

 

Litigation

     121  

SECTION 5.07.

 

No Default

     122  

SECTION 5.08.

 

Ownership of Property; Liens

     122  

SECTION 5.09.

 

Environmental Compliance

     122  

SECTION 5.10.

 

Regulatory Compliance

     123  

SECTION 5.11.

 

Taxes

     124  

SECTION 5.12.

 

ERISA Compliance

     125  

SECTION 5.13.

 

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

     125  

SECTION 5.14.

 

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

     126  

SECTION 5.15.

 

Disclosure

     126  

SECTION 5.16.

 

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     126  

SECTION 5.17.

 

Solvency

     126  

SECTION 5.18.

 

Subordination of Junior Financing

     127  

SECTION 5.19.

 

USA PATRIOT Act, Etc.

     127  

SECTION 5.20.

 

Collateral Documents

     128  

SECTION 5.21.

 

Tax Residency

     128  

SECTION 5.22.

 

Fiscal Unity for Dutch Tax Purposes

     128  

ARTICLE VI Affirmative Covenants

     128  

SECTION 6.01.

 

Financial Statements

     128  

SECTION 6.02.

 

Certificates; Other Information

     129  

SECTION 6.03.

 

Notices

     130  

SECTION 6.04.

 

Payment of Obligations

     131  

SECTION 6.05.

 

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

     131  

SECTION 6.06.

 

Maintenance of Properties

     131  

SECTION 6.07.

 

Maintenance of Insurance

     131  

SECTION 6.08.

 

Maintenance of Intellectual Property

     131  

SECTION 6.09.

 

Compliance with Laws

     132  

SECTION 6.10.

 

Books and Records

     132  

SECTION 6.11.

 

Inspection Rights

     132  

SECTION 6.12.

 

Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security

     132  

SECTION 6.13.

 

Compliance with Environmental Laws

     134  

SECTION 6.14.

 

Compliance with Health Care Laws

     134  

SECTION 6.15.

 

Further Assurances

     134  

SECTION 6.16.

 

Designation of Subsidiaries

     135  

SECTION 6.17.

 

Post-Closing Matters

     136  

 

-ii-


       Page  

SECTION 6.18.

  Maintenance of Flood Insurance      136  

SECTION 6.19.

  Lender Calls; Management Discussion and Analysis      136  

SECTION 6.20.

  Tax Residency      136  

SECTION 6.21.

  MIRE Events      136  

SECTION 6.22.

  DAC6      137  

ARTICLE VII Negative Covenants

     137  

SECTION 7.01.

  Liens      137  

SECTION 7.02.

  Investments      140  

SECTION 7.03.

  Indebtedness      143  

SECTION 7.04.

  Fundamental Changes      147  

SECTION 7.05.

  Dispositions      148  

SECTION 7.06.

  Restricted Payments      150  

SECTION 7.07.

  Change in Nature of Business      152  

SECTION 7.08.

  Transactions with Affiliates      152  

SECTION 7.09.

  Burdensome Agreements      153  

SECTION 7.10.

  Use of Proceeds      153  

SECTION 7.11.

  Accounting Changes      153  

SECTION 7.12.

  Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness      154  

SECTION 7.13.

  Equity Interests of Certain Restricted Subsidiaries      154  

SECTION 7.14.

  Financial Covenant      154  

SECTION 7.15.

  Covenant Suspension      155  

SECTION 7.16.

  Negative Pledge      155  

SECTION 7.17.

  Dutch Loan Parties      156  

SECTION 7.18.

  Dutch Security      156  

ARTICLE VIII Events of Default and Remedies

     156  

SECTION 8.01.

  Events of Default      156  

SECTION 8.02.

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      158  

SECTION 8.03.

  Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries      159  

SECTION 8.04.

  Application of Funds      159  

SECTION 8.05.

  Borrower’s Right to Cure      160  

ARTICLE IX Administrative Agent and Other Agents

     161  

SECTION 9.01.

  Appointment and Authorization of Agents      161  

SECTION 9.02.

  Delegation of Duties      161  

SECTION 9.03.

  Liability of Agents      162  

SECTION 9.04.

  Reliance by Agents      163  

SECTION 9.05.

  Notice of Default      163  

SECTION 9.06.

  Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents      164  

SECTION 9.07.

  Indemnification of Agents      164  

SECTION 9.08.

  Agents in their Individual Capacities      165  

SECTION 9.09.

  Successor Agents      165  

SECTION 9.10.

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      165  

SECTION 9.11.

  Collateral and Guaranty Matters      166  

SECTION 9.12.

  Other Agents; Arrangers      167  

SECTION 9.13.

  Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents      167  

SECTION 9.14.

  Certain ERISA Matters      168  

SECTION 9.15.

  Parallel Liability      169  

 

-iii-


       Page  

ARTICLE X Miscellaneous

     170  

SECTION 10.01.

  Amendments, Etc.      170  

SECTION 10.02.

  Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies      173  

SECTION 10.03.

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      174  

SECTION 10.04.

  Attorney Costs and Expenses      175  

SECTION 10.05.

  Indemnification by the Borrowers and Limitation on Liability      175  

SECTION 10.06.

  Payments Set Aside      176  

SECTION 10.07.

  Successors and Assigns      176  

SECTION 10.08.

  Confidentiality      181  

SECTION 10.09.

  Setoff      182  

SECTION 10.10.

  Interest Rate Limitation      183  

SECTION 10.11.

  Counterparts      183  

SECTION 10.12.

  Integration      183  

SECTION 10.13.

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      183  

SECTION 10.14.

  Severability      183  

SECTION 10.15.

  Tax Forms      183  

SECTION 10.16.

  GOVERNING LAW      185  

SECTION 10.17.

  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY      186  

SECTION 10.18.

  Binding Effect      186  

SECTION 10.19.

  [Reserved]      187  

SECTION 10.20.

  Lender Action      187  

SECTION 10.21.

  USA PATRIOT Act      187  

SECTION 10.22.

  Agent for Service of Process      187  

SECTION 10.23.

  Joint and Several Obligations      187  

SECTION 10.24.

  Cross-Guaranty      189  

SECTION 10.25.

  No Fiduciary Duty      189  

SECTION 10.26.

  Judgment Currency      189  

SECTION 10.27.

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      190  

SECTION 10.28.

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFC      190  

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES

 

I

  

Guarantors

1.01A

  

Certain Security Interests and Guarantees

1.01B

  

Unrestricted Subsidiaries

1.01C

  

Excluded Subsidiaries

2.01(a)(i)

  

Dollar Term Commitment

2.01(a)(ii)

  

Euro Term Commitment

2.01(b)(i)

  

Revolving Credit Commitment

2.01(b)(ii)

  

L/C Commitment

2.03(a)(ii)(B)

  

Certain Letters of Credit

5.05

  

Certain Liabilities

5.10(c)

  

Safety Notices

5.11

  

Taxes

5.12(a)

  

ERISA Compliance

5.13

  

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments

6.17

  

Post-Closing Matters

7.01(b)

  

Existing Liens

7.02(g)

  

Existing Investments

7.03(b)

  

Existing Indebtedness

7.08

  

Transactions with Affiliates

7.09

  

Existing Restrictions

10.02

  

Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

  

Form of

  

A

  

Committed Loan Notice

B

  

[Reserved]

C-1

  

Dollar Term Note

C-2

  

Euro Term Note

C-3

  

Revolving Credit Note

D

  

Compliance Certificate

E

  

Assignment and Assumption

F

  

Guaranty

G

  

Security Agreement

H

  

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement

I

  

Intellectual Property Security Agreement

J-1

  

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice

J-2

  

Discount Range Prepayment Notice

J-3

  

Discount Range Prepayment Offer

J-4

  

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice

J-5

  

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer

J-6

  

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice

J-7

  

Specified Discount Prepayment Response

L-1 to L-4

  

Forms of Tax Compliance Certificates

 

 

-v-


SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of June 2, 2021, by and among ORGANON & CO., a Delaware corporation (the “Lead Borrower”), Organon Foreign Debt Co-Issuer B.V., a Dutch besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under trade register number 82563098 (the “Co-Borrower”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and an L/C Issuer, each other L/C Issuer from time to time party hereto, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Lead Borrower has requested that (a) the Lenders extend credit to the Borrowers in the form of $3,000,000,000 of Dollar Term Loans, €750,000,000 of Euro Term Loans and $1,000,000,000 of Revolving Credit Commitments on the Closing Date as senior secured credit facilities and (b) from time to time on and after the Closing Date, the Lenders lend to the Borrowers (and the L/C Issuers issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrowers), each to be used solely for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder and pursuant to the terms of, and subject to the conditions set forth in, this Agreement.

On the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower will, substantially simultaneously with its separation from Merck & Co., a New Jersey corporation (“Merck”), merge (and be the surviving entity of the merger) with Organon Finance 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, an entity that has, prior to the Closing Date, issued and sold the Senior Notes.

The proceeds of the Term Borrowings on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the Senior Notes, will be used on the Closing Date to fund the Transaction, including payment of the Closing Date Repayment.

The Lenders have indicated their willingness to make Loans, and the L/C Issuers have indicated their willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Accounting Terms

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Acceptable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(2).

Acceptable Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(3).

Acceptance and Prepayment Notice” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit J-1.

Acceptance Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(2).


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 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 specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Additional Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Additional Refinancing Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).

Adjusted EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the EURIBOR Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent under the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

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.

Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

2


Agreed Currencies” means Dollars and Euros.

Agreement” means this Senior Secured Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.26.

All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees or an Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor or Base Rate floor; provided that OID and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); and provided, further, that “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees or other fees not paid generally to all lenders of such Indebtedness.

Applicable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(2).

Applicable Rate” means:

(a) (i) in respect of the Dollar Term Loans, a percentage per annum equal to, (x) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, 3.00% and (y) in the case of Base Rate Loans, 2.00% and (ii) in respect of the Euro Term Loans, a percentage per annum equal to 3.00%; and

(b) (i) in respect of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility denominated in Dollars, a percentage per annum equal to, initially, (x) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, 2.00% and (y) in the case of Base Rate Loans, 1.00%, (ii) in respect of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility denominated in Euros, initially, a percentage per annum equal to 2.00% and (iii) in respect of loans under the Revolving Credit Facility, on and after the first Business Day after the Closing Date on which a Compliance Certificate has been delivered under Section 6.02(a), a percentage per annum equal to the percentages per annum in the below table, based upon the First Lien 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

   First Lien
Leverage
Ratio
     Eurodollar Rate for
Dollar Revolving
Credit Loans and
Letter of Credit
Fees
    Base Rate
for Dollar
Revolving
Credit
Loans
    Euro
Revolving
Credit Loans
    Commitment
Fee Rate
 

1

     > 2.25:1.00        2.00     1.00     2.00     0.50

2

     £ 2.25:1.00        1.75     0.75     1.75     0.375

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the First Lien 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, Pricing Level 1 shall apply (x) as of the first Business Day after the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply 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), Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(g) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is waived (and thereafter the Pricing Level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply).

 

3


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above in this definition or elsewhere in this Agreement, the determination of the Applicable Rate shall be subject to Section 2.10(b).

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class and (b) with respect to any Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders.

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.

Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., each in its capacity as a Joint Lead Arranger under this Agreement.

Assignees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(b).

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized 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 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)(iv); provided that the 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 Borrower nor any of its Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Lead Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and the related audited consolidated and combined statements of operations, business/stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years of the Lead Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Available Amount” means, at any time (the “Reference Date”), an amount equal to the sum of (a) (i) the greater of $420,000,000 and 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period plus (ii) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the Available Amount Reference Period (or in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus (b) to the

 

4


extent not utilized in connection with other transactions permitted by this Agreement, the aggregate amount of Retained Declined Proceeds retained by the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus (c) the amount of any capital contributions or Net Cash Proceeds from Permitted Equity Issuances (or issuance of debt securities that have been converted or exchanged into Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower) (other than any capital contributions or equity or debt issuances to the extent utilized in connection with other transactions permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02, 7.06 or 7.12) received or made by the Borrower during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus (d) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clause (g) below, the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other cash distributions received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries made in reliance on Section 7.02(o)(ii) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus (e) to the extent not (A) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clause (g) below, the aggregate amount of all cash repayments of principal received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries made in reliance on Section 7.02(o)(ii) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date in respect of loans or advances made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to such Minority Investments or Unrestricted Subsidiaries; plus (f) to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clause (g) below, or (iii) used to prepay Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(i), the aggregate amount of all Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any Minority Investment or Unrestricted Subsidiary made in reliance on Section 7.02(o)(ii) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; minus (g) the aggregate amount of any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(o)(ii) (net of any return of capital in respect of such Investment or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment including, without limitation, upon the re-designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the Disposition of any such Investment), any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 7.06(k)(iii) or any payment made pursuant to Section 7.12(a)(iv)(C) during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Reference Date (and, for purposes of this clause (g), without taking account of the intended usage of the Available Amount on such Reference Date).

Available Amount Reference Period” means, with respect to any Reference Date, the period commencing at the beginning of the fiscal quarter in which the Closing Date occurred and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b), and the related Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), have been received by the Administrative Agent.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (f) of Section 3.03.

 

5


Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an 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, regulation, rule or requirement 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).

Bank Levy” means the Dutch bank levy as set out in the bank levy act (Wet bankenbelasting).

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal law for the relief of debtors.

Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 12 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the LIBO Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 3.03), then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans that are Dollar Term Loans, be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement and (y) with respect to Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans, be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Relevant Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, a Term ESTR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of Section 3.03.

Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1) (A) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, and

 

6


(B) in the case of any Loan denominated in Euros, the sum of (a) Term ESTR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(2) (A) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, and

(B) in the case of any Loan denominated in Euros, the sum of (a) Daily Simple ESTR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

provided that, in the case of clause (1)(A) or (1)(B), such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that, (x) with respect to a Loan denominated in Dollars, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1)(A) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above), and (y) with respect to a Loan denominated in Euros, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term ESTR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term ESTR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term ESTR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1)(B) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

(1) for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

(a) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

(b) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

 

7


(2) for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time;

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; or

(3) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event or a Term ESTR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice or a Term ESTR Notice, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.03(c); or

(4) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

8


For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.03 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 3.03.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.

 

9


Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control 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 Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k)) of such party.

Bilateral L/C” means any bilateral letter of credit or bank guarantee issued by a Bilateral L/C Issuer for the account of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that the aggregate amount of Bilateral L/C Obligations at any time outstanding shall not exceed the Bilateral L/C Sublimit. For the avoidance of doubt, “Bilateral L/C” shall not include any Third Party Bilateral L/C.

Bilateral L/C Issuer” means any Agent, Revolving Credit Facility Lender or Affiliate of an Agent or Revolving Credit Facility Lender on the Closing Date or at the time such Person issued a Bilateral L/C, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, a Revolving Credit Facility Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or Revolving Credit Facility Lender.

Bilateral L/C Obligations” means obligations owed by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any Bilateral L/C Issuer in connection with, or in respect of, any Bilateral L/C.

Bilateral L/C Sublimit” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $250,000,000 and (b) the available capacity under the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

Borrower” means, with respect to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, the Lead Borrower individually, or the Lead Borrower and the Co-Borrower, collectively, as the context may require.

Borrower Notice” has the meaning specified in clause (g) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

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)(iv)(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)(iv)(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)(iv)(D).

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Term Borrowing of a particular Class, as the context may require.

 

10


Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) all Capitalized Software Expenditures for such period, (c) the value of all assets under Capitalized Leases incurred by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than as a result of purchase accounting) and (d) less any capital grants received from a Governmental Authority that are reflected as a reduction of fixed assets in conformity with GAAP; provided that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include (i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, restored or repaired or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (iii) the purchase of plant, property or equipment to the extent financed with the proceeds of Dispositions that are not required to be applied to prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (iv) expenditures that constitute any part of Consolidated Lease Expense, (v) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which none of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period), (vi) the book value of any asset owned by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that (x) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (y) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, (vii) expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions, (viii) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ix) any non-cash compensation or other non-cash costs reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP; 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 capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as 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 capital lease obligations, Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

 

11


Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, unless the Lead Borrower elects otherwise, all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to adoption of Accounting Standards Codification topic 482, Leases (“ASC 842”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases (and not be treated as financing or capital lease obligations or Indebtedness), and liabilities in respect thereof shall not be Capitalized Lease Obligations, notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASC 842 or any other change in accounting treatment or otherwise (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as or to be re-characterized as financing or capital lease obligations or otherwise accounted for as liabilities in financial statements.

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 the 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 the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Captive Insurance Subsidiary” shall mean a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower designated to the Administrative Agent in writing as a ‘Captive Insurance Subsidiary’ and established for the purpose of, and to be engaged solely in the business of, insurance with respect to the businesses or property, whether real, personal or intangible, owned or operated by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Cash Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked account at a commercial bank to be agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or another commercial bank selected in compliance with Section 9.09) in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

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) Sterling, Euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU or (b) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States 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;

 

12


(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 one year 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 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 meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

(6) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-1 by Moody’s or at least A-1 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

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

(8) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another 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 or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated within the top three ratings category by S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);

(11) securities with maturities of 12 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; and

(12) investment funds investing 90% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) 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 (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (8) and clauses (10), (11) and (12) 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 (ii) 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 (12) and in this paragraph.

 

13


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

Cash Management Bank” means any Person that is a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender at the time such cash management services are entered into providing treasury, depository and/or cash management services to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or conducting any automated clearing house transfers of funds.

Cash Management Obligations” means obligations owed by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender in respect of any overdraft, credit card processing, credit or debit card, purchase card, cash pooling, and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds.

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 (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or (c) the making or issuance of, or the compliance by any Lender with, any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued; provided that to the extent any increased costs or reductions are incurred by any Lender as a result of any requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or pursuant to Basel III after the Closing Date, then such Lender shall be compensated only if such Lender imposes such charges under other syndicated credit facilities involving similarly situated borrowers that such Lender is a lender under.

Change of Control” means the earliest to occur of:

(a) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);

(b) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of either Borrower, or the Lead Borrower ceases to own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Co-Borrower;

 

14


(c) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the voting Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

(d) any “Change of Control” (or any comparable term) in any document pertaining to the Senior Notes or any Permitted Refinancing thereof, or any Junior Financing or other Indebtedness with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount.

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, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Other Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Refinancing Series, Dollar Term Commitments, Euro 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, Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, Revolving Credit Loans under Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of a given Extension Series, Revolving Credit Loans under Other Revolving Credit Commitments, Dollar Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i), Euro Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii), 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, Dollar Term Commitments, Euro Term Commitments, Incremental Term Commitments or Refinancing Term 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.

Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01.

Closing Date Repayment” means the repayment, on or around the Closing Date, in one or more steps, of one or more intercompany loans or notes owed by the Lead Borrower or its Affiliates to Merck Holdings II Corp. or its Affiliates.

Closing Date Revolving Credit Facility” means the Revolving Credit Facility made available by the Revolving Credit Lenders as of the Closing Date.

Closing Date Term Loans” means the Term Loans made by the Term Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Co-Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and rules and regulations related thereto.

Collateral” means all the “Collateral” as defined in any Collateral Document and shall include the Mortgaged Properties.

Collateral Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

 

15


Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, subject to Section 6.17, 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)(iii) or pursuant to Section 6.12 or Section 6.15 at such time, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto;

(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) jointly and severally by each Borrower (except as to its own obligations), and each other Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) that is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiary including, as of the Closing Date, those that are listed on Schedule I hereto (each, a “Guarantor”);

(c) [reserved];

(d) the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured by a first-priority security interest in (i) all Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Equity Interest of any Restricted Subsidiary pledged to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(g)) of each wholly-owned Material Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct Subsidiary of a Borrower or any Guarantor and (ii) 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests (and 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Equity Interests, if any) (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Equity Interest of any Restricted Subsidiary pledged to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(g)) of each wholly-owned Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by either Borrower or any Guarantor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the Closing Date, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC);

(e) except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured by a perfected security interest (other than in the case of mortgages, to the extent such security interest may be perfected by delivering certificated securities, filing UCC financing statements, entering into control agreements with respect to deposit accounts and securities accounts or making any necessary filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office) in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of each Borrower and each other Guarantor (including accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, intercompany notes, Intellectual Property, other general intangibles, owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents; provided that security interests in real property shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties;

(f) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01; and

(g) the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.12 (the “Mortgaged Properties”) duly authorized, executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid Lien on the property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 7.01, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (the “Title Insurance Policy”), (iii) a current ALTA survey and a surveyor’s certificate, in form and substance

 

16


satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, certified to the Collateral Agent and to the issuer of the Title Insurance Policy with respect thereto by a professional surveyor licensed in the state in which such Mortgaged Property is located and satisfactory to Collateral Agent; provided, however, that, with respect to any Mortgaged Property, the applicable Loan Party shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of this clause (iii) if the Title Insurance Policy for the applicable Mortgage does not include a general exception concerning matters a survey would show based on an existing survey together with an affidavit of no change; (iv) an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in the state where such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded and such other reasonable and customary matters as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request; (v) no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the delivery of the Mortgage, the following documents and instruments, in order to comply with the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and related legislation (including the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System): (1) a complete standard flood hazard determination form, (2) if any portion of the improvements on any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, a notification to the Lead Borrower (“Borrower Notice”) and, if applicable, notification to the Lead Borrower that flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) is not available because the community does not participate in NFIP, (3) documentation evidencing the Lead Borrower’s receipt of the Borrower Notice and (4) if the Borrower Notice is required to be given and flood insurance is available in the community in which the property is located, a copy of the flood insurance policy, such Borrower’s application for a flood insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that flood insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of flood insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and (vi) such existing surveys, existing abstracts, existing appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgaged Property.

The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, (a) with respect to leases of real property entered into by any Loan Party, such Loan Party shall not be required to take any action with respect to creation or perfection of security interests with respect to such leases, (b) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, (c) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to any of the following assets: (i) any fee-owned real property that is not a Material Real Property and any leasehold interests in real property, (ii) all commercial tort claims that are not expected to result in a judgment or settlement payment in excess of $5,000,000 (as determined by the Lead Borrower in good faith), (iii) assets in respect of which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by law or by agreements containing anti-assignment clauses not overridden by Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and (iv) any assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower agree that the

 

17


cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the value to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby, (d) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not require perfection of the security interest in the following assets: (i) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (ii) letter of credit rights and (iii) assets (including deposit accounts and securities accounts, but excluding any deposit account or securities account with an average balance for the preceding year in excess of $5,000,000) specifically requiring perfection through control agreements, in each case of clauses (i) to (iii), other than by the filing of a UCC financing statement, and (e) other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, no actions in any non-United States jurisdiction or required by the Laws of any non-United States jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that, other than the Non-US Pledge Agreements, there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the Laws of any non-United States jurisdiction).

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, the Mortgages, the Non-US Pledge Agreements, each of the mortgages, account control agreements, collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements and supplements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.12 or Section 6.15, the Guaranty and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create or perfect a Lien or Guarantee in favor of the Administrative 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, Dollar Term Commitment, Euro Term Commitment, Incremental Term Commitment or Refinancing Term Commitment of a given Refinancing Series as the context may require.

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term Borrowing, (b) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (c) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (d) a continuation of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Company” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19(b).

Company Party” means the collective reference to the Borrowers and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries, and “Company Party” means any one of them.

Compensation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

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

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

 

18


(a) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than in the case of clause (a)(ix) below) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(ii) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (y) bank fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus amounts excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense as set forth in sub-clauses (t) to (y) of clause (a) of the definition thereof) to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iii) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(iv) any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to the Transaction or any equity offering, Investment, acquisition, disposition, or recapitalization permitted hereunder or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (A) such fees, expenses or charges related to the Senior Notes, the Loans and any credit facilities and (B) any amendment or other modification of the Senior Notes, the Loans and the credit facilities and, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus

(v) the amount of any restructuring charges, integration costs or other business optimization expenses, costs associated with establishing new facilities or reserves deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions (other than purchase price) after the Closing Date, and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities; plus

(vi) any other non-cash charges (collectively, the “Non-Cash Charges”), including any write offs or write downs reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus

(vii) the amount of minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary deducted (and not added back) in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus

(viii) [reserved]; plus

(ix) the amount of net cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected in good faith to be taken no later than twenty four (24) months after the end of such period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings, operating

 

19


expense reductions and synergies 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 and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that such cost savings and synergies are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable; provided further, that that the aggregate amount of adjustments made pursuant to this clause (ix) shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA (prior to giving effect to the addback of such items); plus

(x) any costs or expense incurred by the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such 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 Interest of the Lead Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of Available Amount; plus

(xi) any net loss from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations; plus

(xii) 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 paragraph (b) below for any previous period and not added back; and

(b) decreased (without duplication) by the following, in each case to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period 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

(ii) any net income and/or gains from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations.

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 the definition of the term “Permitted Acquisition” and compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.14, 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. For purposes of determining the Interest Coverage Ratio, Total Leverage Ratio,

 

20


First Lien Leverage Ratio and Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, 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, closed or classified as discontinued operations 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).

Consolidated First Lien Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (x) under this Agreement, (y) that is secured by a Lien on any or all of the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations outstanding on such date and (z) consisting of Indebtedness referred to in clause (ii) below, determined 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 any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of (i) Loans and Unreimbursed Amounts hereunder, (ii) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and (iii) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money or debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments that are secured by such a pari passu Lien, minus (b) the aggregate amount of (x) the Unrestricted Cash Amount and (y) Pre-Funded Acquisition Debt (in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), free and clear of all Liens, other than (1) nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01(s) and clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.01(t) and (2) solely in the case of clause (y), Liens arising from the escrow arrangements with respect to such Pre-Funded Acquisition Debt) included in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated First Lien Debt shall not include (i) Letters of Credit, except to the extent of Unreimbursed Amounts thereunder or (ii) obligations under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes.

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

(a) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (i) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (ii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (iii) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (iv) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (v) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received) pursuant to interest rate obligations under any Swap Contracts with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (t) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (u) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (v) any additional interest owing pursuant to any registration rights agreement with respect to the Senior Notes or other securities, (w) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (x) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (y) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

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

 

21


(c) interest income for such period.

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

Consolidated Lease Expense” means, for any period, all rental expenses of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period under operating leases for real or personal property (including in connection with sale-leaseback transactions permitted by Section 7.05(f)), excluding real estate taxes, insurance costs and common area maintenance charges and net of sublease income, other than (a) obligations under vehicle leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, (b) all such rental expenses associated with assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to the extent such rental expenses relate to operating leases in effect at the time of (and immediately prior to) such acquisition and related to periods prior to such acquisition and (c) all obligations under Capitalized Leases, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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

(a) any after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to the Transaction Expenses or any multi-year strategic initiatives), severance, relocation costs and curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans shall be excluded,

(b) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period,

(c) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

(d) any after-tax effect of gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions 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,

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

(f) solely for the purpose of calculating the Available Amount, 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 such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived, provided that

 

22


Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

(g) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue and debt line items in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transaction or any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

(h) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) obligations under any Swaps Contracts or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

(i) 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 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,

(j) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights shall be excluded,

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

(l) the following items shall be excluded:

(i) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from obligations under any Swap Contracts and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133; and

(ii) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses including those (x) related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (y) resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk.

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges from third parties that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder.

 

23


Consolidated Senior Secured Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined 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 any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of (i) Loans and Unreimbursed Amounts hereunder, (ii) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(e) and (iii) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money or debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments that are secured by a Lien, minus (b) the aggregate amount of (x) the Unrestricted Cash Amount and (y) Pre-Funded Acquisition Debt (in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), free and clear of all Liens, other than nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01(s) and clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.01(t)) included in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated Senior Secured Debt shall not include (i) Letters of Credit, except to the extent of Unreimbursed Amounts thereunder and (ii) obligations under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes.

Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined 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 any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations in respect of Capitalized Leases and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments, minus (b) the aggregate amount of (x) the Unrestricted Cash Amount and (y) Pre-Funded Acquisition Debt (in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), free and clear of all Liens, other than nonconsensual Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01(s) and clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.01(t)) included in the consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; provided that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include (i) Letters of Credit, except to the extent of Unreimbursed Amounts thereunder or (ii) obligations under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes.

Consolidated Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) long-term accounts receivable over (b) the sum of (i) all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date and (ii) long-term deferred revenue, but excluding, without duplication, (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (b) all Indebtedness consisting of Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations to the extent otherwise included therein, (c) the current portion of interest, (d) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (e) the current portion of any Capitalized Lease Obligations and (f) deferred revenue arising from cash receipts that are earmarked for specific projects.

Contract Consideration” has the meaning specified 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 specified in the definition of “Affiliate”.

Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

 

24


Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Corresponding Liabilities” means the Obligations, including all present and future liabilities and contractual and non-contractual obligations of a Loan Party under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, but excluding its Parallel Liability.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Covenant Suspension Event” has the meaning specified in Section 7.15(a).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.28.

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

CRR” means Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, together with the corrigendum thereto and EU Delegated Regulation 625/2014 supplementing Regulation 575/2013.

Cumulative Excess Cash Flow” means the sum of Excess Cash Flow (but not less than zero for any period) for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2021 (prorated for the number of days from the first day of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, to and including December 31, 2021) and Excess Cash Flow for each succeeding and completed fiscal year (it being understood that no Excess Cash Flow generated during any period shall be deemed to be Cumulative Excess Cash Flow until the financial statements for such period are delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a)).

DAC6” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

Daily Simple ESTR” means, for any day, ESTR, with the conventions for this rate (which may include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple ESTR” for business loans or conventions that are otherwise used in the United States syndicated lending market for syndicated loans denominated in Euros; provided that, if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

25


Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which may include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for business loans; provided that, if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, the Dutch Bankruptcy Act (Faillissementswet) 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, Netherlands or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

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 applicable to Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.0% per annum; provided that with respect to a Eurodollar 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, subject to Section 2.20(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Lead Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a

 

26


Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.20(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Lead Borrower, each L/C Issuer and each Lender.

Deposit Account” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Designated Equity Contribution” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(a).

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to Section 7.05(j) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within 180 days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).

Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(2).

Discount Range” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(1).

Discount Range Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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)(iv)(C) substantially in the form of Exhibit J-2.

Discount Range Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit J-3, 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 specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(1).

Discount Range Proration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(3).

Discounted Prepayment Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 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)(iv)(B)(1), Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(1) or Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(1), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Borrower and the Auction Agent.

 

27


Discounted Term Loan Prepayment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary (determined as if references to the Borrower and the 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), 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 leaseback transaction and any sale of Equity Interests) 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; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Lead Borrower of any of its equity interests to another Person.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, 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 all outstanding Letters of Credit), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), 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.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Dollar Amount” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in Euros, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with Euros last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by Reuters on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with Euros, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

Dollar Term Borrowing” means a borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i) consisting of Dollar Term Loans of the same Type made by the Dollar Term Lenders and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, having the same Interest Period.

 

28


Dollar Term Commitment” means, as to each Dollar Term Lender, its obligation to make a Dollar Term Loan to the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01(a)(i) under the caption “Dollar Term Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Dollar Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, 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 Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Dollar Term Commitments on the Closing Date is $3,000,000,000.

Dollar Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Dollar Term Loan at such time.

Dollar Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i).

Dollar Term Note” means a promissory note of the Lead Borrower payable to any Dollar Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower to such Dollar Term Lender resulting from the Dollar Term Loans made by such Dollar Term Lender.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Dutch Loan Party” means any Loan Party incorporated under Dutch law.

Dutch Security Documents” means each Dutch Share Pledge Deed and each other Dutch law governed security agreement required by Section 7.18 that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Dutch Share Pledge Deed” means any of (i) the Dutch law deed of pledge of shares dated on or prior to the Closing Date between Organon Pharma Holdings LLC as pledgor, Collateral Agent as pledgee and Organon International Holdings B.V. as company, (ii) the Dutch law deed of pledge of shares dated on or prior to the Closing Date between Organon & Co. as pledgor, Collateral Agent as pledgee and Co-Borrower as company and (iii) the Dutch law deed of pledge of shares dated on or prior to the Closing Date between Organon Pharma Holdings LLC as pledgor, Collateral Agent as pledgee and OBS International 9 B.V. as company.

Early Opt-in Election means

(a) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, the occurrence of:

(1) a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

(2) the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower to trigger a fallback from the LIBO Rate and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders; and

(b) in the case of Loans denominated in Euros, the occurrence of:

 

29


(1) (i) a determination by the Administrative Agent or (ii) a notification by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Lead Borrower) that the Required Lenders have determined that syndicated credit facilities denominated in Euros being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in Section 3.03 are being executed or amended, as applicable, to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the Relevant Rate, and

(2) (i) the election by the Administrative Agent or (ii) the election by the Required Lenders to declare that an Early Opt-in Election has occurred and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders or by the Required Lenders of written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.

ECF Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Eligible Assignee” means any Assignee permitted by and consented to in accordance with Section 10.07(b).

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

Environmental Laws” means any and all Laws relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, natural resources or to the release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment, or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any applicable Environmental Law.

 

30


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).

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, the regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor thereto.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Loan Party, is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code. Any former ERISA Affiliate of the Loan Parties shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate of the Loan Parties within the meaning of this definition with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of a Loan Party and with respect to liabilities arising after such period for which any Loan Party would be liable under the Code or ERISA.

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Sections 302 or 303 of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Pension Plan; (d) a withdrawal by any Loan Party 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 a termination under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, notification of any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is or is expected to be in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA); (f) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (h) the adoption of any amendment to a Pension Plan that would require the provision of security pursuant to Section 436(f) of the Code; (i) the failure by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to make a required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (j) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (k) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (l) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any Loan Party; (m) the receipt from the IRS of notice of disqualification of any Plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code or the disqualification of any trust forming part of any Plan intended to qualify for exemption under Section 501(a) of the Code; (n) the imposition of a lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 (k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; or (o) the occurrence of any act or omission which could give rise to the imposition on any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate of any fine, penalty, tax or related charge under Chapter 43 of the Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (I), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Plan.

ESTR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Euro Short Term Rate for such Business Day published by the ESTR Administrator on the ESTR Administrator’s Website.

ESTR Administrator” means the European Central Bank (or any successor administrator of the Euro Short Term Rate).

 

31


ESTR Administrator’s Website” means the European Central Bank’s website, currently at http://www.ecb.europa.eu, or any successor source for the Euro Short Term Rate identified as such by the ESTR Administrator from time to time.

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.

EURIBOR Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the EURIBOR Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that is shorter than the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period; and (b) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that exceeds the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that, if any EURIBOR Interpolated Rate shall be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, two TARGET days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period”) with respect to Euros then the EURIBOR Rate shall be the EURIBOR Interpolated Rate.

EURIBOR Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters as of 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service displaying the Relevant Rate after consultation with the Lead Borrower. If the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than 0.00%, the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

Euro” and “EUR” means the lawful single currency of the European Union.

Euro Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any Loan or Commitment denominated in Euros, the principal amount thereof then outstanding, and (b) with respect to any Loan or Commitment denominated in Dollars, the principal amount thereof then outstanding in Dollars, converted to Euros in accordance with Section 1.08.

Euro Currency Equivalent” means, for any amount of Euros, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Euros, such amount and (b) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, the equivalent of such amount in Euros determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of Euros with Dollars last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Reuters source on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Euros with Dollars, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion).

 

32


Euro Term Borrowing” means a borrowing pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii) consisting of Euro Term Loans of the same Type made by the Euro Term Lenders and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, having the same Interest Period.

Euro Term Commitment” means, as to each Euro Term Lender, its obligation to make a Euro Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01(a)(ii) under the caption “Euro Term Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Euro Term Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, 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 Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Euro Term Commitments on the Closing Date is €750,000,000.

Euro Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Euro Term Loan at such time.

Euro Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii).

Euro Term Note” means a promissory note by the Lead Borrower (on behalf of itself or the Co-Borrower) payable to any Euro Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the applicable Borrower to such Euro Term Lender resulting from the Euro Term Loans made by such Euro Term Lender.

Eurodollar” and “Eurodollar Rate” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions by the Lead Borrower and the 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 the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; over

 

33


(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 (a) through (f) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income,

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of Intellectual Property made by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Leases and (B) the amount of 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 such Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other prepayments of Term Loans, or other non-revolving Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, (Y) all prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans and (Z) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except, in the case of clauses (Y) and (Z), to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder) made in cash during such period, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of incurrence or issuance of other Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the Lead Borrower and the 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,

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting),

(vi) cash payments by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness (including such Indebtedness specified in clause (b)(iii) above),

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Investments (other than Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments in any Loan Party) and acquisitions made in cash during such period to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,

(viii) the amount of Restricted Payments paid in cash by the Lead Borrower during such period pursuant to Section 7.06 to the extent such Restricted Payments were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

34


(ix) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period,

(x) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness,

(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of Intellectual Property to be consummated or made 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 flow actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of Intellectual Property during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, and

(xii) the amount of cash taxes paid or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Exchange Rate” means on any day with respect to any currency other than Dollars, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into Dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page for such currency; in the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date for the purchase of Dollars for delivery two Business Days later.

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, (c) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01C hereto, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law from guaranteeing the Obligations, (e) (i) any Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) each CFC, (iii) any Subsidiary that is wholly-owned directly or indirectly by a CFC, or (iv) any Foreign Holding Company, (f) any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with secured Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g) and each Restricted Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness solely to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness prohibit such Restricted Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor; provided that each such Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary under this clause (f) if such secured Indebtedness is repaid or becomes unsecured or if such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to guarantee such secured Indebtedness, as applicable, (g) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Borrower), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom and (h) each Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, in

 

35


no event shall a Guarantor be deemed to become an Excluded Subsidiary (and accordingly released from its Guarantee obligations), solely by virtue of such Subsidiary becoming a non-wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lead Borrower after the Closing Date if (i) resulting from (w) the disposition or issuance of equity interests of such Subsidiary to a person that is an Affiliate of the Lead Borrower, (x) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares, (y) any transaction not entered into for a bona fide business purpose (as determined in good faith by the Lead Borrower) and, for the avoidance of doubt, with the primary purpose of causing such release or (z) the disposition or issuance of equity interests of such Subsidiary for less than fair market value of such shares or (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such release and the consummation of the relevant transaction, the Lead Borrower is deemed to have made a new Investment in such Subsidiary (as if such subsidiary was not a Guarantor) in an amount equal to the portion of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary attributable to the Lead Borrower’s retained direct or indirect ownership interest in such Subsidiary and such Investment would not be permitted pursuant to Section 7.02. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Organon Pharma Holdings LLC (A) is deemed not to be an Excluded Subsidiary and (B) shall not be deemed to become an Excluded Subsidiary solely as a result of being a Foreign Holding Company.

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 10.24 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 Hedge Bank 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.

Excluded Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Existing Class” shall mean each Class of Existing Revolving Credit Loans and Existing Revolving Credit Commitments and each Existing Term Loan Class.

Existing Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

Existing Revolving Credit Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

Existing Term Loan Class” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

Extended Revolving Credit Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

 

36


Extended Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(b).

Extending Term Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

Extension Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(c).

Extension Election” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(b).

Extension Series” shall mean (i) all Extended Revolving Credit Commitments that are established pursuant to the same Extension Agreement (or any subsequent Extension Agreement to the extent such Extension Agreement expressly provides that the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Extension Series) and that provide for the same interest margins, extension fees, if any, and amortization schedule and (ii) all Extended Term Loans that are established pursuant to the same Extension Agreement (or any subsequent Extension Agreement to the extent such Extension Agreement expressly provides that the Extended Term Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Extension Series) and that provide for the same interest margins, extension fees, if any, and amortization schedule.

Facility” means the Dollar Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i), the Euro Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii), a given Class of Incremental Term Loans (each, an “Incremental Facility”), 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 date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreements entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any such amended or successor version thereof).

FCA” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09

FDA” has the meaning specified in Section 5.10(b).

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Filings” has the meaning specified in Section 5.10(a).

 

37


First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means any of (1) the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Collateral Agent, the Loan Parties, U.S. Bank National Association, as the Initial Other Representative and Initial Other Collateral Agent for the Initial Other First Lien Claimholders (each, as defined therein), U.S. Bank National Association, as the Initial Additional Other Representative and Initial Additional Other Collateral Agent for the Initial Additional Other First Lien Claimholders (each, as defined therein) and each additional representative party thereto from time to time or (2) an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H, together with any changes thereto which are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

First Lien Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.

Flood Hazard Property” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a)(xi).

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the LIBO Rate or EURIBOR Rate, as applicable.

Foreign Casualty Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

Foreign Disposition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

Foreign Holding Company” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower all or substantially all of the assets of which consist of, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests (or equity Interests and other securities) of one or more CFCs (or are treated as consisting of such assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes), excluding Organon Pharma Holdings LLC.

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i).

Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to any L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

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.

Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

 

38


GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change 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 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.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, local or other political subdivision thereof, any federal, state, local, or international agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Granting Lender” has the meaning specified 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 permitted 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.

Guarantors” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

Guaranty” means (a) the guaranty made by each Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors on the Closing Date in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit F and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

39


Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

Health Care Laws” means all applicable Laws relating to the research, design, testing, development, manufacture, sale, marketing, promotion, advertising, distribution or recordkeeping of pharmaceutical (including biologics and biosimilar) products and medical devices, including, but not limited to (i) all healthcare related-fraud and abuse, anti-kickback, self-referral, and false claims laws, including the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7(b)), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.), the criminal False Claims Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a)), the exclusion laws (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7), the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a), the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7h), any criminal laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. §§ 286, 287, 1001 and 1347, and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.) (“HIPAA”); (ii) HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. § 17921 et seq.); (iii) the Medicare statute (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act); (iv) the Medicaid statute (Title XIX of the Social Security Act); (v) the federal TRICARE statute (10 U.S.C. § 1071 et seq.); (vi) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq.); (vii) the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.); (viii) the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.); (ix) Laws relating to price reporting, and the processing of any applicable rebate, chargeback or adjustment, including under applicable rules and regulations relating to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (42 U.S.C. § 1396r-8), VA Federal Supply Schedule (38 U.S.C. § 8126), Medicare average sales price reporting (42 U.S.C. § 1395w-3a), the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 256b), or under any state, provincial or territorial pharmaceutical assistance program or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs agreement, and any successor government program; and (x) all comparable foreign, federal, state and local laws; in the case of each of the foregoing clauses, as amended and together with all regulations promulgated thereunder.

Health Care Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 5.10(a).

Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender, an Arranger or an Affiliate of the foregoing at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto.

Historical Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(c).

HMT” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19(b)(i).

Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

ICC” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(k).

ICC Rule” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(k).

Identified Participating Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(3).

Identified Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(3).

Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period” has the meaning specified in the definition of “EURIBOR Rate.”

 

40


Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period” has the meaning specified in the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

Incremental Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Dollar Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Euro Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Facility” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Facility”.

Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Loans” means Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Term Loans.

Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Revolving Credit Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

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;

(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 or services (other than (i) obligations in respect of licenses to the extent incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, (ii) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and (iii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid after becoming due and payable);

(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;

 

41


(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and

(h) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

if and to the extent that the foregoing would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with GAAP.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation 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 limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt. 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 and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05(a).

Indemnified Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property, including without limitation Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, inventions (whether or not patentable), and any applications therefor and reissues, continuations, extensions, renewals, or similar extension of rights thereof; goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; together with all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property and the goodwill associated therewith. Each of the terms Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks shall have the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I, together with each other supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Intercreditor Agreement” means, as applicable, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower for such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense of the Lead Borrower for such Test Period.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base 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 Eurodollar 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, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

 

42


Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent available to each Lender of such Eurodollar Loan, twelve months or less than one month thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period (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

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

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 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 shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or if Moody’s and S&P are not providing the applicable rating, an equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

ISP” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(k).

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.26.

Junior Financing” has the meaning specified in Section 7.12(a).

Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

Latest Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

43


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.

“Latest Term Loan Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Term Loan, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Commitment, any Extended Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loans, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing.

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 2.01(b)(ii) 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; provided that, with respect to each L/C Issuer, the commitment of such L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the commitment set forth on Schedule 2.01(b)(ii) with respect to such L/C Issuer.

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Bank N.A., Bank of America, N.A., BNP Paribas, Citibank, N.A., Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and any other Lender that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03(j) 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.

L/C Obligation” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate maximum amount then available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under any such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit) plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts in respect of Letters of Credit, including all L/C Borrowings.

Lead Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

44


Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes each L/C Issuer, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender”.

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 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. For the avoidance of doubt, “Letter of Credit” shall not include any Bilateral L/C or Third Party Bilateral L/C.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the relevant L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Fees” means any fees paid pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.03(g).

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) (i) $400,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate amount of Bilateral L/C Obligations outstanding on such date of determination and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments on such date of determination.

LIBO Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable Agreed Currency) that is shorter than the Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period; and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable Agreed Currency) that exceeds the Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if any LIBO Interpolated Rate shall be less than (x) with respect to Dollar Term Loans, 0.50%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.50% for the purposes of this Agreement and (y) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

LIBOR” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09.

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period”) with respect to Dollars then the LIBO Rate shall be the LIBO Interpolated Rate.

LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than (x) with respect to Dollar Term Loans, 0.50%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.50% for the purposes of this Agreement and (y) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

45


License” means a license, agreement, or contract under which a Person receives or grants rights or interests to Intellectual Property.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, 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 Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan (including any Incremental Term Loans and any extensions of credit under any Revolving Commitment Increases).

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents, (v) the Intercreditor Agreements, (vi) each Letter of Credit Application and (vii) any other document entered into by any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent that is identified therein to be a “Loan Document”.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, (i) each Borrower and (ii) each Guarantor.

Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower 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 specified in the definition of “Swap Contract”.

Material Acquisition” means a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, in each case, with an aggregate consideration in excess of $50,000,000.

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) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under any Loan Document to which any of the Loan Parties is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Agents under any Loan Document.

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Lead Borrower’s direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Domestic Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Lead Borrower’s Subsidiaries selected by the Lead Borrower which is required to ensure that all Material Domestic Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test

 

46


Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided further that in no case shall Material Domestic Subsidiary mean any Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than Equity Interests of one or more (i) Foreign Subsidiaries that are controlled foreign corporations that are related to the Lead Borrower with the meaning of Section 864(d) of the Code or (ii) Domestic Subsidiaries that are described in this proviso.

Material Foreign Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each of the Lead Borrower’s direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiaries (a) whose Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the Total Assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (b) whose gross revenues for such Test Period were equal to or greater than 5% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Material Foreign Subsidiary” shall also include any of the Lead Borrower’s Subsidiaries selected by the Lead Borrower which is required to ensure that all Material Foreign Subsidiaries have in the aggregate (i) Total Assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the Total Assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) gross revenues for such Test Period that were equal to or greater than 95% of the consolidated gross revenues of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Material Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by either Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is material to the operation of the business of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole).

Material Real Property” means any real property in the United States owned by any Loan Party with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000.

Material Subsidiary” means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Material Foreign Subsidiary.

Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Closing Date Term Loans, June 2, 2028; (b) with respect to the Closing Date Revolving Credit Facility, June 2, 2026, (c) 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 Revolving Credit Extension Request or Term Loan Extension Request, as applicable, accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders; (d) 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 (e) 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 specified in Section 10.10.

Merck” has the meaning given in the preliminary statements.

Minority Investment” means any person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns capital stock.

 

47


MIRE Event” means if there are any Mortgaged Properties at such time, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including any Incremental Facilities hereunder, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Loan or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit).

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage” means each deed of trust, trust deed, hypothec and mortgage, in each case, as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, made by any Loan Party in favor or for the benefit of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and any other mortgage executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Mortgage Policies” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15(b)(ii).

Mortgaged Properties” has the meaning specified in paragraph (g) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the period since January 1, 2015, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Cash Proceeds” means:

(a) with respect to the Disposition of any asset by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Casualty Event, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received and, with respect to any Casualty Event, any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of such Casualty Event actually received by or paid to or for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than any asset constituting Collateral) 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), (B) the out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ 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 by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event, (C) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable in connection therewith, and (D) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (x) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP and (y) any liabilities associated with such asset or assets and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the Disposition of any non-cash consideration by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Disposition and (ii) upon the reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in clause (D) above or if such liabilities have not been satisfied in cash and such reserve is not reversed within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after such Disposition or Casualty Event, the amount of such reserve; provided that (x) no net cash proceeds calculated in accordance with the foregoing realized in a single transaction or series of related

 

48


transactions shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds unless such net cash proceeds shall exceed $150,000,000 and (y) no such net cash proceeds shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause (a) in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such net cash proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $300,000,000 (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause (a)); and

(b) (i) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of (x) the sum of the cash received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over (y) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts, commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such incurrence or issuance and (ii) with respect to any Permitted Equity Issuance by the Lead Borrower, the amount of cash from such Permitted Equity Issuance net of all underwriting costs, discounts, commissions and other fees and expenses associated therewith.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.

NFIP” has the meaning specified in clause (g) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

Non-Cash Charges” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07(d).

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Guarantor Debt Cap” means the greater of (1) $700,000,000 and (2) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower determined as of the most recently ended Test Period.

Non-Loan Party” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party.

Non-Public Lender” means (i) until the competent authority publishes its interpretation of the term “public” (as referred to in article 4.1(1) of the CRR), an entity that is or qualifies as a professional market party (professionele marktpartij) as defined in the applicable law of the Netherlands or the value of the rights assigned or transferred by such person is at least EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency), or (ii) following publication by the competent authority of its interpretation of the term “public” (as referred to in article 4.1(1) of the CRR), such person which is not considered to be part of the public.

Non-US Pledge Agreements” means (i) each Dutch Security Document and (ii) to the extent there has been a reorganization, restructuring or any similar activity of the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party after the Closing Date, each other pledge or security agreement creating a security interest in the Equity Interests of each wholly-owned Material Foreign Subsidiary that is directly owned by either Borrower or any Guarantor as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the security interests of the Secured Parties in the Collateral and the Guarantees of the Obligations, taken as a whole, are not materially impaired as a result of such reorganization, restructuring or similar activity.

Nonrenewal Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

 

49


Not Otherwise Applied” means, with reference to any amount of Net Cash Proceeds of any transaction or event or of Excess Cash Flow or of the Available Amount that is proposed to be applied to a particular use or transaction, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), and (b) has not previously been (and is not simultaneously being) applied to anything other than such particular use or transaction.

Note” means a Term Note or a Revolving Credit Note, as the context may require.

Notice Period” has the meaning specified in Section 6.21.

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

Obligations” means all (v) 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 any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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, (w) obligations of any Loan Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement, (x) Cash Management Obligations, (y) Bilateral L/C Obligations and (z) Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and any 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 commissions, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 or such Restricted Subsidiary.

Offered Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(1).

Offered Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(1).

OID” means original issue discount.

Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture,

 

50


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, in each case, with respect to any Dutch Loan Party, including that Dutch Loan Party’s deed of incorporation (oprichtingsakte), articles of association (statuten) and extract from the commercial registry of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.

Other Connection Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Other Revolving Credit Commitments” means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Revolving Credit Loans” means one or more Classes of Revolving Credit Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Other Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to the Dollar Term Loans, Euro Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans on any date, the outstanding principal Dollar Amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Dollar Term Loans, Euro Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing), as the case may be, occurring on such date and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the outstanding Dollar Amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any related 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 Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit or related L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under related Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight Eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

Parallel Liability” has the meaning specified in Section 9.15.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

Participating Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(2).

Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.03(b)(i)(x).

Payment Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 9.03(b)(ii)(x).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

 

51


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 or had an obligation to make contributions, in each case at any time since January 1, 2015.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(j).

Permitted Equity Issuance” means any sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests of either Borrower, to the extent permitted hereunder.

Permitted Factoring Transaction” means customary receivables purchase facilities and factoring arrangements entered into by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Receivables Assets originated by the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, which receivables purchase facilities and factoring transactions give rise to obligations that are non-recourse to the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than limited recourse customary for receivables purchase facilities and factoring transactions of the same kind.

Permitted Factoring Transaction Documents” means each of the documents and agreements entered into in connection with any Permitted Factoring Transaction.

Permitted Other Debt” means (i) unsecured, senior subordinated or subordinated debt issued by any Loan Party, (ii) debt securities issued or term loans incurred by any Loan Party that are secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (iii) debt securities issued or term loans incurred by any Loan Party that are secured by a Lien ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), (a) the terms of which (other than in the case of customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for scheduled repayments, mandatory redemptions or sinking fund obligations (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the Maturity Date of the Existing Term Loan Class being refinanced by such Permitted Other Debt) do not provide for any scheduled repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations, prior to, at the time of incurrence of such Permitted Other Debt, the Maturity Date of the Existing Term Loan Class which is being refinanced by such Permitted Other Debt (other than customary offers to repurchase upon a change of control, asset sale or casualty or condemnation event and customary acceleration rights after an event of default), (b) (i) the covenants, events of default, guarantees, collateral and other terms of which (other than interest rates, fees, funding discounts and redemption or prepayment premiums), taken as a whole, are not more restrictive on the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the terms of this Agreement; provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirements and which shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement and (ii) to the extent the terms applicable to such Permitted Other Debt include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, they shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (A) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any Facility other than the Term Loans or (B) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility, (c) if such Indebtedness is senior subordinated or subordinated Indebtedness, the terms of such Indebtedness provide for customary subordination of such Indebtedness to the Obligations, (d) if such Indebtedness is secured, such Indebtedness shall not be secured by any property or assets other than the Collateral, (e) no Person (other than a Borrower or Guarantor) shall guarantee such Indebtedness and (f) if such Indebtedness consists of term loans secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, such Indebtedness shall be subject to the “most favored nation” provision contained in Section 2.14.

 

52


Permitted Prior Liens” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 (other than Section 7.01(a), Section 7.01(o), Section 7.01(cc), Section 7.01(ee), Section 7.01(ff) and Section 7.01(gg)).

Permitted Ratio Debt” means Indebtedness of the 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 on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, the First Lien Leverage Ratio is no greater than 2.75:1.00, (y) if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to the Facilities, the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is no greater than 3.25:1.00 and (z) if such Indebtedness is unsecured, the Interest Coverage Ratio is at least 2.00:1.00; provided that such Indebtedness shall (A) in the case of clauses (x), (y) and (z) above, have a maturity date that is on or after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, and in the case of clauses (y) and (z) above, have a maturity date that is at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (in each case, other than an earlier maturity date for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such earlier maturity date), (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 Term Loans and, in the case of clause (y) or clause (z) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (in each case, other than a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity), (C) if such Indebtedness is (1) secured on a junior basis to the Facilities, be secured only by the Collateral and be subject to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be (x) secured only by the Collateral and (y) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (3) guaranteed, be guaranteed only by the same Loan Parties that guarantee the Facilities, (D) in the case of clause (ii)(x) above, (1) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in the form of Dollar-denominated term loan Indebtedness, be subject to the “most favored nation” provision contained in Section 2.14 with respect to Dollar Term Loans and (2) in the case of any such Indebtedness incurred in the form of Euro-denominated term loan Indebtedness, be subject to the “most favored nation” provision contained in Section 2.14 with respect to the Euro Term Loans, (E) have terms and conditions (other than pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions) that in the good faith determination of the Lead Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Lead Borrower than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) and (F) to the extent the terms applicable to such Permitted Ratio Debt include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, they shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (x) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any Facility other than the Term Loans or (y) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility.

Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal 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 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 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), such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later

 

53


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 or extended (in each case, other than an earlier maturity date and/or a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such earlier maturity date or shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity, as applicable), (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, (d) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(b), 7.03(u), 7.03(w) or 7.03(x) or is Junior Financing, (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal 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 or extended and (ii) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (e) with respect to a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of the Threshold Amount, to the extent the terms applicable to such Indebtedness include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, such terms shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (A) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any Facility other than the Term Loans or (B) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility and (f) with respect to a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness for borrowed money, if such Indebtedness is (1) secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Facilities, such Indebtedness shall be secured only by the Collateral and shall be subject to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, such Indebtedness shall be (x) secured only by the Collateral and (y) subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (3) guaranteed, such Indebtedness shall be guaranteed only by the same Guarantors that guarantee the Facilities.

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), other than a Foreign Plan, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by or required to be 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, or with respect to which any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate has or could reasonably be expected to have liability, contingent or otherwise, under ERISA.

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.

Pledged Debt” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Pledged Equity” has the meaning specified 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 last day of the eighth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.

 

54


Pre-Funded Acquisition Debt” means, if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has incurred any Indebtedness to pre-fund a permitted Material Acquisition until the earlier of the date of consummation of such Material Acquisition and the date such consummation has been abandoned or terminated, the Net Cash Proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred to prefund such Material Acquisition solely to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds have been deposited in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant” means, at any time (1) any financial maintenance covenant that is not contained in this Agreement at such time and (2) any financial maintenance covenant a corresponding version of which is already contained in this Agreement at such time but with covenant levels and component definitions (to the extent relating to such corresponding version) that are more restrictive as to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those in this Agreement at such time.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. 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, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

Products” has the meaning specified in Section 5.10(a).

Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test 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 Borrower, the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, projected by the 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 cost savings 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 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 Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test 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 Test Period.

Pro Forma Balance Sheet” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05(a)(ii).

Pro Forma Basis” 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 Borrower

 

55


or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the 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, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to clause (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the 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.

Pro Forma Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05(a)(ii).

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided that if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

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 specified in Section 10.28.

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.

Qualifying Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(3).

Ratings Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P.

Receivables Assets” means accounts receivable (including any bills of exchange) and related assets and property from time to time originated, acquired or otherwise owned by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries.

 

56


Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is the EURIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if such Benchmark is not the LIBO Rate or EURIBOR Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrowers, (b) the Administrative Agent, (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 2.19.

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 All-In 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 specified in Section 10.07(d).

Rejection Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto and (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Euros, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto.

Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the LIBO Rate or (ii) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Rate, as applicable.

Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the LIBO Screen Rate or (ii) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable.

Reportable Event” means with respect to any Plan any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

Repricing Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(i).

 

57


Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Dollar Term Loans, Euro Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

Required Facility Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to one or more Facilities, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Facility or Facilities (with the aggregate Dollar Amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations under such Facility or Facilities being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility or Facilities; provided that the unused Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings under such Facility or Facilities held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender or the Lead Borrower or any Affiliate thereof shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the 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 outstanding Dollar Amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender or the Lead Borrower or any Affiliate thereof shall 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) Total Outstandings of all Revolving Credit Loans and all L/C Obligations (with the aggregate Dollar Amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings of all Revolving Credit Loans and all L/C Obligations held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender or the Lead Borrower or any Affiliate thereof shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Responsible Officer” means (a) with respect to any Loan Party other than a Dutch Loan Party, the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of a Loan Party and (b) with respect to any Dutch Loan Party, any director of such Dutch Loan Party authorized to represent that Dutch Loan Party or any other Person with express irrevocable authority to act on behalf of that Dutch Loan Party designated as such by the management board (bestuur) of that Dutch Loan Party. 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 Interest 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 the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

 

58


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

Retained Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

Reversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 7.15(b).

Revolving Commitment Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Revolving Commitment Increase Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

Revolving Credit Commitment” means as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth and opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01(b)(i) under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 2.14). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $1,000,000,000 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 outstanding principal amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and its Pro Rata Share of the L/C Obligations at such time.

Revolving Credit Extension Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

Revolving Credit Loan” 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 Lead Borrower payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-3 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

Safety Notices” has the meaning specified in Section 5.10(c)(i).

 

59


Sanctioned Country” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19(b)(ii).

Sanctioned Person” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19(b)(i).

Sanctions” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19(b)(i).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement by and among the Collateral Agent and the collateral agents or other representatives for the holders of Indebtedness secured by Liens that are intended to rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and that are otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 providing that all proceeds of Collateral enforcement shall first be applied to repay the Obligations in full prior to being applied to any obligations under the Indebtedness secured by such junior Liens and that until the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment in full of all Obligations outstanding under this Agreement (and cash collateralization or termination of Letters of Credit) or the expiration of a customary standstill period, the Collateral Agent shall have the sole right to exercise remedies against the Collateral (subject to customary exceptions for limited protective actions that may be taken by the holders of such junior Lien Indebtedness) and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

Section 2.16 Additional Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(c).

Section 2.18 Additional Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(c).

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted under Section 7.03(f) that is entered into by and between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Bilateral L/C Issuers, the Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuers and any Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.01(c).

Securities Account” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent on the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit G, together with each other Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Senior Notes” means the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, the Senior Secured Euro Notes and the Senior Unsecured Notes.

Senior Notes Documentation” means the Senior Notes, and all documents executed and delivered with respect to the Senior Notes, including the Senior Secured Notes Indentures and the Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture.

 

60


Senior Secured Dollar Notes” means the $2,100,000,000 4.125% senior secured notes of the Lead Borrower and the co-issuer due 2028.

Senior Secured Dollar Notes Indenture” means the Indenture for the Senior Secured Dollar Notes, dated as of April 22, 2021.

Senior Secured Euro Notes” means the €1,250,000,000 2.875% senior secured notes of the Lead Borrower and the co-issuer due 2028.

Senior Secured Euro Notes Indenture” means the Indenture for the Senior Secured Euro Notes, dated as of April 22, 2021.

Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Senior Secured Debt of the Lead Borrower as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Lead Borrower for such Test Period.

Senior Secured Notes” means Senior Secured Dollar Notes and Senior Secured Euro Notes.

Senior Secured Notes Indentures” means the Senior Secured Dollar Notes Indenture and the Senior Secured Euro Notes Indenture.

Senior Unsecured Notes” means the $2,000,000,000 5.125% senior unsecured notes of the Lead Borrower and the co-issuer due 2031.

Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture for the Senior Unsecured Notes, dated as of April 22, 2021.

Separation and Distribution Agreement” means the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2021, to be entered into by and between Merck and the Lead Borrower in connection with the Spin-Off.

SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA”.

Solicited Discount Proration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(3).

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(1).

 

61


Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit J-4.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit J-5, submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.

Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 property (for the avoidance of doubt, calculated to include goodwill and other intangibles) of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(i).

Specified Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B) substantially in the form of Exhibit J-6.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit J-7, to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.

Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(1).

Specified Discount Proration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(3).

Specified Equity Contribution” means any cash contribution to the common equity of the Lead Borrower and/or any purchase or investment in, or issuance or sale of, an Equity Interest of the Lead Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

Specified Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is not an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (determined prior to giving effect to Section 10.24).

 

62


Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Commitment Increase that by the terms of this Agreement requires such 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.

Spin-Off” means (i) the separation of the women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses from Merck through a distribution of all of the shares of common stock of the Lead Borrower to the Merck shareholders as of the relevant record date and the other transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement, and (ii) the distribution of all of the shares of common stock of the Lead Borrower owned by Merck to shareholders of Merck as of the relevant record date.

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Submitted Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(1).

Submitted Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(1).

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which 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, or 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.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Lead Borrower that are Guarantors.

Successor Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).

Supplemental Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 9.13(a) and “Supplemental Administrative Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.

Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.28.

Suspended Covenants” has the meaning specified in Section 7.15(a).

Suspension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.15(a).

 

63


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.

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 by the Hedge Bank in accordance with the terms thereof and in accordance with customary methods for calculating mark-to-market values under similar arrangements by the Hedge Bank.

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

Tax Matters Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(h).

Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Term Borrowing” means a Dollar Term Borrowing and/or a Euro Term Borrowing, as the context may require.

Term Commitment” means a Dollar Term Commitment and/or a Euro Term Commitment, as the context may require.

Term ESTR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on ESTR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Term ESTR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Lead Borrower of the occurrence of a Term ESTR Transition Event.

 

64


Term ESTR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term ESTR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term ESTR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 3.03 that is not Term ESTR.

Term Extension Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(c).

Term Extension Election” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

Term Extension Series” shall mean all Extended Term Loans that are established pursuant to the same Term Extension Agreement (or any subsequent Term Extension Agreement to the extent such Term Extension Agreement expressly provides that the Extended Term Loans provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Term Extension Series) and that provide for the same interest margins, extension fees, if any, and amortization schedule.

Term Lender” means a Dollar Term Lender and/or a Euro Term Lender, as the context may require.

Term Loan” means a Dollar Term Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i), a Euro Term Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii), any Incremental Term Loan, any Refinancing Term Loan or any Extended Term Loan designated as a “Term Loan”, as the context may require.

Term Loan Extension Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Term Loan Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).

Term Loan Standstill Period” has the meaning provided in Section 8.01(b).

Term Note” means a Dollar Term Note and/or a Euro Term Note, as the context may require.

Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 2.14 that is not Term SOFR.

Test Period” in effect at any time shall mean the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements for each quarter or fiscal year in such period have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b); provided that, for purposes of Section 7.14, the “Test Period” shall be the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower ended on such quarter end date (without regard to the delivery of financial statements). A Test Period may be designated by reference to the last day thereof (i.e., the “December 31, 2021 Test Period” refers to the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Lead Borrower ended December 31, 2021), and a Test Period shall be deemed to end on the last day thereof.

 

65


Third Party Bilateral L/C” means any bilateral letter of credit or bank guarantee issued by a Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuer for the account of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that the aggregate amount of Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations at any time outstanding shall not exceed $25,000,000. For the avoidance of doubt, “Third Party Bilateral L/C” shall not include any Bilateral L/C.

Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuer” means any Person from time to time specifically designated in writing as a “Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuer” by the Lead Borrower to the Administrative Agent; provided that such Person shall have executed an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent pursuant to which such Person (i) appoints the Collateral Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents, and (ii) agrees to be bound by the provisions of Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 as if it were a Lender.

Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations” means obligations owed by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuer in connection with, or in respect of, any Third Party Bilateral L/C.

Threshold Amount” means $100,000,000.

Title Insurance Policy” has the meaning specified in clause (g) of the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Lead Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or for the period prior to the time any such statements are so delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), the financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(c).

Total Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Transaction” means, collectively, (a) the funding of the Term Loans on the Closing Date, (b) the issuance (and assumption on the Closing Date) of the Senior Notes, (c) the Spin-Off, (d) the payment of the Closing Date Repayment in the amount of not more than approximately $9,000,000,000 (or the aggregate Dollar Amount equivalent to the extent all or any portion is denominated in Euros) on or about the Closing Date, (e) the consummation of any other transactions relating to, in furtherance of or in connection with the foregoing, including without limitation, any corporate reorganization transactions, restructuring or similar activities or transactions in connection with the Spin-Off or any of the other transactions contemplated by the documentation governing the foregoing and (f) the payment of the Transaction Expenses.

Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transaction, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

66


Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate or the Base Rate.

UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from 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.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Unaudited Financial Statements” means the Historical Unaudited Financial Statements.

Uniform Commercial Code” 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 specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Unrestricted Cash Amount” means, on any date of determination, the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries that (1) would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) are restricted in favor of the Facilities (which may also secure other Indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior Lien basis with the Facilities).

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule 1.01B and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the board of directors of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.16 subsequent to the Closing Date and any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

U.S. Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(b).

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning specified in Section 10.28.

USA PATRIOT Act” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.

USP” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(k).

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.

 

67


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.

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 specified in Section 2.14(a).

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) (i) 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.

(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(iv) 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.

(c) 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”.

(d) 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.

 

68


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 contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio and the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

SECTION 1.04. Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

SECTION 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Loan Document; 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. Currency Equivalents Generally.

(a) Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in Articles II, IX and X or as set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount to be determined at the rate of exchange quoted by the Reuters World Currency Page for the applicable currency at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day (or, in the event such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, or, in the absence of such agreement, such rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date for the purchase of Dollars for delivery two Business Days later); provided that the determination of any Dollar Amount shall be made in accordance with Section 1.08(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 7.01, 7.02, and 7.03 with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.

 

69


(b) For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 7.02, 7.05 and 7.06, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating net income in the Borrower’s annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to apply to the determination of any amount of Indebtedness.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Amount or the Euro Amount, as the case may be, of any Credit Extension, Commitment or Outstanding Amount of any Loan as of (A) the Closing Date, (B) the first day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, (C) as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, and (D) such dates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall reasonably require, and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of each Dollar Amount or Euro Amount, as the case may be, so determined by it. Each such determination shall be based on the Exchange Rate (x) on the date of the related Committed Loan Notice for purposes of the initial such determination for any Loan and (y) on the second Business Day prior to the date as of which such Dollar Amount or Euro Amount, as the case may be, is to be determined, for purposes of any subsequent determination.

SECTION 1.09. Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or Euros may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Regulators have signaled the need to use alternative benchmark reference rates for some of these interest rate benchmarks and, as a result, such interest rate benchmarks may cease to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may be permanently discontinued, and/or the basis on which they are calculated may change. The London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. On March 5, 2021, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that (a) immediately after December 31, 2021, publication of all seven euro LIBOR settings, all seven Swiss Franc LIBOR settings, the spot next, 1-week, 2-month and 12-month Japanese Yen LIBOR settings, the overnight, 1-week, 2-month and 12-month British Pound Sterling LIBOR settings, and the 1-week and 2-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings will permanently cease; immediately after June 30, 2023, publication of the overnight and 12-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings will permanently cease; immediately after December 31, 2021, the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month Japanese Yen LIBOR settings and the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month British Pound Sterling LIBOR settings will cease to be provided or, subject to consultation by the FCA, be provided on a changed methodology (or “synthetic”) basis and no longer be representative of the underlying market and economic reality they are intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored; and immediately after June 30, 2023, the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR settings will cease to be provided or, subject to the FCA’s consideration of the case, be provided on a synthetic basis and no longer be representative of the underlying market and economic reality they are intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored. There is no assurance that dates announced by the FCA will not change or that the administrator of LIBOR and/or regulators will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition, or characteristics of LIBOR or the currencies and/or tenors for which LIBOR is published. Each party to this agreement should consult its own advisors to stay informed of any such developments. Public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the LIBOR. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, a Term ESTR Transition Event or an Early Opt-In Election, Section 3.03(b) and (c) provide a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 3.03(e), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the LIBOR or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate” (or “EURIBOR Rate”, as applicable) or with respect

 

70


to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including, without limitation, (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 3.03(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, a Term ESTR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 3.03(d)), including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the LIBO Rate (or the EURIBOR Rate, as applicable) or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate (or the euro interbank offered rate, as applicable) prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

SECTION 1.10. Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (i) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (ii) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time. Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust, as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company, limited partnership or trust shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company, limited partnership or trust that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity) and shall be subject to Section 6.12.

ARTICLE II

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

SECTION 2.01. The Loans.

(a) (i) The Dollar Term Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Dollar Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Lead Borrower a single loan denominated in Dollars in a principal amount equal to such Dollar Term Lender’s Dollar Term Commitment on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a)(i) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Dollar Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as further provided herein.

(ii) The Euro Term Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Euro Term Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrowers a single loan denominated in Euros in a principal amount equal to such Euro Term Lender’s Euro Term Commitment on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a)(ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Euro Term Loans shall be Eurodollar Loans, as further provided herein.

(b) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans denominated in any Agreed Currency to the Lead Borrower as elected by the Lead Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02 (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) from time to time, on any Business Day on or after the Closing Date until the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Borrowings available on the Closing Date shall not exceed $50,000,000; provided further that, after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of

 

71


the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as further provided herein. Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Euros shall be Eurodollar Loans.

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 Eurodollar 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 (x) 12:00 noon (New York, New York time, or London, England time in the case of any Borrowing denominated in Euros) (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurodollar Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans and (ii) one (1) Business Day before the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Term Loans and (y) 10:00 a.m. (New York, New York time, or London, England time in the case of any Borrowing denominated in Euros) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans. Each telephonic notice by the 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 Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof in the case of Dollar Term Loans (or comparable amounts determined by the Administrative Agent in the case of Euro Term Loans). Except as provided in Section 2.03(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Dollar Term Borrowing, a Euro Term Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Dollar Term Loans, Euro Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Loans, (ii) the currency in which the Loans to be borrowed are to be denominated, (iii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (v) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If, with respect to Loans denominated in Dollars, the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period (or fails to give timely notice requesting a continuation of Eurodollar Loans denominated in Euros), it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. If no currency is specified, the requested Borrowing shall be in Dollars.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, and

 

72


not later than 1:00 p.m. (London time), in the case of any Loan denominated in Euros, in each case, on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Each Lender may, at its option, make any Loan available to any Borrower by causing any foreign or domestic branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Lead Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Lead Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Lead Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Lead Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, to the Lead Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan unless the Borrowers pay the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require that no Loans in Dollars may be converted to or continued as Eurodollar Loans.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Base Rate, the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(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.

(g) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (b) above, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lead Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and the Borrowers severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Lead Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.02(g) shall be conclusive in the absence of

 

73


manifest error. If such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days after such the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon accruing from the date on which the Administrative Agent made the funds available to the Lead Borrower at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrowers. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement, and the Borrowers’ obligation to repay the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount pursuant to this Section 2.02(g) shall cease.

SECTION 2.03. Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitments.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (1) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (x) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Latest Letter of Credit Expiration Date applicable to Letters of Credit issued under the Closing Date Revolving Credit Facility, to issue Letters of Credit in any Agreed Currency (and in any other currency agreed by such L/C Issuer) for the account of the Lead Borrower (provided that any Letter of Credit may be for the benefit of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower; provided further that the Lead Borrower shall be a co-applicant with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account or in favor of a 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 (y) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit and (2) 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 after giving effect to such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any 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; provided, further, notwithstanding the foregoing, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue trade letters of credit, commercial letters of credit or bank guarantees except at its own discretion. 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);

 

74


(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit (other than the Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 2.03(a)(ii)(B)) would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after applicable Latest Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the applicable Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer and/or the internal policies of such L/C Issuer.

(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) 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 (and after notice to the Administrative Agent); 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-Renewal 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 Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon at least five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be, or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount 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; and (g) 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 Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Lead Borrower 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, acquire from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

75


(iii) If the Lead Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal 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 day (the “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon 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 renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal 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 renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the applicable Latest Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal 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 renewed 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 Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, or the Lead Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the 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 the payment to the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. On the Business Day on which the Lead Borrower shall have received notice of any payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (or, if the Lead Borrower shall have received such notice later than 10:00 a.m. on any Business Day, on the immediately following Business Day) (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Lead Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Lead Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of (x) if the Unreimbursed Amount is in Dollars, Base Rate Loans and (y) if the Unreimbursed Amount is not in Dollars, Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case 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 Eurodollar Loans or Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Appropriate Lenders and Revolving Credit Lenders, and subject to 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.

 

76


(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender (including any such 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 at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made (x) if the Unreimbursed Amount is in Dollars, Base Rate Loans and (y) if the Unreimbursed Amount is not in Dollars, Eurodollar Rate Loans to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Lead Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer a L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) subject to the proviso below, 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. 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.

 

77


(vii) 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 this 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 any Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(viii) 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 Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

(d) 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 strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v) any exchange, release or nonperfection 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; or

 

78


(vi) 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 Borrowers 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 the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.

(e) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and Borrower agrees 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 Required Lenders or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final judgment of 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 Application. 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 any Borrower from 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 (iii) of this Section 2.03(e); 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 the Borrowers prove were caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence (as determined in the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may either 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, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit 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.

(f) Cash Collateral. (i) If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, require the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02(c) or (ii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) or (g) occurs and is continuing, then 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), and shall do so not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on (x) in the case of the immediately preceding clause (i), (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 (ii), the Business Day on which an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) or (g) occurs or, if such day is not a Business Day, the

 

79


Business Day immediately succeeding such day. For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Revolving Credit Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Revolving Credit 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, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked accounts at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrowers will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as aforesaid, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Lead Borrower. If such Event of Default is cured or waived and no other Event of Default is then occurring and continuing, the amount of any Cash Collateral shall be refunded to the Lead Borrower.

(g) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the Applicable Rate times 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). Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end 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 Latest Letter of Credit Expiration Date relating to Letters of Credit and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(h) 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 a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum 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). Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end 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 Latest 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 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.

 

80


(i) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Letter of Credit Application, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

(j) 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 Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.

(k) Commercial Letters of Credit and Standby letters of Credit. The Borrowers agree that an L/C Issuer may issue a Letter of Credit subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication Nos. 500 (1993 Revision) or 600 (2007 Revision) or, at such L/C Issuer’s option, such later revision thereof in effect at the time of issuance of the Letter of Credit (as so chosen for the Letter of Credit, the “UCP”) or the International Standby Practices 1998, ICC Publication No. 590 or, at such L/C Issuer’s option, such later revision thereof in effect at the time of issuance of the Letter of Credit (as so chosen for the Letter of Credit, the “ISP”, and each of the UCP and the ISP, an “ICC Rule”). Each L/C Issuer’s privileges, rights and remedies under such ICC Rules shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, its privileges, rights and remedies expressly provided for herein. The UCP and the ISP (or such later revision of either) shall serve, in the absence of proof to the contrary, as evidence of general banking usage with respect to the subject matter thereof.

SECTION 2.04. [Reserved].

SECTION 2.05. Prepayments.

(a) Optional.

(i) The Lead Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except as set forth below); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (New York, New York time, or London, England time in the case of Loans denominated in Euros) (A) two (2) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Loans denominated in Dollars and (B) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Loans denominated in Euros and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) (x) any prepayment of Eurodollar Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof in the case of Dollar Term Loans and (y) any prepayment of Euro Term Loans shall be in a principal amount of €2,000,000 or a whole multiple of €500,000 in excess thereof in the case of Euro Term Loans; (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and (4) in the case of any Repricing Event (as defined below) with respect to (x) all or any portion of the Dollar Term Loans, a prepayment premium of 1.00% shall apply to any principal amount of the Dollar Term Loans subject to such Repricing Event during the first six-month period after the Closing Date and (y) all or any portion of the Euro Term Loans, a prepayment premium of 1.00% shall apply to any principal amount of the Euro Term Loans subject to such Repricing Event during the first six-month period after the Closing Date. A “Repricing Event” means (A) any prepayment or repayment of (x) the Dollar Term Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of the Dollar Term Loans into, any new or replacement Indebtedness under any credit facility with an All-in Yield less than the All-in Yield applicable to the Dollar Term Loans and (y) the Euro Term Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of the Euro Term Loans into, any new or replacement Indebtedness under any credit facility with an All-in Yield less

 

81


than the All-in Yield applicable to the Euro Term Loans, (B) any amendment to this Agreement that reduces the All-in Yield applicable to the Dollar Term Loans and/or the Euro Term Loans and (C) any prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of Dollar Term Loans by any Lender pursuant to Section 3.07 as a result of, or in connection with, such Lender not agreeing to or otherwise consenting to any waiver, consent, modification or amendment referred to in clause (B) above. 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 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. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each prepayment of principal of, and interest on, Euro Term Loans shall be made in Euros (even if the Borrower is required to convert currency to do so). Subject to the pro rata application within any Class of Loans, the Lead Borrower may allocate each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) in its sole discretion among the Class or Classes of Loans as the Lead Borrower may specify; provided that the Borrowers may not prepay Extended Term Loans of any Term Extension Series pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(i) unless such prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata prepayment of Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class from which such Extended Term Loans were exchanged (or such Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class have otherwise been repaid in full).

(ii) [Reserved.]

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Lead Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a)(i) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of part or all of the Facilities or in connection with the consummation of any transaction, which refinancing or other transaction shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, subject to Section 10.07(l), so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and 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 the Lead Borrower or 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)(iv); provided that no Company Party shall initiate any action under this Section 2.05(a)(iv) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least 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.

 

82


(B) (1) Subject to the proviso to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) 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, (II) 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)(iv)(B)), (III) (x) in the case of Dollar Term Loans, the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the case of Euro Term Loans, the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than €8,000,000 and whole increments of €1,000,000 in excess thereof and (IV) 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”).

(2) Each Term Lender receiving such offer and wishing to participate shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date that 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.

(3) 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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(B)(2) 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,

 

83


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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(F) below (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(J) below).

(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five 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)(iv)(C)), (III) (x) in the case of Dollar Term Loans, the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the case of Euro Term Loans, the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than €8,000,000 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.

 

84


(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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(C)(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) will calculate such proration (the “Discount Range Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five 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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(F) below (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(J) below).

(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(A) above, any Company Party may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five 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

 

85


amount of the Term Loans (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans the Borrower is 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)(iv)(D)), (III) (x) in the case of Dollar Term Loans, the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than $10,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the case of Euro Term Loans, the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than €8,000,000 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.

(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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(D)(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)(iv)(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

 

86


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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 Section 2.05(a)(iv)(F) below (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)(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 Sections 2.05(a)(iv)(B) through 2.05(a)(iv)(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)(iv) 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

 

87


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)(iv), 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)(iv), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the Borrower.

(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(a)(iv), 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)(iv) 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)(iv) 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)(iv) 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 or are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered or was required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to (A) 50% (such percentage as it may be reduced as described below, the “ECF Percentage”) of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements minus (B) the sum of (i) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and other non-revolving Indebtedness that is secured by Liens ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to the time that such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (including the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans prepaid pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iv) during such time) and (ii) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans during such fiscal year or after year-end and prior to when such Excess

 

88


Cash Flow prepayment is due to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent such prepayments are not funded with the proceeds of Indebtedness; provided that (x) the ECF Percentage shall be 25% if the First Lien Leverage Ratio for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 and greater than 2.00:1.00 and (y) the ECF Percentage shall be 0% if the First Lien Leverage Ratio for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to 2.00:1.00; provided, further, that any deductions pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above with respect to prepayments made after the end of a fiscal year shall not be deducted again when calculating the prepayment required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above.

(ii) (A) If (x) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any property or assets permitted by Section 7.05(a), (b), (c), (d) (to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Loan Party), (e), (g), (h), (i), (l), (m), (n) or (o)) or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which in the aggregate results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% of all such Net Cash Proceeds realized or received; provided that no such prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A) with respect to such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that the Lead Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date, given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to reinvest in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B) (which notice may only be provided if no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing); provided, further that if any Indebtedness has been issued in compliance with Section 7.01 and 7.03 with Liens ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, then the Lead Borrower may, to the extent required pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness, prepay Term Loans and purchase or prepay such Indebtedness on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective principal amounts thereof.

(B) With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Disposition (other than any Disposition specifically excluded from the application of Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A)) or any Casualty Event, at the option of the Lead Borrower, the Lead Borrower may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for its business within (x) twelve (12) months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or (y) if the Borrower enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds within twelve (12) months following receipt thereof, within the later of (1) twelve (12) months following receipt thereof or (2) one hundred and eighty (180) days of the date of such legally binding commitment; provided that (i) so long as an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lead Borrower shall not be permitted to make any such reinvestments (other than pursuant to a legally binding commitment that the Lead Borrower entered into at a time when no Event of Default is continuing) and (ii) if any Net Cash Proceeds are not so reinvested by the deadline specified in clause (x) or (y) above, as applicable, or if any such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after delivery of a notice of reinvestment election, an amount equal to any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied within five (5) Business Days after such deadline or the date the Lead Borrower reasonably determines that such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested, as the case may be, to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05;

 

89


(iii) If the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03 (other than Refinancing Term Loans or Permitted Other Debt), the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, further that if any Indebtedness has been issued in compliance with Section 7.01 and 7.03 with Liens ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, then the Lead Borrower may, to the extent required pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness, prepay Term Loans and purchase or prepay such Indebtedness on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective principal amounts thereof.

(iv) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect, the Borrowers shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; 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 such aggregate Outstanding Amount exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect. Each such prepayment shall be paid to the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(v) (X) Each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a); and (Y) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares subject to clause (vi) of this Section 2.05(b).

(vi) (A)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 (iii) of this Section 2.05(b) at least three (3) 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. Each Appropriate Lender may reject all or a portion of its Pro Rata Share of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.05(b) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) one Business Day after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. Each Rejection Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory prepayment of Term Loans to be rejected by such Lender. If a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory repayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds shall be retained by the Borrower (“Retained Declined Proceeds”).

(B) Each prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be allocated pro rata across all Classes of Term Loans in effect on the Closing Date and each other Class of Term Loans that may arise thereafter (unless any such later arising Class of Term Loans has elected to receive a less than pro rata prepayment thereof).

 

90


Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05(b), (i) to the extent that any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) (a “Foreign Disposition”) or the Net Cash Proceeds of any Casualty Event from a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Casualty Event”), or any Excess Cash Flow, are or would be (x) prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, or (y) restricted by applicable material organizational or constitutive documents or any agreement (including as a result of minority ownership) from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05(b) but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law or other impediment to repatriation to the United States is in effect (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all commercially reasonable actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation, if any), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, such repatriation will be as soon as practicable effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) to the extent provided herein and (ii) to the extent that the Lead Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or any Foreign Casualty Event, or of any Excess Cash Flow, would have an adverse tax cost consequence (other than a de minimis adverse tax consequence) (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit received in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow (which for the avoidance of doubt, includes, but is not limited to, any prepayment where by doing so the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary would incur a withholding tax that is not de minimis), the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of this clause (ii), on or before the date on which any Net Cash Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), (x) the Lead Borrower applies, or causes a Restricted Subsidiary to apply, an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds to such reinvestments or prepayments as if such Net Cash Proceeds had been received by the Lead Borrower rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Cash Proceeds had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Cash Proceeds that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary) or (y) such Net Cash Proceeds are applied to the repayment of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary.

(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurodollar Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.

Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurodollar Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05 (other than Section 2.05(b)(iii) or (iv)) prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor and less than three months are remaining in such Interest Period, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.05 in respect of any such Eurodollar Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Lead 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 the relevant provisions of this Section 2.05.

 

91


SECTION 2.06. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Optional. The Lead Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, 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 (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. Except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Letter of Credit 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 Facilities, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.

(b) Mandatory. The Term Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i) or 2.01(a)(ii). The Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the applicable Maturity Date for the applicable Revolving Credit Facility.

(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

(d) Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. In connection with the establishment on any date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.16, the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of the applicable Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class of any one or more Lenders providing any such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on such date shall be reduced in an amount at least equal to the amount of Revolving Credit Commitments so extended on such date (provided that (x) after giving effect to any such reduction and to the repayment of any Revolving Credit Loans made on such date, the Revolving Credit Exposure of any such Lender does not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment thereof (such Revolving Credit Exposure and Revolving Credit Commitment being determined in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, exclusive of such Lender’s Extended Revolving Credit Commitment and any exposure in respect thereof) and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, any such repayment of Revolving Credit Loans contemplated by the preceding clause (x) shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 2.13 with respect to the ratable allocation of payments hereunder, with such allocation being determined after giving effect to (1) any exchange pursuant to Section 2.16 of Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Credit Loans, respectively, and (2) any such reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of the applicable Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class).

 

92


SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans.

(a) (i) Dollar Term Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Dollar Term Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the last Business Day of September 2021, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Dollar 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 Dollar Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Dollar Term Loans outstanding on such date.

(ii) Euro Term Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Euro Term Lenders (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the last Business Day of September 2021, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Euro 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 Euro Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Euro Term Loans outstanding on such date.

(iii) Other Term Loans. In the event any Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such 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 Agreement 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 Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility of a given Class the aggregate principal amount of all of its Revolving Credit Loans of such Class outstanding on such date.

SECTION 2.08. Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to either (x) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate or (y) the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate 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 the avoidance of doubt, each Euro Term Loan shall be a Eurodollar Loan.

(b) During the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a), (f) or (g), 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.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable by the Borrowers 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.

 

93


(d) Interest on each Loan shall be payable in the currency in which such Loan was made.

SECTION 2.09. Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(g) and (h):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each (i) Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share of each Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate with respect to commitment fees for such Class times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such Class exceeds the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans of such Class and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations in respect of such Class of Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Revolving Credit Commitments of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided, further, that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Revolving Credit Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. With respect to each Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, the commitment fees shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date, the effective date of the relevant Extension Agreement or the date of effectiveness of such Class, as applicable, until the Maturity Date for such Class, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, the effective date of the relevant Extension Agreement or the date of effectiveness of such Class, as applicable, and on the Maturity Date for such Class of Revolving Credit Commitments. Each commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the relevant Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the relevant Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrowers and the applicable Agent).

SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the “prime lending rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days or three hundred and sixty-six (366) days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred and 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.

(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Lead Borrower or for any other reason, the Lead Borrower or the applicable Required Facility Lenders determine that (i) the First Lien Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Lead Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the First Lien Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, (A) the Lead Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for the applicable period, (B) the Applicable Rate shall be

 

94


recalculated with the First Lien Leverage Ratio at the corrected level and (C) the Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Term Lenders, Revolving Credit Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Term Lender, any Revolving Credit Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii), 2.03(g), 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII. The Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

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) or Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(b) (or, in each case, any amended or successor version), as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrowers, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and 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, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records 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. 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 the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), and 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, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other 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 principal of and interest on Loans denominated in Euros, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders

 

95


to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in Euros 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 Euros and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (London time) on the dates specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after 2:00 p.m. (London time) in the case of payments in Euros, shall, in each case, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) If any payment to be made by 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 Eurodollar 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, have or 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 immediately available 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 immediately available 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 immediately available funds at the applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to a Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate. 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 forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrowers, 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.

 

96


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 II, and such funds are not made available to a Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit 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, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

SECTION 2.13. Sharing of Payments. 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 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 (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations 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. 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

 

97


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) The Borrowers may at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request (a) one or more new commitments which may be in the same Facility as any outstanding Term Loans of an existing Class of Term Loans (a “Term Loan Increase”) or a new Class of term loans (collectively with any Term Loan Increase, the “Incremental Term Commitments” and the loans thereunder, the “Incremental Term Loans”) and/or (b) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (each such increase, a “Revolving Commitment Increase”) or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (any such new commitments, collectively with any Revolving Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” and the loans thereunder, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Loans”; the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, collectively with any Incremental Term Commitments, the “Incremental Commitments”), provided that both at the time of any such request and upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment referred to below, no Event of Default shall exist and at the time that any such Incremental Commitments are made (and after giving effect thereto) (provided, however, that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are used to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment permitted by this Agreement (and costs reasonably related thereto), this condition, other than with respect to an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), 8.01(f) or 8.01(g), may be waived or modified in scope by the Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments). Each Incremental Term Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $20,000,000 and shall be in an increment of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $20,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence) 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 an increment 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 the next sentence). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate amount of the Incremental Term Commitments and the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed the sum of (1) the greater of $2,100,000,000 and 75% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period minus the aggregate amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(w)(i), (2) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and (to the extent coupled with a permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments) of Revolving Credit Loans prior to such time and (3) additional amounts so long as the First Lien Leverage Ratio, determined on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, as if any Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, available under such Incremental Commitments had been outstanding on the last day of such period, and, in each case (x) assuming all Incremental Commitments are fully drawn, and (y) without netting the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans, does not exceed 2.75:1.00; provided that for purposes of this clause (3), in the case of any Incremental Commitment effected in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment permitted by this Agreement, the Borrower may elect in writing to the Administrative Agent to calculate the First Lien Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis described herein at the time the definitive documentation for such Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment is entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. The Incremental Term

 

98


Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loans, (b) (i) that are denominated in Dollars (“Incremental Dollar Term Loans”) shall not mature earlier than the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date applicable to the Dollar Term Loans and (ii) that are denominated in Euros (“Incremental Euro Term Loans”) shall not mature earlier than the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date applicable to the Euro Term Loans (in each case, other than an earlier maturity date for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such earlier maturity date) and (c) shall be treated substantially the same as the applicable class of Term Loans (in each case, including with respect to mandatory and voluntary prepayments), provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to Incremental Term Loans may be materially different from those of the applicable class of Loans to the extent such differences that are materially more restrictive to the Lead Borrower, when taken as a whole, than the terms of the applicable class of Term Loans are either, at the option of the Lead Borrower, (A) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any of the Facilities, (B) also added for the benefit of the existing Facilities or (C) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the interest rates and amortization schedule applicable to the Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Lead Borrower and the lenders thereof; provided, further, that, as of the date of the incurrence of any (i) Incremental Dollar Term Loans, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Dollar Term Loans shall not be shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Dollar Term Loans and (ii) Incremental Euro Term Loans, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Euro Term Loans shall not be shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Euro Term Loans (in each case, other than a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity). The Incremental Revolving Credit Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation applicable to the Closing Date Revolving Credit Facility (but may have a later Maturity Date than the Closing Date Revolving Credit Facility). Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Loans shall be secured by Liens that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Facilities, shall not be secured by any assets other than the Collateral and shall be guaranteed only by the same Guarantors that guarantee the Facilities. To the extent the terms applicable to any Incremental Loans include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, they shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (A) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any Facility other than the Term Loans or (B) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility. The All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable new Lenders and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, however, that with respect to any Loans under Incremental Term Commitments made on or prior to the date that is 6 months after the Closing Date, if (x) the All-In Yield applicable to any such Incremental Dollar Term 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 Dollar Term Loans or (y) the All-In Yield applicable to any such Incremental Euro Term 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 Euro Term Loans, in each case, by more than 50 basis points per annum (the amount of such excess, the “Yield Differential”) then the interest rate (together with, as provided in the proviso below, the Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor or Base Rate floor) with respect to such applicable Class of existing Term Loans shall be increased by the applicable Yield Differential; provided, further, that, if any Incremental Term Loans include an Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor or Base Rate floor that is greater than the Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor or Base Rate floor applicable to the applicable class of Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date, such differential between interest rate floors shall be included in the calculation of All-In Yield for purposes of this sentence but only to the extent an increase in the Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor or Base

 

99


Rate floor applicable to the applicable existing class(es) of Term Loans would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case the Adjusted LIBO Rate floor, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate floor and Base Rate floor (but not the Applicable Rate) applicable to the applicable existing class(es) of Term Loans shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors. Each notice from the Lead Borrower pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested amount 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 (and each existing Term Lender will have the right, but not an obligation, to make a portion of any Incremental Term Loan, and each existing Revolving Credit Lender will have the right, but not an obligation, to provide a portion of any Revolving Commitment Increase, in each case on terms permitted in this Section 2.14 and otherwise on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) or by any other bank or other financial institution (any such other bank or other financial institution being called an “Additional Lender”), provided that the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to such Lender or Additional Lender providing such Incremental Commitments if such consent would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments to such Lender or Additional Lender. Incremental Term Commitments 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, each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment, if any, each Additional Lender, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section. The effectiveness of (and, in the case of any Incremental Amendment for an Incremental Term Loan, the borrowing under) any Incremental Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (each, an “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (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), reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Incremental Loans and Incremental Commitments, as applicable, are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents and such other conditions as the parties thereto shall agree (provided, that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are used to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment permitted by this Agreement (and costs reasonably related thereto), the condition set forth in Section 4.02(a) may be waived or modified in scope by the Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments, other than with respect to representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.14, 5.17, 5.19 and 5.20). The Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Incremental 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. Upon each increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to this Section, each Revolving Credit Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Lender providing a portion of the Revolving Commitment Increase (each a “Revolving Commitment Increase Lender”) in respect of such increase, and each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in Letters of Credit held by each Revolving Credit Lender (including each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) if, on the date of such increase, there are any Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, such Revolving Credit Loans shall on or prior to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase be prepaid from

 

100


the proceeds of additional Revolving Credit Loans made hereunder (reflecting such increase in Revolving Credit Commitments), which prepayment shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the Revolving Credit Loans being prepaid and any costs incurred by any Lender in accordance with Section 3.05. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

(b) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.15. [Reserved].

SECTION 2.16. Extensions of Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments.

(a) The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments and any previous extension of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments existing at the time of such request (each, an “Existing Revolving Credit Commitment” and any related Revolving Credit Loans under any such facility, “Existing Revolving Credit Loans”) be exchanged to extend the termination date thereof with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount thereof (any such Existing Revolving Credit Commitments which have been so extended, “Extended Revolving Credit Commitments” and any related Revolving Credit Loans, “Extended Revolving Credit Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. Prior to entering into any Extension Agreement with respect to 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 of the applicable Class of Existing Revolving Credit Commitments) (a “Revolving Credit Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments to be established in respect thereof which terms shall be identical to those applicable to the Existing Revolving Credit Commitments from which they are to be extended (the “Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class”) except (x) all or any of the final maturity dates of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be delayed to later dates than the final maturity dates of the Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class, (y) the all-in pricing (including, without limitation, margins, fees and premiums) with respect to the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be higher or lower than the all-in pricing (including, without limitation, margins, fees and premiums) for the Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class and (z) the revolving credit commitment fee rate with respect to the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments may be higher or lower than the revolving credit commitment fee rate for Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.16 or otherwise, (1) the borrowing and repayment (other than in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments) of the Extended Revolving Credit Loans under any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with any borrowings and repayments of the Existing Revolving Credit Loans (the mechanics for which may be implemented through the applicable Extension Agreement and may include technical changes related to the borrowing and repayment procedures of the Revolving Credit Facility), (2) assignments and participations of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Credit Loans shall be governed by the assignment and participation provisions set forth in Section 10.07 and (3) no termination of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and no repayment of Extended Revolving Credit Loans accompanied by a corresponding permanent reduction in Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permitted unless such termination or repayment (and corresponding reduction) is accompanied by at least a pro rata termination or permanent repayment (and corresponding pro rata permanent reduction), as applicable, of the Existing Revolving Credit Loans and Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class (or all Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class and related

 

101


Existing Revolving Credit Loans shall have otherwise been terminated and repaid in full). Any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments of any Extension Series shall constitute a separate Class of revolving credit commitments from Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class and from any other Existing Revolving Credit Commitments (together with any other Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so established on such date); provided that any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Loans extended may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Agreement, be designated as an increase to any previously established Extension Series of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments; provided, further that in no event shall there be more than six Classes of revolving credit commitments outstanding at any one time.

(b) Except as contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.16(b), the Lead Borrower shall provide a Revolving Credit Extension Request at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Class are requested to respond. Except as contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.16(b), any Lender (an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitments (or any earlier extended Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) of an Existing Class subject to such Revolving Credit Extension Request exchanged into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Revolving Credit Extension Request of the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitments (and/or any earlier extended Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) which it has elected to convert into Extended Revolving Credit Commitments. In the event that the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Commitments (and any earlier extended Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments requested pursuant to the Revolving Credit Extension Request, Revolving Credit Commitments (and any earlier extended Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) subject to Extension Elections shall be exchanged to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Revolving Credit Commitments (and any earlier extended Extended Revolving Credit Commitments) included in each such Extension Election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lead Borrower shall be permitted to specify in the Revolving Credit Extension Request, any Lender or Lenders as Extending Lenders (subject to the consent of such Lender or Lenders) and any Lenders not so specified in such Revolving Credit Extension Request shall not have the right to make an Extension Election with respect to such Revolving Credit Extension Request. Notwithstanding the conversion of any Existing Revolving Credit Commitment into an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, such Extended Revolving Credit Commitment shall be treated identically to all Existing Revolving Credit Commitments of the Specified Existing Revolving Credit Commitment Class for purposes of the obligations of a Revolving Credit Lender in respect of Letters of Credit under Section 2.03, except that the applicable Extension Agreement may provide that the last day for issuing Letters of Credit may only be extended and the related obligations to issue Letters of Credit may be continued and/or modified (pursuant to mechanics set forth in the applicable Extension Agreement) so long as the applicable L/C Issuer has consented to such extensions (it being understood that no consent of any other Lender shall be required in connection with any such extension).

(c) Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be established pursuant to an amendment (an “Extension Agreement”) to this Agreement (which, except to the extent expressly contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.16(c) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10.01, shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments established thereby) executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Extending Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.16 and without limiting the generality or applicability of Section 10.01 to any Section 2.16 Additional Agreements, any Extension Agreement may provide for additional terms and/or additional amendments other than those referred to or contemplated above (any such additional amendment, a “Section 2.16 Additional Agreement”) to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that

 

102


such Section 2.16 Additional Agreements do not become effective prior to the time that such Section 2.16 Additional Agreements have been consented to by such of the Lenders, Loan Parties and other parties (if any) as may be required in order for such Section 2.16 Additional Agreements to become effective in accordance with Section 10.01. It is understood and agreed that each Lender that has consented to this Agreement has consented and shall at the effective time thereof be deemed to consent to each amendment to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents authorized by this Section 2.16 and the arrangements described above in connection therewith except that the foregoing shall not constitute a consent on behalf of any Lender to the terms of any Section 2.16 Additional Agreement. In connection with any Extension Agreement, the Borrowers shall deliver (A) an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (i) as to the enforceability of such Extension Agreement, this Agreement as amended thereby, and such of the other Loan Documents (if any) as may be amended thereby (in the case of such other Loan Documents as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence) and (ii) to the effect that such Extension Agreement, including without limitation, the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments provided for therein, does not conflict with or violate the terms and provisions of Section 10.01 and (B) 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 Extended Revolving Credit Commitments are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(d) This Section 2.16 supersedes any provision in Section 2.13 or Section 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.17. [Reserved].

SECTION 2.18. Extensions of Term Loans.

(a) The Lead Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of any Class (an “Existing Term Loan Class”) be exchanged to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) of any payment of principal thereof with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so extended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.18. Prior to entering into any Term Extension Agreement, the Lead Borrower shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders of the applicable Existing Term Loan Class) (a “Term Loan Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established thereunder, which terms shall be identical to the Term Loans of the Existing Term Loan Class from which they are to be extended except (x) the scheduled final maturity date shall be extended and all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of all or a portion of any principal amount of such Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class (with any such delay resulting in a corresponding adjustment to the scheduled amortization payments reflected in Section 2.07 or in the Incremental Amendment, as the case may be, with respect to the Existing Term Loan Class from which such Extended Term Loans were extended, in each case as more particularly set forth in Section 2.18(c) below), (y) all-in pricing (including, without limitation, margins, fees and premiums) with respect to the Extended Term Loans may be higher or lower than the all-in pricing (including, without limitation, margins, fees and premiums) for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Class, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Term Extension Agreement and (z) the voluntary and mandatory prepayment rights of the Extended Term Loans shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 2.05. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Class exchanged into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Term Loan Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans of any Term Extension Series shall constitute a separate Class of Term Loans from the Existing Term Loan Class of Term Loans from which they were extended; provided that any Extended Term Loans extended may, to the extent provided in the applicable Term Extension Agreement, be designated as an increase to any previously established Class of Extended Term Loans; provided that in no event shall there be more than ten Classes of Term Loans outstanding at any time.

 

103


(b) The Lead Borrower shall provide the applicable Term Loan Extension Request at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Class are requested to respond. Except as provided in the second succeeding sentence, any Lender (an “Extending Term Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans of an Existing Term Loan Class subject to such Term Loan Extension Request exchanged into Extended Term Loans shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Term Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Term Loan Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans which it has elected to convert into Extended Term Loans. In the event that the aggregate amount of Term Loans subject to Term Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans requested pursuant to the Term Loan Extension Request, Term Loans subject to Term Extension Elections shall be exchanged to Extended Term Loans on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Term Loans included in each such Term Extension Election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lead Borrower shall be permitted to specify in the Term Loan Extension Request, any Lender or Lenders as Extending Term Lenders (subject to the consent of such Lender or Lenders) and any Lenders not so specified in such Term Loan Extension Request shall not have the right to make a Term Extension Election with respect to such Term Loan Extension Request.

(c) Extended Term Loans shall be established pursuant to an amendment (an “Term Extension Agreement”) to this Agreement (which, except to the extent expressly contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.18(c) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10.01, shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Term Lenders with respect to the Extended Term Loans established thereby) executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Extending Term Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.18 and without limiting the generality or applicability of Section 10.01 to any Section 2.18 Additional Agreements, any Term Extension Agreement may provide for additional terms and/or additional amendments other than those referred to or contemplated above (any such additional amendment, a “Section 2.18 Additional Agreement”) to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that such Section 2.18 Additional Agreements do not become effective prior to the time that such Section 2.18 Additional Agreements have been consented to by such of the Lenders, Loan Parties and other parties (if any) as may be required in order for such Section 2.18 Additional Agreements to become effective in accordance with Section 10.01. It is understood and agreed that each Lender that has consented to this Agreement has consented and shall at the effective time thereof be deemed to consent to each amendment in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents authorized by this Section 2.18 and the arrangements described above in connection therewith except that the foregoing shall not constitute a consent on behalf of any Lender to the terms of any Section 2.18 Additional Agreement. In connection with any Term Extension Agreement, the Borrowers shall deliver (A) an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (i) as to the enforceability of such Term Extension Agreement, this Agreement as amended thereby, and such of the other Loan Documents (if any) as may be amended thereby (in the case of such other Loan Documents as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence) and (ii) to the effect that such Term Extension Agreement, including without limitation, the Extended Term Loans provided for therein, does not conflict with or violate the terms and provisions of Section 10.01 and (B) 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 Extended Term Loans are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

 

104


SECTION 2.19. Refinancing Amendment.

(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 2.19 (each, an “Additional Refinancing Lender”) (provided that the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to such Lender’s or Additional Refinancing Lender’s making such Refinancing Term Loans or 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 Loans or Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Refinancing Lender) in respect of all or any portion of any Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans (or unused Revolving Credit Commitments) 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.

(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 reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent 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 Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.

(c) Such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans shall mature no earlier than, and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable, shall not be shorter than, the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans, Term Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, being refinanced at such time. Refinancing Term Loans and Other Revolving Credit Loans shall be secured by Liens that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Facilities, shall not be secured by any assets other than the Collateral and shall be guaranteed only by the same Guarantors that guarantee the Facilities.

(d) All other terms applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans (other than provisions relating to pricing, original issue discount, upfront fees and interest rates, which shall be as agreed between the Borrowers and the Lenders providing such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, or Other Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable) shall be substantially identical to, or no more favorable to the Lenders providing such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments, or Other Revolving Credit Loans than, those applicable to the then outstanding Term Loans, Term Commitments, Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, of the applicable Class except to the extent such covenants and other terms apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the effective date of any such Refinancing Amendment immediately prior to the borrowing or establishment of such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans, as applicable. To the extent terms applicable to such Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Term Commitments, Other Revolving Credit Commitments or Other Revolving Credit Loans include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, such Previously Absent Financial Maturity Covenant shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (A) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of each Facility other than the Term Loans or (B) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

105


(e) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the 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 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 Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.19, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Refinancing Amendment.

(f) This Section 2.19 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or Section 10.01 to the contrary.

SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders and Required Facility Lenders.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.09 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.03(f); fourth, as the Lead Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.03(f); sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders or the L/C Issuers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender or L/C Issuer against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowing in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C

 

106


Borrowing 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 Borrowing owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility without giving effect to Section 2.20(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.20(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees. (A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Pro Rata Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.03(f).

(C) With respect to any commitment fee or Letter of Credit fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrowers shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to each L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders that are Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) of the Revolving Credit Facility but only to the extent that, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Subject to Section 10.27, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereto against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(v) Cash Collateral. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to them hereunder or under law, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(f).

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Lead Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders

 

107


or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility (without giving effect to Section 2.20(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.

(c) New Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is Defaulting Lender, no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

ARTICLE III

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

SECTION 3.01. Taxes.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments by any Borrower (the term “Borrower” under Article III being deemed to include any Restricted Subsidiary for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued) or any Guarantor to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto (all such items being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”), except as required by applicable Law. If any Taxes are required to be deducted or withheld from or in respect of any sum payable by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Guarantor under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (i) if such Taxes are Taxes other than, in the case of each Agent and each Lender, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (including branch profits), and franchise (and similar) Taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income Taxes, by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a Lending Office, (b) any Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Agent or Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than a connection arising from such Agent or Lender having executed, delivered, enforced, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to this Agreement, or sold or assigned an interest in this Agreement) (all such Taxes being hereinafter referred to as “Other Connection Taxes”) that are imposed on or measured by net income, or are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes, (c) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (1) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 3.07) or (2) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (d) Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with Section 10.15, (e) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, (f) Taxes imposed under the laws of the Netherlands as a result of or in connection with: (1) the Dutch Withholding Tax Act 2021 (Wet Bronbelasting 2021) in effect on the date on which such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment and by reason of the relevant beneficiary of the interest being resident in a jurisdiction that is currently listed in the Dutch Regulation on low-taxing states and non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (Regeling laagbelastende staten en niet-coöperatieve rechtsgebieden voor belastingdoeleinden);

 

108


or (2) such Agent and/or Lender having a (direct or indirect) substantial interest (aanmerkelijk belang) in a Borrower and/or a Guarantor within the meaning of the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 (Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001) and (g) any Bank Levy (all such excluded Taxes under clauses (a) through (g) being hereinafter referred to as “Excluded Taxes”), and all Taxes (including Other Taxes), other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (being hereinafter referred to as “Indemnified Taxes”), then the sum payable by each Borrower or Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions 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 been made, (ii) each Borrower or the Guarantor shall make such deductions to the extent required by Law, (iii) each Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws and (iv) 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), the Lead Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a facsimile copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) In addition, each Borrower agrees to timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes and any other property, intangible or mortgage recording Taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document excluding, in each case, such amounts that (a) result from an 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, except to the extent that any such change is requested or required in writing by a Borrower and (b) are Other Connection Taxes (all such non-excluded Taxes described in this Section 3.01(b) being hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) Each Borrower agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable and paid under this Section 3.01) payable by such Agent and such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Lead Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Agent), or by the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Payment under this Section 3.01(c) shall be made within ten (10) Business Days after the date such Lender or such Agent provides the Lead Borrower with such a written statement.

(d) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrowers have not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.07(g) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (d).

 

109


(e) [Reserved].

(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 Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by any Borrower or any Guarantor under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund) to such Borrower or such Guarantor, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Borrower or such Guarantor, 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 taxing authority) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), in no event will the Lender or Agent be required to pay any amount to any Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (e) the payment of which would place the Lender or Agent in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender or Agent to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender or Agent to claim any tax refund or to make available its tax returns or disclose any information relating to its tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender or Agent to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other refunds, credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.

(g) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(a) or (c) with respect to such Lender it will, if requested by the Lead Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to legal and regulatory restrictions) 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 sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no unreimbursed cost or material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.01(g) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c).

(h) For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Lender” includes any L/C Issuer.

(i) Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

SECTION 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 Eurodollar Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar 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, the Borrowers shall upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, with respect to any such Loans denominated in Dollars, convert all Eurodollar 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 Eurodollar Loans to such day, or promptly, if such

 

110


Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower 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. Alternate Rate of Interest.

(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 3.03, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate or the EURIBOR Rate, as applicable (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period, provided that no Benchmark Transition Event shall have occurred at such time; or

(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate or the EURIBOR Rate, as applicable, for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Lead Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (A) any interest election request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, (B) if any borrowing request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing and (C) if any borrowing request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing in Euros, then such request shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Eurodollar Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Lead Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 3.03(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, then until the Administrative Agent notifies the Lead Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) if such Eurodollar Loan is denominated in Dollars, then on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Base Rate Loan denominated in Dollars on such day and (ii) if such Eurodollar Loan is denominated in any Agreed Currency (other than Dollars), then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), at the Lead Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Lead Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, such Eurodollar Loan denominated in any Agreed Currency other than Dollars shall be deemed to be a Dollar Term Loan that is a Eurodollar Loan and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Dollar Term Loans that are Eurodollar Loans at such time.

 

111


(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Contract shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 3.03), if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Facility Lenders of each affected Class.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, (x) with respect to a Loan denominated in Dollars, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, or (y) with respect to a Loan denominated in Euros, if a Term ESTR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, as applicable, have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (c) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Lead Borrower a Term SOFR Notice or a Term ESTR Notice, a applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver (x) a Term SOFR Notice after the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, or (y) a Term ESTR Notice after the occurrence of a Term ESTR Transition Event and, in each case, may do so in its sole discretion.

(d) In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(e) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lead Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 3.03, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.03.

 

112


(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR, Term ESTR, or the LIBO Rate or EURIBOR Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(g) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request for a Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans or (y) any Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in Euros or any other Agreed Currency shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Eurodollar Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Lead Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 3.03, (i) if such Eurodollar Loan is denominated in Dollars, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Base Rate Loan denominated in Dollars on such day or (ii) if such Eurodollar Loan is denominated in any Agreed Currency (other than Dollars), then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, such Eurodollar Loan denominated in any Agreed Currency other than Dollars shall be deemed to be a Dollar Term Loan that is a Eurodollar Loan and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Dollar Term Loans that are Eurodollar Loans at such time.

SECTION 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans.

(a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of any Change in Law or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or 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 covered by Section 3.01, (ii) the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Taxes payable by such Lender 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 Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligations to make any Loan), or to reduce the

 

113


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 Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof 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 company controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital or liquidity 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 with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurodollar funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio 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 the Eurodollar Loans, 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 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; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a), (b) or (c) for any such increased cost or reduction incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender demands, or notifies the Lead Borrower of its intention to demand, compensation therefor; provided further that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased cost or reduction is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

(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 Section 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).

SECTION 3.05. Funding Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

114


(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b) any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by any Borrower;

including any loss or expense 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.

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 Eurodollar Loan made by it at the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded.

SECTION 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.

(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III 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 by the Borrowers under Section 3.04, the Borrowers may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another Eurodollar Loans (or with respect to Loans denominated in Dollars to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar 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 from one Interest Period to another any Eurodollar Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans shall, if denominated in Dollars, be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurodollar 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 Section 3.01, 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 Eurodollar Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

 

115


(ii) all Loans denominated in Dollars that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurodollar Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurodollar Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s Eurodollar 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 Eurodollar Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, 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 Eurodollar Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurodollar Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments.

SECTION 3.07. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

(a) If at any time (i) any Lender requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make Eurodollar 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 Borrower may, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, 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 Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (iii) above, all of its rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of the related consent, waiver or amendment) to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower 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, 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 the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents.

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations (or shall be deemed to have consented to such Assignment and Assumption if such Lender does not deliver an executed copy of such Assignment and Assumption to the Administrative Agent within one Business Day of receiving a request therefor pursuant to Section 3.07(a) above), and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Lead Borrower 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, (B) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans 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.

 

116


(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 back-up 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 of such L/C Issuer 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 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 all affected Lenders 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 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. All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

SECTION 4.01. Conditions to Credit Extensions on Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent (such date, the “Closing Date”):

(a) Subject to Section 6.17, the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or 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) executed counterparts of this Agreement;

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note at least two Business Days in advance of the Closing Date;

(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01A required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party (except with respect to the Dutch Security Documents, which shall be duly executed, and received by the Administrative Agent, substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing), as applicable, party thereto, together with:

(A) certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt indorsed in blank; and

(B) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Document as of the Closing Date 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;

 

117


(iv) (x) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 4.01(e) and Section 4.02 have been satisfied and (y) certificates of good standing from the secretary of state of the state of organization of each Loan Party (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction), customary certificates of resolutions or other board approval or action, incumbency certificates and other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party certifying true and complete copies of the Organization Documents and resolutions attached thereto and 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;

(v) with respect to any Loan Party subject to the Dutch Works Council Act (Wet op de ondernemingsraden), an unconditional or otherwise acceptable positive advice from each relevant works council (ondernemingsraad), including the request for advice or alternatively, confirmation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that no relevant Loan Party has established, has been requested to establish, or is in the process of establishing any works council (ondernemingsraad) and that there is no works council which has jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents;

(vi) an opinion from the following special counsel to the Loan Parties (or certain of the Loan Parties): (a) an opinion from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties, (b) an opinion from Loyens & Loeff N.V., Netherlands counsel to the Loan Parties (which shall be received by the Administrative Agent substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing) and (c) an opinion from Day Pitney LLP, New Jersey counsel to the Loan Parties;

(vii) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties, on a consolidated basis, on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transaction, from the Chief Financial Officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Lead Borrower;

(viii) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect and that the Administrative Agent has been named as loss payee and additional insured under each insurance policy with respect to such insurance as to which the Administrative Agent shall have requested to be so named;

(ix) an opinion from Baker & McKenzie LLP to the effect that the Spin-Off will be treated as a tax-free distribution pursuant to Section 355 of the Code and that neither the Lead Borrower nor Merck will recognize any taxable income as a result of the Spin-Off or other transactions related thereto;

(x) copies of a recent Lien and judgment search in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent with respect to the Loan Parties; and

(xi) for any Mortgaged Property located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards (a “Flood Hazard Property”), (A) the Borrower’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from the Collateral Agent as to the fact that such Mortgaged Property is a Flood Hazard Property and as to whether the community in which each such Flood Hazard Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program and (B) copies of the Borrower’s application for a flood insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that flood insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of flood insurance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and naming the Collateral Agent as mortgagee and sole loss payee on behalf of the Lenders.

 

118


(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder and invoiced on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid in full in cash or will be paid on the Closing Date out of the initial Credit Extension.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Audited Financial Statements and the audit report for such financial statements (which shall not be subject to any qualification), (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Lead Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter ended at least eighty-two (82) days before the Closing Date (the “Historical Unaudited Financial Statements”), which financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (iii) the Pro Forma Financial Statements.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information in respect of 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 reasonably requested in writing by any Lender at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. At least five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, if any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, such Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.

(e) The Spin-Off shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing, on the Closing Date.

(f) On or prior to the Closing Date, (x) the Senior Secured Notes shall have been issued, (y) the Senior Unsecured Notes shall have been issued and (z) the escrow issuer of the Senior Notes shall have merged, or shall merge substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing, with and into the Lead Borrower.

(g) The Closing Date Repayment shall have been consummated, or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing, on the Closing Date.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to the Closing Date or substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing, a tax matters agreement between the Lead Borrower and Merck containing customary provisions for a transaction similar to the Spin-Off in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (the “Tax Matters Agreement”).

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 Eurodollar Loans, and other than a Request for Credit Extension for Incremental Commitments which shall be governed by Section 2.14) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of each Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.

 

119


(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer 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 Eurodollar Loans) submitted by a Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) (or, in the case of a Request for Credit Extension for an Incremental Facility, the conditions specified in Section 2.14) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

Representations and Warranties

The Borrowers represent and warrant to the Agents and the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (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 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, injunctions and orders and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, permits, certificates, registrations, exemptions, clearances, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transaction, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (b) 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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 (c) violate any material Law; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (b)(i), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person 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 Transaction, (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

 

120


Documents, except for (i) filings necessary to perfect 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 and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04. Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.

SECTION 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) (i) The Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Lead Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

(ii) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2020 (including the notes thereto) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”) and the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the twelve month period ending on December 31, 2020 (together with the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, the “Pro Forma Financial Statements”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, have been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date or at the beginning of such periods, as the case may be) to the Transaction. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith, based on assumptions believed by the Lead Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a Pro Forma Basis the estimated financial position of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2020 and their estimated results of operations for the periods covered thereby, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of the periods covered thereby.

(b) Since December 31, 2020, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date in a form reasonably satisfactory to it, 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.

(d) As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary 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 this Agreement and (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business) that, either individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

121


SECTION 5.06. Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened in writing or contemplated, 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, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.07. No Default. Neither the Lead Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.08. Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has good record title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all real property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens 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 could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09. Environmental Compliance.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, the Loan Parties and each of their Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, operations and properties are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits.

(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened claims, actions, suits or proceedings alleging potential liability, remediation obligation or responsibility for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any applicable Environmental Law that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no and never have been any underground or aboveground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored, released, discharged or disposed on any property currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or, to its knowledge, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (iii) Hazardous Materials have not been treated, stored, released, discharged or disposed of by any of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries at any location in a manner which would give rise to liability under applicable Environmental Laws.

(d) The properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of, (ii) require remedial action under or (iii) could give rise to liability under, applicable Environmental Laws, which violations, remedial actions and liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Neither the Lead Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site or location, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any applicable Environmental Law except for such investigation or assessment or remedial or response action that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

122


(f) All Hazardous Materials transported from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for off-site disposal have been transported and disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries has contractually assumed any liability or obligation under or relating to any applicable Environmental Law.

SECTION 5.10. Regulatory Compliance.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and the operation of the business of each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary (including the manufacture, import, export, testing, development, processing, packaging, labeling, storage, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceutical (including biologic and biosimilar) and medical device products (the “Products”)), is, and for the last three (3) years has been, in compliance with all applicable Health Care Laws. Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries holds all licenses, permits, certificates, certifications, registrations, clearances, exemptions, accreditations, qualifications, authorizations, consents and approvals required or issued by Governmental Authorities to operate its business as currently conducted (“Health Care Permits”). Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Health Care Permit is in full force and effect in accordance with its terms; (ii) each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its material obligations with respect to the Health Care Permits; and (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any proceedings relating to the revocation, suspension, non-renewal, cancellation or adverse modification of any Health Care Permit. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has filed, obtained, maintained, and submitted all reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Law (“Filings”), and all such Filings were true, complete, correct and not misleading on the date filed and any necessary or required updates, changes, corrections or modification have been submitted.

(b) During the last three (3) years, no product or manufacturing site (whether owned by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary or that of a contract manufacturer for any Products) has been subject to a Governmental Authority (including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)) shutdown or import or export prohibition, nor received any FDA Form 483 or other Governmental Authority notice of inspectional observations, “warning letters,” “untitled letters” or requests or requirements to make changes to any Products that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other Governmental Authority in respect of the business and alleging or asserting noncompliance with any applicable Health Care Law, Health Care Permit or such requests or requirements of a Governmental Authority that in each case would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, neither the FDA nor any Governmental Authority is considering such action that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

123


(c) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.10(c), during the last three (3) years, (i) there have been no recalls, field notifications, field corrections, market withdrawals or replacements, warnings, “dear doctor” letters, investigator notices, safety alerts or other notice of action relating to an alleged lack of safety, efficacy, or regulatory compliance of any Products (“Safety Notices”), and (ii) to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, there are no material complaints with respect to any Products that are currently unresolved, in each case (for both clauses (i) and (ii) above) except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, there are no facts that would be reasonably likely to result in (i) a material Safety Notice with respect to any Products, (ii) a material change in labeling of any Products; or (iii) a termination or suspension of marketing or testing of any the Products, in each case (for each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above) except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) The clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Loan Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries or in which the Loan Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries or their products or product candidates have participated were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respect in accordance with standard medical and scientific research procedures and all applicable Health Care Laws, including, but not limited to, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and its applicable implementing regulations at 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58, 312, and 812. No investigational new drug application or investigational device exemption filed by or on behalf of the Loan Parties or their Restricted Subsidiaries with the FDA has been terminated or suspended by the FDA, and neither the FDA nor any applicable foreign regulatory agency has commenced, or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened to initiate, any action to place a clinical hold order on, or otherwise terminate, delay or suspend, any proposed or ongoing clinical investigation conducted or proposed to be conducted by or on behalf of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries.

(e) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened actions, suits, proceedings, audits, investigations, claims or disputes against any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority or third party, alleging or asserting any noncompliance with or any violation of any Health Care Laws. To the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, no Person has filed or has threatened in writing to file against any Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries any action or other proceeding under any Health Care Law, including under the False Claims Act of 1863 (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.) or any other federal or state whistleblower statute.

(f) Neither any Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary is a party to or has any ongoing reporting obligations pursuant to any corporate integrity agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, non-prosecution agreement, monitoring agreement, consent decree, settlement order, plan of correction or similar agreement with or imposed by any Governmental Authority under any Health Care Law.

(g) Neither any Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers or directors, employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, any of their respective agents, has been excluded, suspended or debarred from, or otherwise found ineligible from participation in, any federal healthcare program, as such term is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(f), or any other government healthcare program or under comparable Laws in other jurisdictions.

(h) None of the Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries is the subject of any pending or, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, threatened investigation in respect of the business or products, by the FDA pursuant to its “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991) and any amendments thereto.

 

124


SECTION 5.11. Taxes. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.11 or except as could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have (i) timely filed all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and (ii) have timely paid all federal, state, foreign and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 5.12. ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.12(a), each Plan and, with respect to each Plan, each Loan Party and each ERISA Affiliate is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred during the period beginning on January 1, 2015 through the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur; except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material liability to a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate; (ii) the present value of all accrued benefit obligations under each Pension Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Pension Plan) did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of such Pension Plan by an amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan, the potential liability of the Loan Parties and their ERISA Affiliates for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section 4203 or Section 4205 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all Multiemployer Plans is not material, individually or in the aggregate, to any Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate; and (iv) no Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate has any liability with respect to any post-retirement welfare benefit under a Plan that is subject to ERISA, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material liability to a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate.

(c) Except where noncompliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material liability to a Loan Party, (i) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders, and (ii) no Loan Party nor any Restricted Subsidiary has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan. Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material liability to a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate, the present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Plan which is funded, determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary (based on the actuarial assumptions used for purposes of the applicable jurisdiction’s financial reporting requirements), did not exceed the current value of the assets of such Foreign Plan, and for each Foreign Plan which is not funded, the obligations of such Foreign Plan are properly accrued.

SECTION 5.13. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, neither the Lead Borrower nor any other Loan Party has any Material Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Lead Borrower and the Material Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and all Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or any other Loan Party are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents, (ii) any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01 and (iii) any consensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01(ff) (solely with respect to pari passu Indebtedness) or Section 7.01(gg). As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.13 (a) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of each Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, (b) sets forth the ownership interest of the Borrowers and any Guarantor in each of their Subsidiaries, including the percentage of such ownership and (c) identifies each Person the Equity Interests of which are required to be pledged on the Closing Date pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

 

125


SECTION 5.14. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) Neither Borrower is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Federal Reserve Board), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) None of any Borrower, any Person Controlling any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 5.15. Disclosure.

(a) 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 any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains any material misstatement of 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; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrowers represent only 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.

(b) As of the Closing Date, to the best knowledge of the Lead Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on the Closing Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

SECTION 5.16. Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc(a) . Each of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use, all of the Intellectual Property that is reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, without violation of the rights of any Person, except to the extent such violations, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, no conduct of any of the Loan Parties’ business infringes upon any rights held by any Person except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any such Intellectual Property, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, each Patent, Trademark, and Copyright which it owns or purports to own and which is material to a Loan Party’s business, to the knowledge of the Lead Borrower, is valid and enforceable, and no part of the Intellectual Property which a Loan Party owns or purports to own and which is material to such Loan Party’s business has been judged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part.

SECTION 5.17. Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transaction the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

126


SECTION 5.18. 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 in respect of Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

SECTION 5.19. USA PATRIOT Act, Etc.

(a) Each Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with all applicable (i) Sanctions and (ii) the USA PATRIOT Act.

(b) The Borrowers represent that none of the Borrowers nor their Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) nor any director, officer, nor to the Company’s best knowledge, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are:

(i) the subject of any economic or trade sanctions or restrictive measures enacted, imposed, administered or enforced by the U.S. government, including the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or its Member States, or Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), (collectively, “Sanctions”) (any such Person is referred to herein as a “Sanctioned Person”), nor

(ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of Sanctions (including, as of the date of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria (such country, a “Sanctioned Country”)).

(c) No part of the proceeds of the Loans or the Letters of Credit will, directly or indirectly, be used, or lent, contributed or otherwise made available to any Person (i) for any offer, payment, promise to pay, authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value to any Person (including, but not limited to, any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity) in order to improperly obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, applicable anti-money laundering laws, rules and regulations, or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws (“Anti-Corruption Laws”), (ii) for the purposes of funding, financing or facilitating any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country, or (iii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans or Letters of Credit, whether as Administrative Agent, Arranger, issuing bank, Lender, underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise). The Lead Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect, and will continue to implement and enforce, policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable anti-money laundering laws, rules and regulations, and Sanctions. Each Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and their directors and officers, and to the Company’s best knowledge, employees, agents, affiliates and representatives of the Company, has conducted its businesses in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions and the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries will conduct their business in a manner designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

(d) The representations and warranties given in this Section 5.19 shall only be given or deemed to be given by and apply to any Borrower to the extent that giving of and complying with such representations and warranties does not result in a violation of or conflict with or does not expose any Borrower to any liability under the Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (as amended from time to time) or any similar anti-boycott laws or regulations in the European Union or the United Kingdom.

 

127


SECTION 5.20. Collateral Documents. Except as otherwise contemplated hereby or under any other Loan Documents and subject to the limitations set forth in the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, the provisions of the Collateral Documents, together with such filings and other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Collateral Documents (including (x) the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any pledged Collateral required to be delivered pursuant hereto or the applicable Collateral Documents, (y) in the case of Deposit Accounts, the execution and delivery of control agreements providing for “control” as described in Section 9-104 of the UCC and (z) in the case of Securities Accounts, the earlier of the filing of UCC financing statements and the execution and delivery of control agreements providing for “control” as described in Section 9-106 of the UCC), are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid, perfected and enforceable first priority Lien (subject in respect of priority to Permitted Prior Liens and subject to any applicable intercreditor agreement) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein.

SECTION 5.21. Tax Residency. Each Dutch Loan Party is resident for tax purposes in the Netherlands only, and does not have a permanent establishment or other taxable presence outside the Netherlands.

SECTION 5.22. Fiscal Unity for Dutch Tax Purposes. Any fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) for Dutch Tax Purposes consists of Dutch Loan Parties only.

ARTICLE VI

Affirmative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, 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 Restricted Subsidiary to:

SECTION 6.01. Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Lead Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case (with respect to each fiscal year ending on or after December 31, 2022) in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit other than a going concern qualification resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered;

 

128


(b) as soon as available, but in any event within (x) forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Lead Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021) and (y) nineteen (19) days after the Closing Date with respect to the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, a consolidated balance sheet of the Lead Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related (i) consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (ii) consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case (with respect to each fiscal quarter ending on or after June 30, 2022) in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the 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 adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) above, the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments 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 its Subsidiaries by furnishing the Lead Borrower’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or any other independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit other than a “going concern” qualification resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered.

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 delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Lead Borrower files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(c) 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 of any Loan Party or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than the Threshold Amount or pursuant to the terms of any Senior Notes Documentation or Junior Financing Documentation, in each case, so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereunder is greater than the Threshold Amount and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

129


(d) together with the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) a report setting forth the information required by Section 3.03(c) of the Security Agreement or confirming that there has been no change in such information since 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 that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list;

(e) (i) promptly following any request therefor, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that the Lead Borrower and any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that the Lead Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; provided that if the Lead Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Plan or Multiemployer Plan, the Lead Borrower or its ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;

(f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, 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; and

(g) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(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 posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); 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. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Lead Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent. 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 6.03. Notices. Promptly after obtaining actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

 

130


(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including such matters arising out of or resulting from (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default or event of default under, a Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation or proceeding between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority, (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, Health Care Laws, or in respect of Intellectual Property or the assertion or occurrence of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with, or liability under, any applicable Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Health Care Law or Health Care Permit, (iv) the exclusion, suspension, or debarment or any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary from participation in or any other ineligibility from, any government healthcare program or (v) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and

(c) of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Lead Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a), (b) or (c) (as applicable) and (y) in the case of clauses (a) and (b), 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. Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.05. Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except (i) in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 or (ii) other than in the case of the Borrowers, to the extent failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except (i) to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05.

SECTION 6.06. Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice.

SECTION 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of 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.

 

131


SECTION 6.08. Maintenance of Intellectual Property. Except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of its owned Intellectual Property; (ii) promptly advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any infringement or similar event with respect to its owned Intellectual Property; and (iii) not allow any of its owned Intellectual Property to be abandoned, forfeited or dedicated to the public without the Administrative Agent’s written consent.

SECTION 6.09. Compliance with Laws, etc. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property and the Tax Matters Agreement, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.10. 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 shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.

SECTION 6.11. 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 (other than the records of the Board of Directors of such Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary) and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, 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 Lead Borrower; 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 6.11 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default 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 Lead Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Lead Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.11, none of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary will 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 any binding agreement or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

SECTION 6.12. Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security. At the Borrowers’ expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:

(a) upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, the designation in accordance with Section 6.16 of any existing direct or indirect Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary shall otherwise constitute an Excluded Subsidiary) or any Subsidiary ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary:

(i) within forty five (45) days after such formation, acquisition, designation or cessation or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its discretion:

 

132


(A) cause each such Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of the Material Real Properties owned by such Subsidiary in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(B) cause each such Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) Mortgages, Security Agreement Supplements, other security agreements, supplements and documents (including, with respect to Mortgages, the documents listed in Section 6.15(b)), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (including foreign law pledge agreements in respect of any pledge of equity interests of a non-US Subsidiary);

(C) cause each such Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank (or any other documents customary under local law) and instruments evidencing the intercompany Indebtedness held by such Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents, indorsed in blank to the Collateral Agent;

(D) take and cause such Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to take whatever action (including, in the case of Domestic Subsidiaries, the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, delivery of stock and membership interest certificates and execution of account control agreements) may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law) and to otherwise satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.

(ii) within forty five (45) days after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters set forth in this Section 6.12(a) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and

(iii) within thirty (30) days after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent with respect to each Material Real Property, any existing title reports, surveys or environmental assessment reports, to the extent available and in the possession or control 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 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

 

133


(b) after the Closing Date, not later than ninety (90) days after the acquisition by any Loan Party of any Material Real Property as determined by the Lead Borrower (acting reasonably and in good faith) (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing in its discretion) 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.

SECTION 6.13. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply, and take all commercially reasonable actions to cause any lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (b) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and, (c) in each case to the extent required by applicable Environmental Laws, conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all applicable Environmental Laws.

SECTION 6.14. Compliance with Health Care Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply with all applicable Health Care Laws; and (b) obtain and renew all Health Care Permits necessary for its operations.

SECTION 6.15. Further Assurances.

(a) 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 Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents.

(b) In the case of any Material Real Property, provide the Administrative Agent with Mortgages with respect to such owned real property within ninety (90) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of the acquisition of such real property in each case together with:

(i) evidence that counterparts of the Mortgages have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered and are in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

134


(ii) fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies or the equivalent or other form available in each applicable jurisdiction (the “Mortgage Policies”) in form and substance, with endorsements and in amount, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (not to exceed the value of the real properties covered thereby), issued, coinsured and reinsured by title insurers reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, insuring the Mortgages to be valid subsisting Liens on the property described therein, free and clear of all defects and encumbrances, subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, and providing for such other affirmative insurance (including endorsements for future advances under the Loan Documents) and such coinsurance and direct access reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

(iii) an ALTA survey (or existing survey, ExpressMap or similar documentation together with a no change affidavit of such Mortgaged Property) sufficient for the title insurance company to remove the standard survey exception and issue survey related endorsements (if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent); and

(iv) opinions of local counsel for the Loan Parties in states in which the real properties are located, with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the Mortgages and any related fixture filings in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(v) (1) a complete standard flood hazard determination form, (2) if any portion of the improvements on any Mortgaged Property is located in a special flood hazard area, a Borrower Notice and, if applicable, notification to the applicable Borrower that flood insurance coverage under NFIP is not available because the community does not participate in NFIP, (3) documentation evidencing the Borrower’s receipt of the Borrower Notice and (4) if the Borrower Notice is required to be given and flood insurance is available in the community in which the property is located, a copy of the flood insurance policy, such Borrower’s application for a flood insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that flood insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of flood insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

(vi) such other evidence that all other actions that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create valid and subsisting Liens on the property described in the Mortgages has been taken.

SECTION 6.16. Designation of Subsidiaries. The board of directors of the Lead Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation (or in the case such Subsidiary to be designated is newly acquired, if the Lead Borrower so elects in writing to the Administrative Agent, at the time the definitive documentation for such acquisition is entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), the Interest Coverage Ratio shall exceed 2.00:1.00 (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) (and, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any such designation, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating satisfaction of such test), (iii) the Investment resulting from the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as described above is permitted by Section 7.02 and (iv) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for the purpose of the Senior Notes or any Junior Financing or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of the Threshold Amount, as applicable. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Lead Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the net book value of the Lead Borrower’s direct or indirect investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the

 

135


incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, (A) the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be permitted to contribute, dispose of or otherwise transfer legal title to, or license on an exclusive basis, any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (B) the Borrowers shall not be permitted to designate any Restricted Subsidiary that holds Material Intellectual Property as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether upon initial designation or subsequent investment), in each case, other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (1) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (2) facilitate a Restricted Payment or (3) in connection with a liability management transaction and (C) the Co-Borrower shall not be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.17. Post-Closing Matters. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, to the extent such items have not been delivered or actions contemplated as of the Closing Date, the Lead Borrower shall cause such item or action set forth on Schedule 6.17 to be delivered or completed by the time set forth in such Schedule (unless waived or extended by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion).

SECTION 6.18. Maintenance of Flood Insurance. If any portion of Improvements (as defined in any Mortgage) constituting part of the Mortgaged Properties is a Flood Hazard Property, the Lead Borrower will (or will cause the applicable mortgagor to) purchase flood insurance in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, but in no event less than the maximum limit of coverage available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the regulations issued thereunder.

SECTION 6.19. Lender Calls; Management Discussion and Analysis. Quarterly, at a time mutually agreed with the Administrative Agent that is promptly after the delivery of the information required pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) above, as applicable, commencing with the delivery of such information with respect to the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, the Lead Borrower shall participate in a conference call for Lenders to discuss the financial position and results of operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been delivered (which conference calls may be combined with any conference calls for the holders of the Lead Borrower’s securities).

SECTION 6.20. Tax Residency. Each Dutch Loan Party will remain resident for tax purposes in the Netherlands only, and will not create a permanent establishment or other taxable presence outside the Netherlands.

SECTION 6.21. MIRE Events. No MIRE Event may be closed until the date that is (a) if there are no Mortgaged Properties located in an area which has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as a “special flood hazard area,” ten (10) Business Days or (b) if there are any Mortgaged Properties located in an area which has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as a “special flood hazard area,” thirty (30) days (in each case, the “Notice Period”), after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Revolving Credit Lenders the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a completed “life of loan” standard flood hazard determination with respect to such real property from a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available, (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Parties of such notice and (C) a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance executed by the applicable Borrower and any applicable Loan Party relating thereto; and (iii) evidence of flood insurance in amount reasonably required by the Administrative Agent; provided that any such MIRE Event may be closed prior to the end of the Notice Period if the Administrative Agent shall have received confirmation from each applicable Revolving Credit Lender that such Revolving Credit Lender has completed any necessary flood insurance due diligence to its reasonable satisfaction.

 

136


SECTION 6.22. DAC6 Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(a) Promptly upon the making of such analysis or the obtaining of such advice, any analysis made or advice obtained on whether any transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents or any transaction carried out (or to be carried out) in connection with any transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents contains a hallmark as set out in Annex IV of Council Directive 2011/16/EU; and

(b) Promptly upon the making of such reporting and to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, any reporting made to any governmental or taxation authority by or on behalf of the Lead Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries or by any adviser to the Lead Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries in relation to the Council Directive of 25 May 2018 (2018/822/EU) amending DAC6 or any law or regulation which implements DAC6 and any unique identification number issued by any governmental or taxation authority to which any such report has been made (if available).

ARTICLE VII

Negative Covenants

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

SECTION 7.01. Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien 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; provided that any Lien securing Indebtedness in excess of (x) $10,000,000 individually or (y) $25,000,000 in the aggregate (when taken together with all other Liens securing obligations outstanding in reliance on this clause (b) that are not listed on Schedule 7.01(b)) shall only be permitted to the extent such Lien is listed on Schedule 7.01(b);

(c) Liens for Taxes which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings 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 or as a result of any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary being part of a fiscal unity consisting of Dutch Loan Parties only for Dutch corporate income tax and/or Dutch VAT purposes, which Dutch corporate income tax and/or Dutch VAT, as applicable, is not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted;

(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or if more than thirty (30) days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings 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;

 

137


(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 to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(f) deposits 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 those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary and any exception on the title polices issued in connection with the Mortgaged Property;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, replacements thereof and additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for additions and accessions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

(j) leases, licenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be limited to non-exclusive licenses, and exclusive licenses for fair market value, with respect to intellectual property), subleases or sublicenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be limited to non-exclusive sublicenses, and exclusive sublicenses for fair market value, with respect to intellectual property), granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

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

(l) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code or 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 encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

138


(m) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(j) or (o) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment 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;

(n) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03;

(o) Liens in favor of the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(d);

(p) 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 6.16), 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(e) or (g);

(q) any interest or title of a lessor under leases entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 7.02 and reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(t) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

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

(v) (i) Liens placed upon the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to secure Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) Liens placed upon the assets of such acquired Restricted Subsidiary and any of its Subsidiaries to secure Indebtedness (or to secure a Guarantee of such Indebtedness) incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g) in connection with such Permitted Acquisition;

 

139


(w) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(x) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;

(y) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(z) 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 or any Material Subsidiary;

(aa) 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;

(bb) Liens securing letters of credit in a currency other than Dollars permitted under Section 7.03(p) in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $20,000,000;

(cc) Liens securing Permitted Other Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(u) so long as such Liens are subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if such Liens are secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations) or a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if such Liens rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations);

(dd) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (b), (i), (p) and (v) 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 or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, 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;

(ee) other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $700,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period;

(ff) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(w) or 7.03(x) so long as such Liens are subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if such Liens are secured on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations) or a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if such Liens rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations); and

(gg) Liens to secure the Senior Secured Notes.

SECTION 7.02. Investments. Make or hold any Investments, except:

(a) Investments by the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;

(b) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Lead Borrower or the Restricted 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 (provided that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Lead Borrower in cash as common equity) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $25,000,000;

 

140


(c) asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) and the contribution for fair market value, non-exclusive licensing, and exclusive licensing for fair market value, of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Investments (i) by any Loan Party in any other Loan Party, (ii) by any Non-Loan Party in any other Non-Loan Party that is a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) by any Non-Loan Party in any Loan Party, (iv) by any Loan Party in any Non-Loan Party that is a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that all such Investments pursuant to this clause (iv) shall (A) other than Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000,000, be in the form of intercompany loans and evidenced by notes that have been pledged (individually or pursuant to a global note) to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (provided that in order to comply with the laws and regulations of an applicable jurisdiction, Investments may be structured instead as an equity contribution or otherwise in a form other than an intercompany note) and (B) not exceed an aggregate amount outstanding at any time equal to the sum of (1) 50.0% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and (2) $750,000,000 (excluding from such calculation in clauses (A) and (B) above (1) the amount of any Investments that constitute transfers pursuant to cash pooling agreements in the ordinary course of business or (2) to the extent constituting Investments, intercompany payables and receivables arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such payables and receivables do not constitute Indebtedness);

(e) 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;

(f) to the extent constituting Investments, this Section 7.02 shall not prohibit Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments expressly permitted (other than by reference to this Section 7.02) under Sections 7.01, 7.03 (other than clauses (n), (w) and (x) thereof), 7.04, 7.05 and 7.06, respectively; provided, that any such Investment shall constitute utilization of the applicable basket under the applicable other covenant in the outstanding amount of such Investment at the applicable time;

(g) Investments (i) existing or contemplated on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02(g), or pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction on or following the Closing Date for purposes of effectuating the Spin-Off, 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 any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(g) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except (x) in the case of clause (i) only, pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or (y) as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(h) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03;

(i) promissory notes and other noncash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(e));

 

141


(j) the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (including as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided that, with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this Section 7.02(j) (each, a “Permitted Acquisition”):

(A) to the extent required by Section 6.12, any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary (and, to the extent required under the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, the Subsidiaries of such created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary) shall be Guarantors and shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12, within the times specified therein (for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (A) shall not override any provisions of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement); and

(B) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition (or if the Lead Borrower so elects in writing to the Administrative Agent, at the time the definitive documentation of such purchase or other acquisition is entered into by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 7.14 (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) for the Test Period in effect at the time such purchase or other acquisition is to occur;

(k) [reserved];

(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Article III endorsements for collection or deposit and Article IV customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(m) 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 upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(n) loans and advances to the Lead Borrower in lieu of, 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 the Lead Borrower in accordance with Section 7.06(f);

(o) other Investments that do not in the aggregate exceed the greater of $750,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period, net of any return representing return of capital in respect of any such investment and valued at the time of the making thereof; provided that such amount shall be increased by (i) the Net Cash Proceeds of Permitted Equity Issuances that are Not Otherwise Applied and (ii) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied;

(p) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(q) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Qualified Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower;

(r) Investments held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged or consolidated into the Lead Borrower or merged 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 or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

142


(s) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Investments in joint ventures of the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this Section 7.02(t) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $750,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period (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 Section 7.02(t) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Lead Borrower at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, the Lead Borrower may elect that such Investment shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 7.02(d) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this Section 7.02(t);

(u) any Investment by the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Total Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis is less than or equal to 3.25:1.00;

(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 $100,000,000 and 3.5% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period; and

(w) Investments in connection with internal reorganizations and/or restructurings and related activities related to tax planning and reorganizations consisting of the transfer by any Loan Party of the Equity Interests of any Non-Loan Party to another Non-Loan Party that is a Restricted Subsidiary in the form of a capital contribution or intercompany note which is not pledged to the Secured Parties; provided that, (a) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior thereto and immediately after giving effect thereto and (b) after giving effect to such reorganization, restructuring or activities, the security interests of the Secured Parties in the Collateral and the Guarantees of the Obligations, taken as a whole, are not materially impaired.

(x) Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, any Investment in the form of a transfer of legal title or license on an exclusive basis of Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be permitted other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (1) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (2) facilitate a Restricted Payment or (3) in connection with a liability management transaction.

SECTION 7.03. Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents;

(b) (i) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) intercompany Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and, if in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $50,000,000, listed on Schedule 7.03(b), and any Permitted Refinancing thereof (provided that no Loan Party may be the lender of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness unless such Loan Party was the lender of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended); provided that (x) any such amount owed by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to a Loan Party shall be evidenced by an intercompany note and (y) all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person or Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be unsecured and subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to an intercompany note;

 

143


(c) Guarantees by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder (except that a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may not, by virtue of this Section 7.03(c), Guarantee Indebtedness that such Restricted Subsidiary could not otherwise incur under this Section 7.03); provided that (A) no Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Senior Notes, any Junior Financing or any other Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a Guarantee of the Obligations substantially on the terms set forth in the Guaranty, (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 and (C) no such Guarantee shall be permitted unless it is also permitted under Section 7.02 other than by reference to clause (f) thereof;

(d) Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Lead Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be unsecured and subject to the subordination terms set forth in Section 5.03 of the Security Agreement;

(e) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Capitalized Leases) financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets (provided that such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement) and Permitted Refinancings thereof, in an aggregate amount at any one time not to exceed the greater of $500,000,000 and 18% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts designed to hedge against interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(g) Indebtedness assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, provided that (x) such Indebtedness (i) was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, (ii) is secured only by the assets acquired in the applicable Permitted Acquisition (including any acquired Equity Interests), (iii) the only obligors with respect to any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (g) shall be those Persons who were obligors of such Indebtedness prior to such Permitted Acquisition and (y) both immediately prior and after giving effect thereto no Default shall exist or result therefrom;

(h) [reserved];

(i) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Indebtedness to current or former officers, directors, managers, consultants and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower permitted by Section 7.06;

(k) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted under Section 7.02 or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;

 

144


(l) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transaction, Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investments expressly permitted hereunder;

(m) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, cash pooling, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(n) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $1,400,000,000 and 50% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period; provided that any Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant this clause (n) by Non-Loan Parties, together with all Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by Non-Loan Parties pursuant to Section 7.03(w) and Section 7.03(x), in each case at any time outstanding, shall not exceed the Non-Guarantor Debt Cap;

(o) Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, 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;

(q) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries 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;

(r) Bilateral L/C Obligations;

(s) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not to exceed the available balance of such Letter of Credit;

(t) Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Notes and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(u) Indebtedness in respect of (i) any Permitted Other Debt issued or incurred in exchange for, or which modifies, extends, refinances, renews, replaces or refunds, or the Net Cash Proceeds of which are applied to the prepayments of, Term Loans and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness, provided that, in the case of this clause (ii), such Indebtedness otherwise complies with the definition of “Permitted Other Debt”;

(v) Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations;

 

145


(w) (x) Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, (y) Indebtedness secured on a junior basis to the Facilities or (z) unsecured Indebtedness, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of (i) the greater of $2,100,000,000 and 75% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period plus (ii) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans and (to the extent coupled with a permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments) of Revolving Credit Loans prior to such time minus the aggregate amount of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments incurred or effected pursuant to Section 2.14(a)(1) or 2.14(a)(2); 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) above, have a maturity date that is at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred (in each case, other than an earlier maturity date for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such earlier maturity date), (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 Term Loans and, in the case of clause (y) above, shall not be subject to scheduled amortization prior to maturity (in each case, other than a Weighted Average Life to Maturity for customary bridge financings, which, subject to customary conditions, would either be automatically converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent financing that does not provide for such shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity), (C) if such Indebtedness is (1) secured on a junior basis by a Loan Party, be secured only by the Collateral and be subject to the Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) secured on a pari passu basis with the Facilities, be secured only by the Collateral and be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (3) guaranteed, be guaranteed only by the same Guarantors that guarantee the Facilities, (D) in the case of clause (x) above, (1) in the case of such Indebtedness incurred in the form of Dollar-denominated term loan Indebtedness, be subject to the “most favored nation” provision contained in Section 2.14 with respect to Dollar Term Loans and (2) in the case of such Indebtedness incurred in the form of Euro-denominated term loan Indebtedness, be subject to the “most favored nation” provision contained in Section 2.14 with respect to the Euro Term Loans, (E) have terms and conditions (other than pricing, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and optional prepayment or redemption provisions) that in the good faith determination of the Borrower are not materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrower than the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents (when taken as a whole) and (F) to the extent the terms applicable to any such Indebtedness include a Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant, they shall either, at the option of the Lead Borrower (i) be applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of any Facility other than the Term Loans or (ii) be added for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Facility; provided that any Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant this clause (w) by Non-Loan Parties, together with all Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by Non-Loan Parties pursuant to Section 7.03(n) and Section 7.03(x), in each case at any time outstanding, shall not exceed the Non-Guarantor Debt Cap;

(x) Permitted Ratio Debt and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that any Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant this clause (x) by Non-Loan Parties, together with all Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred by Non-Loan Parties pursuant to Section 7.03(n) and Section 7.03(w), in each case at any time outstanding, shall not exceed the Non-Guarantor Debt Cap; and

(y) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (x) above.

For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so

 

146


long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased.

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 in clauses (a) through (cc) above, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance only on the exception in clause (a) of Section 7.03 and (ii) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Notes will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance only on the exception of clause (t) of Section 7.03.

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. 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, other than pursuant to the Transaction on or following the Closing Date for purposes of effectuating the Spin-Off, except that:

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with (i) the Lead Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Lead Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that (x) the Lead Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, and (y) such merger does not result in the Lead Borrower ceasing to be organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (ii) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that when any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is merging with another Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (ii) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or (B) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may change its legal form if the Lead Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution or otherwise) to the Lead Borrower or to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then (i) the transferee must be a Loan Party or (ii) such Disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Investment in the amount of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such assets over the fair market value of any consideration received, and must be a permitted Investment in a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 7.02;

(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) the Lead Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Lead Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (A) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Lead Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Lead Borrower is a party

 

147


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 by a supplement to the Guaranty confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, (D) each Loan Party, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Security Agreement confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement (or, in the case of the Guarantors, their obligations under the Guarantee), (E) 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 this Agreement (or, in the case of the Guarantors, their obligations under the Guarantee), (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 other Loan Document comply with this Agreement and (G) the Successor Borrower shall be required to provide, at least three (3) Business Days prior to becoming the Successor Borrower, all documentation and other information reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; provided further that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Lead Borrower under this Agreement;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, 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 Borrower, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12; and

(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 (other than Section 7.05(e)).

SECTION 7.05. Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) Dispositions of inventory and immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial Intellectual Property to lapse or go abandoned in the ordinary course of business);

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);

(d) Dispositions of property to the Lead Borrower or a 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) such transaction shall be deemed to be an Investment in the amount of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such assets over the fair market value of any consideration received, and is permitted under Section 7.02;

 

148


(e) Dispositions (i) pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction on or following the Closing Date for purposes of effectuating the Spin-Off, or (ii) permitted by Sections 7.02, 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(f)) and 7.06 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01;

(f) Dispositions of property for fair market value pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions;

(g) Dispositions in the ordinary course of business of Cash Equivalents;

(h) leases, subleases, licenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be limited to non-exclusive licenses, and exclusive licenses for fair market value, with respect to intellectual property) or sublicenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be limited to non-exclusive sublicenses, and exclusive sublicenses for fair market value, with respect to intellectual property) (including the provision of software under an open source license), in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(i) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event;

(j) Dispositions of property; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Default exists), no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) such Disposition is for fair market value and (iii) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of $200,000,000, the Lead Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary 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 Section 7.01(a), Section 7.01(l) and clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.01(t)); provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (iii), (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Lead Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Lead Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable Disposition and for which the Lead Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, (B) any securities received by the Lead Borrower and such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Lead Borrower and such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (C) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of 12% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash and Cash Equivalents;

(k) [reserved];

(l) 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;

(m) Dispositions of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

149


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

(o) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

(p) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, any Disposition of Receivables Assets in connection with a Permitted Factoring Transaction;

(q) (i) any Disposition of non-core assets or property in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400,000,000; provided that such Disposition is for fair market value and (ii) any Disposition of non-core assets or property acquired pursuant to or in order to effectuate, or Disposed of in order to obtain approval for, a Permitted Acquisition or Investment; and

(r) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower;

provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to this Section 7.05 (except pursuant to Section 7.05(e), (i), (n) and (o) and except for Dispositions from a Loan Party to another Loan Party), shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition. To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, any Disposition in the form of a transfer of legal title or license on an exclusive basis of Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be permitted other than in connection with transactions that have a bona fide business purpose so long as such transactions are not undertaken (1) to facilitate an incurrence of Indebtedness, (2) facilitate a Restricted Payment or (3) in connection with a liability management transaction.

SECTION 7.06. Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Lead Borrower and to other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Lead Borrower and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);

(b) (i) the Lead Borrower may redeem in whole or in part any of its Equity Interests for another class of Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests, provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby and (ii) the Lead Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted by Section 7.03) of such Person;

 

150


(c) Restricted Payments pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction on or following the Closing Date for purposes of effectuating the Spin-Off;

(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, this Section 7.06 shall not prohibit Restricted Payments consisting of Investments, fundamental changes, or transactions with Affiliates expressly permitted (other than by reference to this Section 7.06) by any provision of Section 7.02 (other than clauses (o) and (u) thereof), 7.04 or 7.08 (other than clause (g) thereof); provided, that any such Restricted Payment shall constitute utilization of the applicable basket under the applicable other covenant in the outstanding amount of such Restricted Payment at the applicable time;

(e) repurchases of Equity Interests in the Lead Borrower 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;

(f) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, director or consultant of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (f) shall not exceed $25,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $50,000,000 in any calendar year); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(i) to the extent Not Otherwise Applied, the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower to members of management, directors or consultants of the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Closing Date; 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(f);

and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Lead Borrower from members of management of the Lead Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Lead Borrower will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Agreement;

(g) Restricted Payments to pay for the repurchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Lead Borrower; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (g) do not exceed in any calendar year $50,000,000 (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years);

(h) the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (b) 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; and

 

151


(i) Restricted Payments not to exceed (A) so long as the Total Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis for the Test Period most recently then ended does not exceed 3.50:1.00, the greater of (x) $500,000,000 per calendar year and (y) 5.5% of the Market Capitalization of the Lead Borrower per calendar year and (B) so long as the Total Leverage Ratio determined on a Pro Forma Basis for the Test Period most recently then ended is greater than 3.50:1.00, the greater of (x) $350,000,000 per calendar year and (y) 3.9% of the Market Capitalization of the Lead Borrower per calendar year;

(j) payments made or expected to be made by the Lead Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) and any repurchases of Equity Interests in consideration of such payments including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options;

(k) in addition to the foregoing Restricted Payments and so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Lead Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, together with the aggregate amount of prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings made pursuant to Section 7.12(a)(iv), not to exceed the sum of (i) the greater of $750,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period, (ii) the aggregate amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of Permitted Equity Issuances that are Not Otherwise Applied and (iii) if as of the last day of the immediately preceding Test Period, the Interest Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.00:1.00 (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis), the amount of the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied; and

(l) 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 so long as the Total Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment does not exceed 3.00:1.00.

SECTION 7.07. Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related or ancillary thereto.

SECTION 7.08. Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Lead Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than (a) transactions between or among the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction, (b) transactions 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 Transaction and the payment of fees and expenses related to the Transaction, (d) transactions with the Captive Insurance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (e) [reserved], (f) equity issuances, repurchases, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests by the Lead Borrower permitted under Section 7.06, (g) loans and other transactions by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under this Article VII, (h) employment and severance arrangements between the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements, (i) payments by the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the tax sharing agreements among the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the

 

152


extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Restricted Subsidiaries, (j) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Lead Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (k) transactions pursuant to permitted agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.08 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect.

SECTION 7.09. Burdensome Agreements. Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that limits the ability of (a) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party or (b) any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the 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 7.09) are listed on Schedule 7.09 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 renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such 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, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; 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 6.16, (iii) represent Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, (iv) arise in connection with any Lien permitted by Sections 7.01(l)(iii), (t) or (u) or any Disposition permitted by Sections 7.04 or 7.05, (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 customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (vii) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e), or 7.03(g) to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or, in the case of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g) only, to the Restricted Subsidiaries incurring or guaranteeing such Indebtedness, (viii) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Restricted Subsidiary, (ix) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (x) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (xi) are customary restrictions and conditions contained in any Permitted Factoring Transaction Documents, or (xii) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02.

SECTION 7.10. Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans for any purpose other than working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions. Use the Letters of Credit for any purpose other than general corporate purposes of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Use the proceeds of the Term Loans for any purpose other than to (A) pay the Closing Date Repayment, (B) fund balance sheet cash (which may be used for general corporate purposes of the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries) and (C) pay fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction.

SECTION 7.11. Accounting Changes. 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 Lead Borrower 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.

 

153


SECTION 7.12. Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness.

(a) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal, interest and mandatory prepayments shall be permitted) any subordinated Indebtedness, any Indebtedness required to be subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Document or any Indebtedness that is secured by Liens on assets that are or are required to be subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents (collectively, “Junior Financing”) or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Cash Proceeds of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing), to the extent not required to prepay any Loans or Facility pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or the prepayment thereof with Declined Proceeds, (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Lead Borrower, (iii) the prepayment of Indebtedness of the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Lead Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted by the Collateral Documents and (iv) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount, together with the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(k), not to exceed the sum of (A) the greater of $750,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the most recently ended Test Period, (B) the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of Permitted Equity Issuances that are Not Otherwise Applied, and (C) if as of the last day of the immediately preceding Test Period, the Interest Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.00:1.00 (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis), the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied.

(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner that is either (x) materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and in contravention of the clause of Section 7.03 under which such Indebtedness was incurred or is maintained, or (y) prohibited by the subordination terms thereof, any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

SECTION 7.13. Equity Interests of Certain Restricted Subsidiaries. Permit any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to become a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, except to the extent such Restricted Subsidiary continues to be a Guarantor or in connection with a Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or all of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted by Section 7.05 or the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.16.

SECTION 7.14. Financial Covenant.

(a) Permit the Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of a Test Period (commencing with the Test Period ending on September 30, 2021) to exceed 4.75:1.00; provided that solely in connection with an anticipated consummation of a Material Acquisition, at the Borrowers’ election (which shall not be exercised more than three times during the term of this Agreement) the Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the three consecutive Test Periods commencing with the first Test Period ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such election is made shall not exceed 5.25:1.00.

 

154


(b) The provisions of this Section 7.14 are for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders only, and the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility may amend, waive or otherwise modify this Section 7.14 or the defined terms used in this Section 7.14 (solely in respect of the use of such defined terms in this Section 7.14) or waive any Default resulting from a breach of this Section 7.14 without the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

SECTION 7.15. Covenant Suspension.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article VII of this Agreement, if on any date (i) the Loans have an Investment Grade Rating from either of the Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”), then, beginning on such date and continuing so long as the Loans have an Investment Grade Rating, Sections 7.03 (solely with respect to Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower), 7.06 and 7.08 (the “Suspended Covenants”) will no longer be applicable during such period (the “Suspension Period”) until the occurrence of the Reversion Date.

(b) In the event that the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) (i) one or more of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Loans below an Investment Grade Rating (leaving neither of the Rating Agencies with an Investment Grade Rating for the Loans) and/or (ii) the Lead Borrower enters into an agreement to effect a transaction that would result in a Change of Control and one or more of the Rating Agencies indicate that if consummated, such transaction (alone or together with any related recapitalization or refinancing transactions) would cause such Rating Agency to withdraw its Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the ratings assigned to the Loans below an Investment Grade Rating (in either case leaving neither of the Rating Agencies with an Investment Grade Rating for the Loans), then the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants with respect to future events, including, without limitation, a proposed transaction described in this clause (ii).

(c) During a Suspension Period, the Lead Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to consummate transactions to the extent not prohibited hereunder without giving effect to the Suspended Covenants. During a Suspension Period, the covenants that are not Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though the Suspended Covenants continue to be applicable during such Suspension Period. For illustrative purposes only, even though Section 7.03 (with respect to Indebtedness incurred by the Lead Borrower) will not be in effect during a Suspension Period, Section 7.01(ff) will be interpreted as though Sections 7.03(w) and 7.03(x) were still in effect during such Suspension Period.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any such reinstatement, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Lead Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to such reinstatement will give rise to a Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that (1) with respect to Restricted Payments made after such reinstatement, the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments will be calculated as though the covenant described above under Section 7.06 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Equity Interests issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03(b)(i); and (3) any transaction with an Affiliate entered into after such reinstatement pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 7.08(k).

SECTION 7.16. Negative Pledge. With respect to (x) any real property owned by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party with a book value in excess of $50,000,000 and (y) any Material Intellectual Property owned by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (i) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on all or any part of such assets or (ii) file or permit the filing of any security

 

155


interest, mortgage, deed of trust, financing statement or other similar notice of any Lien with respect thereto, in each case, other than (1) non-consensual Liens permitted under Section 7.01, (2) in the case of clause (x), Liens permitted under Section 7.01(g), (3) in the case of clause (y), licenses permitted under Section 7.01(j), and (4) Liens permitted under Section 7.01(m)(ii).

SECTION 7.17. Dutch Loan Parties. No Dutch Loan Party shall be part of any fiscal unity for Dutch tax purposes, other than fiscal unities for Dutch tax purposes which consist of Dutch Loan Parties only.

SECTION 7.18. Dutch Security. The Co-Borrower shall not own, hold or exclusively license any material assets unless it shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent a Dutch law governed security agreement between the Co-Borrower as pledgor and the Collateral Agent as pledgee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, establishing a first-priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent in substantially all assets of the Co-Borrower, subject to customary exceptions and otherwise consistent with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement

ARTICLE VIII

Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 8.01. Events of Default. Any of the following events referred to in any of clauses (a) through (m) inclusive of this Section 8.01 shall constitute 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. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03(a) or 6.05(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower) or Article VII or any Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant added to this Agreement; provided that the Borrowers’ failure to comply with Section 7.14 or a breach of any such added Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant 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 the Revolving Credit Lenders have declared all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments, if applicable, to be 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”); provided, further, that a Default as a result of a breach of Section 7.14 is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05, and a Default as a result of a breach of any such added Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant is subject to cure pursuant to any cure provisions relating to such Previously Absent Financial Maintenance Covenant; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any 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; or

 

156


(e) Cross-Default. Any Loan Party 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 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 such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Agreements, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Agreements), 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; provided, further, that such failure is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries 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, restructuring official (herstructureringsdeskundige) 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, restructuring official (herstructureringsdeskundige) 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 in excess of the Threshold Amount 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 any Loan Party 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 or failed to acknowledge coverage thereof) 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) ERISA. (i) The ERISA Event described in clause (b) of the definition thereof occurs, (ii) one or more ERISA Events occur which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its Withdrawal Liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (iv) a termination, withdrawal or other event similar to an ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

157


(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. 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 Section 7.04 or 7.05) 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 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

(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(l) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.12 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05) cease to create a valid and perfected lien, with the priority required by the Loan Documents, on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject in respect of priority to Permitted Prior Liens, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements and 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 or failed to acknowledge coverage; or

(m) Junior Financing Documentation. (i) Any of the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents for any reason shall cease to be “Senior Indebtedness” (or any comparable term) or “Senior Secured Financing” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in any Junior Financing Documentation in respect of Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or (ii) the subordination provisions set forth in any such Junior Financing Documentation shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of any Junior Financing that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, if applicable.

SECTION 8.02. Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions (or, if an Event of Default under Section 7.14 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 and any Letters of Credit):

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

 

158


provided that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(g), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of any L/C Issuer 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.

SECTION 8.03. Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default has occurred under clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Restricted Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause that is not a Material Subsidiary (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 the Intercreditor Agreements) be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to each 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 10.05 and amounts payable under Article III), the L/C Issuers, the Bilateral L/C Issuers and the Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuers, ratably among the Secured Parties 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, L/C Borrowings, Bilateral L/C Obligations and Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, L/C Borrowings, Bilateral L/C Obligations, Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations, the Swap Termination Value under Secured Hedge Agreements and the Cash Management Obligations, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, to the Bilateral L/C Issuers to cash collateralize that portion of the Bilateral L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Bilateral L/Cs, and to the Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuers to cash collateralize that portion of the Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Third Party Bilateral L/Cs, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fifth;

 

159


Sixth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties 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 indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth 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 Lead Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

SECTION 8.05. Borrowers 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 7.14 has occurred or may occur, during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period and ending 10 Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder with respect to such fiscal quarter, any equity holder of the Lead Borrower may make a Specified Equity Contribution 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 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 10 Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such fiscal quarter hereunder. 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 7.14 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 7.14. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Designated Equity Contribution shall be counted solely as an increase to Consolidated EBITDA for the purpose of determining compliance with Section 7.14 and shall be disregarded for all other purposes of this Agreement.

(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 compliance (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) with Section 7.14 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 7.14 for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Designated Equity Contribution was made and (v) no Lender or L/C Issuer shall be required to (but in its sole discretion may) make any Revolving Credit Loan or make an L/C Credit Extension from and after such time as the Administrative Agent has received the notice of the intent to make a Designated Equity Contribution unless and until such Designated Equity Contribution is actually received.

 

160


ARTICLE IX

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

SECTION 9.01. Appointment and Authorization of Agents.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative 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. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative 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. 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 IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and 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 IX 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.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, L/C Issuer (if applicable) and a potential Hedge Bank, Bilateral L/C Issuer, Third Party Bilateral L/C Issuer and Cash Management Bank) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative 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 Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (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.

SECTION 9.02. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative 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, including for the purpose of any Borrowing or payment, as shall be deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not 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 judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

161


SECTION 9.03. Liability of Agents(a) ; Erroneous Payments.

(a) No Agent-Related Person shall (x) 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 judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (y) 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 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, 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.

(b) (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 9.03(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

 

162


(iii) The Lead Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party.

(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 9.03(b) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

For purposes of this Section 9.03(b), the term “Lender” includes any L/C Issuer.

SECTION 9.04. Reliance by Agents.

(a) 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. 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 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.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in 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 Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 9.05. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default 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 in accordance with Article VIII; 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.

 

163


SECTION 9.06. Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent 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 to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person 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 respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person 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, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent 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 respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

SECTION 9.07. Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify and agree to pay 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), 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 (x) 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 or (y) a material breach of the Loan Documents by such Agent-Related Person, 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 or a material breach of the Loan Documents for purposes of this Section 9.07. 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 severally reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Loan Parties’ continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto. 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.

 

164


SECTION 9.08. Agents in their Individual Capacities. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its 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 each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 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, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its individual capacity.

SECTION 9.09. Successor Agents. The Administrative Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Lead Borrower. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint 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 Section 8.01(a), (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 of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Lead Borrower, a successor agent. 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 and the term “Administrative Agent”, shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and 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 under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative 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 hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, 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 the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement is satisfied, the successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX 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.

SECTION 9.10. Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. 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 Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

165


(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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(g) and (h), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative 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 under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender 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.

SECTION 9.11. Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably agree:

(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 (v) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements not yet due and payable, (w) Cash Management Obligations not yet due and payable, (x) Bilateral L/C Obligations not yet due and payable, (y) Third Party Bilateral L/C Obligations not yet due and payable and (z) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable), the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit and any other obligation under the Loan Documents (including a guarantee that is contingent in nature), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is transferred as part of or in connection with any transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other groups of Lenders as shall be required by Section 10.01), or (iv) 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;

(b) to 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 Section 7.01(i);

(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 of the Senior Notes, any Junior Financing, any other Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;

(d) [reserved]; and

 

166


(e) (x) the Collateral Agent may, without any further consent of any Lender, enter into (or, solely for purposes of adding thereto any series of Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms hereof to be joined thereto, to amend) or amend (i) a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Permitted Other Debt incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(u) or holders of Indebtedness issued or incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(w) or (x) that is intended to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations and/or (ii) a Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other representatives of the holders of Indebtedness that is permitted to be secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations that is permitted by Section 7.03, (y) the Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted and (z) any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement entered into by the Collateral Agent shall be binding on the Secured Parties.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent will promptly (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party 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.

SECTION 9.12. Other Agents; Arrangers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement or otherwise as a “joint bookrunner”, “arranger”, “co-manager” or “documentation agent” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such to the extent such Person shall constitute a Lender. 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. Appointment of Supplemental Administrative 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 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 is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent” and collectively as “Supplemental Administrative Agents”).

(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental

 

167


Administrative 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 Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent and/or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.

(c) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative 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 Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.14. Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Credit Commitments,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

168


(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 sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

(c) The Administrative Agent hereby informs the Lenders that the Administrative Agent is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that the Administrative Agent has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Revolving Credit Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Credit Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Credit Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

SECTION 9.15. Parallel Liability. “Parallel Liability” means a Loan Party’s undertaking pursuant to this Section 9.15:

(a) Each Loan Party irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Collateral Agent an amount equal to the aggregate amount of its Corresponding Liabilities (as these may exist from time to time).

(b) The parties hereto agree that:

(i) a Loan Party’s Parallel Liability is due and payable at the same time as, for the same amount of and in the same currency as its Corresponding Liabilities;

(ii) a Loan Party’s Parallel Liability is decreased to the extent that its Corresponding Liabilities have been irrevocably paid or discharged and its Corresponding Liabilities are decreased to the extent that its Parallel Liability has been irrevocably paid or discharged;

(iii) a Loan Party’s Parallel Liability is independent and separate from, and without prejudice to, its Corresponding Liabilities, and constitutes a single obligation of that Loan Party to the Collateral Agent (even though that Loan Party may owe more than one Corresponding Liability to the Lenders under the Loan Documents) and an independent and separate claim of the Collateral Agent to receive payment of that Parallel Liability (in its capacity as the independent and separate creditor of that Parallel Liability and not as a co-creditor in respect of the Corresponding Liabilities);

 

169


(iv) for purposes of this Section 9.15, the Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as agent, representative or trustee of the Secured Parties and accordingly holds neither its claim resulting from a Parallel Liability nor any Lien securing a Parallel Liability on trust;

(v) for purposes of any Dutch Security Document, any resignation by the Collateral Agent is not effective with respect to its rights under the Parallel Liabilities until all rights and obligations under the Parallel Liabilities have been assigned and assumed to the successor collateral agent appointed in accordance with this Agreement; and

(vi) the Collateral Agent will reasonably cooperate in assigning its rights and obligations under the Parallel Liabilities to a successor collateral agent in accordance with this Agreement and will reasonably cooperate in transferring all rights and obligations under a Dutch Security Document to such successor collateral agent. All other Parties hereby, in advance, irrevocably grant their cooperation (medewerking) to such transfer of all rights and obligations by the Collateral Agent to a successor collateral agent in accordance with this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

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 Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Lead Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that any amendment or waiver contemplated in clause (h) below, shall only require the consent of such Loan Party and the Required Revolving Credit Lenders; provided, further that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or the waiver 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 the amount of, any payment of principal, interest or fees under Sections 2.03, 2.07, 2.08 or 2.09 without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal, interest or fees and it being understood that any change to the definition of “First Lien Leverage Ratio”, “Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” or “Total Leverage Ratio” or, in each case, in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in any rate of interest);

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, it being understood that any change to the definition of “First Lien Leverage Ratio”, “Total Leverage Ratio” or “Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” or in each case in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the 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 Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

 

170


(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01, the definition of “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” “Required Lenders”, “Required Facility Lender” or “Pro Rata Share” or Section 2.05(b)(v)(Y), 2.06(c), 8.04 or 2.13 without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(e) other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 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 a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guarantees, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) amend the definition of the term “Interest Period” so as to permit intervals in excess of six months without regard to availability to all Lenders, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify Section 7.14 or any definition related thereto (solely in respect of the use of such defined terms in Section 7.14) or waive any Default or Event of Default resulting from a failure to perform or observe Section 7.14 without the written consent of the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility or Facilities with respect to Revolving Credit Commitments (such Required Facility Lenders shall consent together as one Facility); provided, however, that the amendments, waivers and other modifications described in this clause (h) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Facility Lenders under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility or Facilities;

(i) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 as to any Credit Extension under one or more Revolving Credit Facilities without the consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders;

(j) change the currency in which any Loan is denominated without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loans;

(k) (x) expressly subordinate the Liens securing the Facilities on all, substantially all, or a substantial portion of, the Collateral to Liens securing any other Indebtedness (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment that authorizes or directs the Administrative Agent to enter into an Intercreditor Agreement that subordinates the Liens securing the Facilities on all, substantially all, or a substantial portion of, the Collateral to Liens securing any other Indebtedness) or (y) expressly subordinate the right of payment of the Obligations to the right of payment of any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (in each case, except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement), in each case, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; or

(l) amend, waive or otherwise modify any other provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in a manner that creates a materially disadvantaged Class or otherwise materially adversely affects a Class, in each case disproportionally relative to other Classes, without the written consent of the Required Lenders with respect to such Class determined in a manner consistent with the definition of “Required Facility Lenders” (as if such Class constituted a Facility for purposes of such definition);

 

171


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 Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent (or any former Administrative Agent) 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 such former Administrative Agent, as the case may be) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;(iii) 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 (iv) any amendment, waiver or consent that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Lead Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section 10.01 if such Class of Lenders was the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement that is for the purpose of adding Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, such Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement, as applicable (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to the applicable intercreditor agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Dollar Term Loans, the Euro Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof if such amendment is delivered in order (x) to correct or cure ambiguities, errors, omissions or, defects, (y) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature or (z) to fix incorrect cross references or similar inaccuracies in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 10.01, guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement 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

 

172


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 cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may enter into any Incremental Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14, Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.19 and Extension Agreement in accordance with Section 2.16 or 2.18 and such Incremental Amendments, Refinancing Amendments and Extension Agreement 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.

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). 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) if to the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 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 and the L/C Issuers.

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 and to any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II 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.

(b) Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 10.02), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an electronic signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “delivery,” “execution,” “execute,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and

 

173


Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any electronic signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such electronic signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the applicable Borrower without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and such Borrower, any electronic signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (ii) agrees that the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (iii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (iv) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of electronic signature and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind arising as a result of the failure of any Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any electronic signature.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any 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 any Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

174


SECTION 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative 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 and the 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 of Latham & Watkins LLP and one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Arrangers and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement 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 Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other (reasonable, in the case of Section 10.04(a)) 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 ten (10) Business Days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. 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.

SECTION 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrowers and Limitation on Liability.

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Arranger, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents, trustees, investment advisors and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all 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 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 relating to or 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), (c) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or

 

175


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 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 affiliate, director, officer, employee, counsel, agent or attorney-in-fact of such Indemnitee, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (y) a material breach of the Loan Documents by such Indemnitee or of any affiliate, director, officer, employee, counsel, agent or attorney-in-fact of such Indemnitee, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) None of the Agent-Related Persons, the Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents, trustees, investment advisors and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Lender-Related Persons”) shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, nor shall any Lender-Related Person or any Loan Party 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). 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 or against any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or a Lender-Related Person or any other Person, whether or not any Lender-Related Person is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor; provided, however, that such Lender-Related Person shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final and non-appealable judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification 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 of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

SECTION 10.06. Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower 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 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 applicable Overnight Bank Funding Rate.

 

176


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 neither Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer without such consent shall be null and void) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to (x) an Eligible Assignee (other than a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Public Lender) or (y) the Lead Borrower in accordance with Section 10.07(l), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(e), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(h) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(i); 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 other than a Non-Public Lender, (ii) any Person that is a Defaulting Lender, (iii) a natural Person or (iv) the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (except with respect to Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iv) or Section 10.07(l)), (y) subject to the provisos in clauses (b)(i)(A), (B) and (C) below, no Lender may assign any of its rights or obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder and/or no L/C Issuer may assign any of its rights or obligations with respect to the L/C Commitments hereunder without the consent of the Lead Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld) and (z) Goldman Sachs Bank USA may assign its Loans and/or Commitments hereunder to Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC without the consent of or notice to any other Person. 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(e) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to 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) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

(A) the Lead Borrower, provided that (x) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment of all or a portion of the Term Loans unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof and (y) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment of all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within fifteen (15) Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided further that no consent of the Lead Borrower shall be required (i) for an assignment of all or any portion of the Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (ii) for an assignment related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure to a Revolving Credit Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender or an Approved Fund of a Revolving Credit Lender, (iii) for an assignment related to the L/C Commitments to an L/C Issuer or an Affiliate of an L/C Issuer or (iv) if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or, solely with respect to the Lead Borrower, Section 8.01(f) or (g) has occurred and is continuing;

(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of (i) all or any portion of a Term Loan to another Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (ii) any Revolving Credit Commitment to an Affiliate of a Revolving Credit Lender or to an assignee that is a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) with a Revolving Credit Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment, (iii) any L/C Commitments to another L/C Issuer or an Affiliate of an L/C Issuer or (iv) all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l); and

 

177


(C) each L/C Issuer at the time of such assignment; provided that no consent of the L/C Issuers shall be required for (i) any assignment not related to Revolving Credit Commitments or Revolving Credit Exposure or (ii) any assignment of L/C Commitments to another L/C Issuer or to an Affiliate of an L/C Issuer.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or 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 $5,000,000 (in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility) or $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan) unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) has occurred and is continuing and (2) 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, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, unless waived by the Administrative Agent; and

(C) other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(l), the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

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.

In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (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 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 Section 10.07(d), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(l), 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 the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its

 

178


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); provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, the Borrowers (at their 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(e).

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each 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(l) 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 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 Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, any Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(e) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents 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 first proviso to Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(f), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements of Section 10.15), 3.04 and 3.05 (through the applicable Lender) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b). 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 agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 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.

 

179


(g) Each Lender that sells a participation 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 the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) or Proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations (or, in each case, any amended or successor version). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(h) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(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, and (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. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) 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 Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05), (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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent, 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, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

 

180


(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lead Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer shall have identified, in consultation with the Lead Borrower, a successor L/C Issuer willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer. 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)).

(l) Any Lender may, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such assignment, and no proceeds of Revolving Credit Borrowings 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 the Lead Borrower 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)(iv) or (y) notwithstanding Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or any other provision in this Agreement, open market purchase on a non-pro rata basis; provided that (A) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to the Lead Borrower shall be deemed automatically immediately 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 Lead Borrower 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.

SECTION 10.08. Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and to not use or disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), (i) to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(h) or 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 or (ii) to any prospective or actual credit insurance providers with respect to the Borrowers and the Obligations; (f) with the written consent of the Lead Borrower; (g) 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 Arrangers, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a Loan Party or its Affiliates (so long as such source is not known to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates to be bound by confidentiality obligations to any Loan Party); (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; (i) to any rating agency

 

181


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 the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and 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 or (k) to the extent that preventing that disclosure would otherwise cause any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or any transaction carried out in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement to become an arrangement described in Part II A 1 of Annex IV of the Council Directive 2011/16/EU (“DAC6”). For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to, the Lead Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent 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, in the case of information received from a Loan Party after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or (ii) is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03 hereof.

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 each L/C Issuer and its Affiliates is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Lead Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each other Loan Party and 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 such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates, as the case may be, 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 such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or such L/C Issuer 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 2.20 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Lender or its Affiliates and no L/C Issuer or its Affiliates shall have a right to set off and apply any deposits held or other Indebtedness owing to such Lender or its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer or its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of any Subsidiary of a Loan Party which is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code unless such Subsidiary is not a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees promptly to notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, such Lender and such L/C Issuer may have. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts set off from any Guarantor shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

 

182


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 Lead Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

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 submission 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 submission be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic submission.

SECTION 10.12. Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

SECTION 10.13. 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.

 

183


SECTION 10.15. Tax Forms.

(a) (i) Each Lender and Agent that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “Foreign Lender”) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent, on or prior to the time it becomes party to this Agreement and at the time or times reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower or Administrative Agent, two duly signed, properly completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Lead Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or such other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, and in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming such an exemption under Section 881(c) of the Code, a certificate in the form of Exhibit L-1, L-2, L-3 and L-4, as applicable, that establishes in writing to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is not (i) a “bank” as defined in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (ii) a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or (iii) a controlled foreign corporation related to the Lead Borrower with the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it may lawfully do so, (A) promptly submit to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or more of such forms or certificates (or such successor forms or certificates as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States Laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Lead Borrower or other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement, or any other Loan Document, in each case, (1) on or before the date that any such form, certificate or other evidence expires or becomes obsolete, (2) after the occurrence of a change in the Lender’s circumstances requiring a change in the most recent form, certificate or evidence previously delivered by it to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (3) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent, and (B) promptly notify the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in the Lender’s circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

(ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Foreign Lender under any of the Loan Documents, shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Foreign Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Foreign Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to United States federal withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Foreign Lender is required to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Foreign Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Foreign Lender.

(iii) The Borrowers shall not be required to pay any additional amount or any indemnity payment under Section 3.01 to (A) any Foreign Lender if such Foreign Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a) or 10.15(c), or (B) any U.S. Lender if such U.S. Lender shall have failed to satisfy the provisions of Section 10.15(b) or 10.15(c); provided that (i) if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) or

 

184


Section 10.15(b), as applicable, on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) or Section 10.15(b) shall relieve any Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable Law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate and (ii) nothing in this Section 10.15(a) shall relieve any Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that the requirements of Section 10.15(a)(ii) have not been satisfied if such Borrower is entitled, under applicable Law, to rely on any applicable forms and statements required to be provided under this Section 10.15 by the Foreign Lender that does not act or has ceased to act for its own account under any of the Loan Documents.

(iv) The Administrative Agent may deduct and withhold any taxes required by any Laws to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents.

(b) Each Lender and Agent that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Borrower two duly signed, properly completed copies of IRS Form W-9, or any successor thereto, certifying that such U.S. Lender is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax (i) on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement, (ii) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, (iii) after the occurrence of a change in the Lender’s circumstances requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (iv) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Lead Borrower or the Administrative Agent. If such U.S. Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to such U.S. Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable backup withholding tax imposed by the Code.

(c) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the 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 Lead Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 10.15, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

(d) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

185


SECTION 10.16. GOVERNING LAW.

(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 (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN SUCH LOAN DOCUMENT).

(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 AND UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN SUCH LOAN DOCUMENT, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWERS, 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. THE BORROWERS, 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. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NOTHING IN ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY L/C ISSUER OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE ANY AWARD OR JUDGMENT OR EXERCISE ANY RIGHTS UNDER THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN WHICH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) If any Dutch Loan Party is represented by an attorney in connection with the signing and/or execution of this Agreement or any other deed, agreement or document referred to in this Agreement or made pursuant to this Agreement, it is hereby expressly acknowledged and accepted by the other Parties that the existence and extent of the attorney’s authority and the effects of the attorney’s exercise or purported exercise of that attorney’s authority shall be governed by Dutch law.

SECTION 10.17. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. 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 10.17 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

SECTION 10.18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender and L/C Issuer that such Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers, each Agent and each Lender and L/C Issuer and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Borrower 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.

 

186


SECTION 10.19. [Reserved].

SECTION 10.20. Lender Action. Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge Agreements (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provision of this Section 10.20 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.

SECTION 10.21. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrowers 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 and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

SECTION 10.22. Agent for Service of Process. The Co-Borrower hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the Lead Borrower as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of process in New York City of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding. The Lead Borrower agrees that promptly following request by the Administrative Agent it shall cause each Material Foreign Subsidiary and any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Domestic Subsidiary) for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued to appoint and maintain an agent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to receive service of process in New York City on behalf of such Material Foreign Subsidiary or Restricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 10.23. Joint and Several Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of the Lead Borrower and the Co-Borrower shall be jointly and severally liable for all of the Obligations of each of them hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the agreements in respect of Cash Management Obligations, the Bilateral L/Cs, the Third Party Bilateral L/Cs and the Secured Hedge Agreements in consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, any Agent, Arranger or Lender or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the agreements in respect of Cash Management Obligations, the Bilateral L/Cs, the Third Party Bilateral L/Cs and the Secured Hedge Agreements, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of each Borrower to accept joint and several liability for the Borrowers. Each Borrower jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with each other Borrower with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each Borrower without preferences or distinction between them. If and to the extent that either Borrower shall fail to make any payment with respect to any Obligation as and when due or to perform any Obligation in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event, the other Borrower will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation. The obligations of each Borrower under the provisions of this Section 10.23 constitute full recourse obligations of each Borrower, enforceable against it to the full extent of its properties and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other circumstances whatsoever.

 

187


Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each Borrower hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, notice of acceptance of its joint and several liability. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each Borrower hereby waives, to the extent permitted by Law, notice of any Loan made under this Agreement, notice of occurrence of any Default or Event of Default or of any demand for any payment under this Agreement, notice of any action at any time taken or omitted by any Lender under or in respect of any of the Obligations, any requirement of diligence and, generally, all demands, notices and other formalities of every kind in connection with this Agreement. Each Borrower hereby, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, consents to and waives notice of any extension or postponement of the time for the payment of any Obligation, the acceptance of any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action or acquiescence by any Lender at any time or times in respect of any default by any Borrower in the performance or satisfaction of any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement, any and all other indulgences whatsoever by any Lender in respect of any of the Obligations, and the taking, addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, at any time or times, of any security for any Obligation or the addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, of any Borrower or Guarantor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower consents to any other action or delay in acting or failure to act on the part of any Lender, including, without limitation, any failure strictly or diligently to assert any right or to pursue any remedy or to comply fully with the applicable Laws or regulations thereunder which might, but for the provisions of this Section 10.23, afford grounds for terminating, discharging or relieving any Borrower, in whole or in part, from any of its obligations under this Section 10.23, it being the intention of each Borrower that, so long as any Obligation remains unsatisfied, the obligations of each Borrower under this Section 10.23 shall not be discharged except by performance or payment and then only to the extent of such performance or payment. The obligations of each Borrower under this Section 10.23 shall not be diminished or rendered unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, reconstruction or similar proceeding with respect to any other Borrower or any Lender. The joint and several liability of each Borrower hereunder shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any absorption, merger, amalgamation or any other change whatsoever in the name, membership, constitution or place of formation of any Borrower or any Lender.

The provisions of this Section 10.23 are made solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, and may be enforced by any such Person from time to time against any Borrower as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party first to marshal any of its claims or to exercise any of its rights against any Borrower or to exhaust any remedies available to it against each Borrower or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any Obligation or to elect any other remedy. If at any time, any payment, or any part thereof, made in respect of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, or otherwise, the provisions of this Section 10.23 will forthwith be reinstated in effect, as though such payment had not been made.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, to the extent the joint and several obligations of any Borrower shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including because of any applicable state, provincial or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of such Borrower hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable Law (whether federal, state or provincial and including, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other Debtor Relief Laws), after taking into account, among other things, such Borrower’s right of contribution and indemnification from each other Loan Party under applicable Law.

 

188


SECTION 10.24. 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 10.24 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 10.24 voidable under applicable Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.24 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 10.24 constitute, and this Section 10.24 shall be deemed to constitute, an agreement for the benefit of each Specified Guarantor for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

SECTION 10.25. No Fiduciary Duty. Each Agent, each Arranger, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”) may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Loan Parties, their stockholders and/or their Affiliates. Each Loan Party agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and such Loan Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates, on the other. The Loan Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Loan Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise any Loan Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to any Loan Party and (y) each Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of any Loan Party, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Loan Party agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty, to such Loan Party in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

SECTION 10.26. Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or under any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrowers in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrowers agree, as a

 

189


separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Lead Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).

SECTION 10.27. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected 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 Affected 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 the 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 applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected 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 Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 10.28. Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFC. 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 (collectively, 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

 

190


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.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

191


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

 

ORGANON & CO., as the Lead Borrower
By:  

/s/ Joseph Promo

Name:   Joseph Promo
Title:   Vice President and Corporate Treasurer
ORGANON FOREIGN DEBT CO-ISSUER B.V., as the Co-Borrower
By:  

/s/ Linda van Erp

Name:   Linda van Erp
Title:   Director

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Credit Agreement]


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Dollar Term Lender, the Euro Term Lender, a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Maurice Dattas

Name:   Maurice Dattas
Title:   Vice President
MORGAN STANLEY BANK N.A., as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Vanessa Roberts

Name:   Vanessa Roberts
Title:   Authorized Signatory
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Darren Merten

Name:   Darren Merten
Title:   Director
BNP PARIBAS, as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ James McHale

Name:   James McHale
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Mark Scioscia

Name:   Mark Scioscia
Title:   Vice President
CITIBANK, N.A., as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Patricia Guerra

Name:   Patricia Guerra
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Credit Agreement]


CREDIT SUISSE AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Judith Smith

Name:   Judith Smith
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Komal Shah

Name:   Komal Shah
Title:   Authorized Signatory
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Michael Strobel

Name:   Michael Strobel
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Philip Tancorra

Name:   Philip Tancorra
Title:   Vice President
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Robert Ehudin

Name:   Robert Ehudin
Title:   Authorized Signatory
HSBC BANK USA, N.A., as a Revolving Credit Lender and an L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Iain P. Stewart

Name:   Iain P. Stewart
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Credit Agreement]


BANCO SANTANDER, S.A., NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ Andres Barbosa

Name:   Andres Barbosa
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Rita Walz-Cuccioli

Name:   Rita Walz-Cuccioli
Title:   Executive Director
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ Ronnie Glenn

Name:   Ronnie Glenn
Title:   Director
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ John Davies

Name:   John Davies
Title:   Authorized Signatory
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ Scott MacVicar

Name:   Scott MacVicar
Title:   Authorized Signatory
SOCIETE GENERALE, as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Logan

Name:   Jonathan Logan
Title:   Director

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Credit Agreement]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Revolving Credit Lender
By:  

/s/ Jordan Harris

Name:   Jordan Harris
Title:   Managing Director

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Credit Agreement]

Exhibit 10.15

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of             , 2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      (the “Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that the inability to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there shall be adequate certainty of protection through insurance and indemnification against risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted provisions in its Bylaws providing for indemnification and advancement of expenses of its directors and officers, and the Company wishes to clarify and enhance the rights and obligations of the Company and the Indemnitee with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;

WHEREAS, in order to induce and encourage highly experienced and capable persons such as the Indemnitee to serve and continue to serve as directors and officers of the Company and in any other capacity with respect to the Company as the Company may request, and to otherwise promote the desirable end that such persons shall resist what they consider unjustified lawsuits and claims made against them in connection with the good faith performance of their duties to the Company, with the knowledge that certain costs, judgments, penalties, fines, liabilities, and expenses incurred by them in their defense of such litigation are to be borne by the Company and they shall receive appropriate protection against such risks and liabilities, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the following Agreement is reasonable and prudent to promote and ensure the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to have the Indemnitee serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company and in any other capacity with respect to the Company as the Company may request, as the case may be, free from undue concern for unpredictable, inappropriate, or unreasonable legal risks and personal liabilities by reason of the Indemnitee acting in good faith in the performance of the Indemnitee’s duty to the Company; and the Indemnitee desires to continue so to serve the Company, provided, and on the express condition, that he or she is furnished with the protections set forth hereinafter.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee’s continued service as a director or officer of the Company, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

(a)    A “Change in Control” will be deemed to have occurred if, with respect to any particular 24-month period, the individuals who, at the beginning of such 24-month period,


constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such 24-month period whose election, or nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, a “Change in Control” shall not include the “spin-off,” “distribution” or the “separation” (in each case, as defined in the registration statement on Form 10 filed by the Company) relating to Merck & Co., Inc. and the Company or the actions or transactions contemplated to effect any of them.

(b)    “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is being sought by the Indemnitee.

(c)    “Expenses” includes, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, judicial, administrative, or legislative hearing, or any other threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, including any and all appeals, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative, or other nature, attorneys’ fees, witness fees and expenses, fees and expenses of accountants and other advisors, retainers and disbursements and advances thereon, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any bond (including cost bonds, appraisal bonds, or their equivalents), and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification or advancement under Sections 9, 11, 13, and 16 hereof, but shall not include the amount of judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, or penalties actually levied against the Indemnitee, or any amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of the Indemnitee.

(d)    “Independent Counsel” means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither is presently nor in the past five years has been retained to represent (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a request for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.

(e)    “Proceeding” means any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, judicial, administrative, or legislative hearing, or any other threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, including any and all appeals, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative, or other nature, to which the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company or while a

 

2


director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity, whether or not the Indemnitee is serving in such capacity at the time any expense, liability, or loss is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

2.    Service by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee shall serve and/or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company faithfully and to the best of the Indemnitee’s ability so long as the Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed and until such time as the Indemnitee’s successor is elected and qualified or the Indemnitee is removed as permitted by applicable law or tenders a resignation.

3.    Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee, and shall pay to the Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of any Proceeding all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any such Proceeding, to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, all on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Without diminishing the scope of the rights provided by this Section, the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided hereunder shall include but shall not be limited to those rights hereinafter set forth, except that no indemnification or advancement of Expenses shall be paid to the Indemnitee (unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines that such payment is appropriate):

(a)    to the extent expressly prohibited by applicable law;

(b)    for and to the extent that payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy or under a valid and enforceable indemnity clause, provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or agreement of the Company or any other company or other enterprise (and the Indemnitee shall reimburse the Company for any amounts paid by the Company and subsequently so recovered by the Indemnitee);

(c)    in connection with an action, suit, or proceeding, or part thereof voluntarily initiated by the Indemnitee (including claims and counterclaims, whether such counterclaims are asserted by (i) the Indemnitee, or (ii) the Company in an action, suit, or proceeding initiated by the Indemnitee), except a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11 to enforce rights under this Agreement, unless the action, suit, or proceeding, or part thereof, was authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Board of Directors otherwise determines that indemnification or advancement of Expenses is appropriate; or

(d)    with respect to any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company against the Indemnitee that is authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors of the Company, including any Proceeding brought by the Company seeking reimbursement pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board of Directors or the compensation committee of the Board of Directors, except as provided in Sections 5, 6, and 7 below.

 

3


4.    Action or Proceedings Other than an Action by or in the Right of the Company. Except as limited by Section 3 above, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to the indemnification rights provided in this Section if the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company or while a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity. Pursuant to this Section, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expense, liability, and loss (including judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, penalties, amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, and Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

5.    Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Except as limited by Section 3 above, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to the indemnification rights provided in this Section if the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company or while a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity. Pursuant to this Section, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the DGCL expressly prohibits such indemnification by reason of any adjudication of liability of the Indemnitee to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification for such expense, liability, and loss as such court shall deem proper.

6.    Indemnification for Costs, Charges, and Expenses of Successful Party. Notwithstanding any limitations of Sections 3(c), 3(d), 4, and 5 above, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in whole or in part, in defense of any Proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, including, without limitation, the dismissal of any action without prejudice, or if it is ultimately determined, by final judicial

 

4


decision of a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal, that the Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to be indemnified against Expenses, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith.

7.    Partial Indemnification. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the expense, liability, and loss (including judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, penalties, amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, and Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any Proceeding, or in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11 to enforce rights under this Agreement, but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such expense, liability, and loss actually and reasonably incurred to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

8.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf if the Indemnitee appears as a witness or otherwise incurs legal expenses as a result of or related to the Indemnitee’s service as a director or officer of the Company, in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, judicial, administrative, or legislative hearing, or any other threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative, or other nature, to which the Indemnitee neither is, nor is threatened to be made, a party.

9.    Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. To receive indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit a written request to the Secretary of the Company. Such request shall include a schedule setting forth in detail the dollar amounts requested, supported by copies of the bill, agreement or other documentation relating thereto (which may be redacted as necessary to avoid the waiver of any privilege accorded by applicable law), and such other documentation or information that is necessary for such determination and is reasonably available to the Indemnitee. Upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company of a written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification, the entitlement of the Indemnitee to indemnification, to the extent not required pursuant to the terms of Section 6 or Section 8 of this Agreement, shall be determined by the following person or persons who shall be empowered to make such determination (as selected by the Board of Directors, except with respect to Section 9(e) below): (a) the Board of Directors of the Company by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors, whether or not such majority constitutes a quorum; (b) a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, whether or not such majority constitutes a quorum; (c) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee; (d) the stockholders of the Company; or (e) in the event that a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee. Such Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors and approved by the Indemnitee, except that in the event that a Change in Control has occurred, Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee. Upon failure of the Board of Directors so to select such

 

5


Independent Counsel or upon failure of the Indemnitee so to approve (or so to select, in the event a Change in Control has occurred), such Independent Counsel shall be selected upon application to a court of competent jurisdiction. The determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be made and, unless a contrary determination is made, such indemnification shall be paid in full by the Company not later than 60 calendar days after receipt by the Secretary of the Company of a written request for indemnification. If the person making such determination shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification as to part (but not all) of the application for indemnification, such person shall reasonably prorate such partial indemnification among the claims, issues, or matters at issue at the time of the determination.

10.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of the Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification, advise in writing the Board of Directors or such other person or persons empowered to make the determination as provided in Section 9 that the Indemnitee has made such request for indemnification. Upon making such request for indemnification, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification hereunder and the Company shall have the burden of proof in making any determination contrary to such presumption. If the person or persons so empowered to make such determination shall have failed to make the requested determination with respect to indemnification within 60 calendar days after receipt by the Secretary of the Company of such request, a requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be absolutely entitled to such indemnification, absent actual fraud in the request for indemnification. The termination of any Proceeding described in Sections 4 or 5 by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself (a) create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful or (b) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification except as may be provided herein.

11.    Remedies of the Indemnitee in Cases of Determination Not to Indemnify or to Advance Expenses; Right to Bring Suit. In the event that a determination is made that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder or if payment is not timely made following a determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Sections 9 and 10, or if an advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 16, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company seeking an adjudication of entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses, and any such suit shall be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. Alternatively, the Indemnitee at the Indemnitee’s option may seek an award in an arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator in the State of Delaware pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association, such award to be made within 60 calendar days following the filing of the demand for arbitration. The Company shall not oppose the Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration. In any suit or arbitration brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit or arbitration brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of Expenses), it shall be a defense that the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct for indemnification set forth in the DGCL, including the standard described in Section 4 or 5, as applicable. Further, in any suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such

 

6


Expenses upon a final judicial decision of a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct described above. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Disinterested Directors, a committee of Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit or arbitration that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct described above, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Disinterested Directors, a committee of Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct described above shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct described above, or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of Expenses hereunder, or brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section 11 or otherwise shall be on the Company. If a determination is made or deemed to have been made pursuant to the terms of Section 9 or 10 that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination and is precluded from asserting that such determination has not been made or that the procedure by which such determination was made is not valid, binding, and enforceable. The Company further agrees to stipulate in any court or before any arbitrator pursuant to this Section 11 that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any assertions to the contrary. If the court or arbitrator shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to any indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, the Company shall pay all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such adjudication or award in arbitration (including, but not limited to, any appellate proceedings) to the fullest extent permitted by law, and in any suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall pay all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such suit to the extent the Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in whole or in part, in defense of such suit, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

12.    Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right that the Indemnitee may now or hereafter acquire under any applicable law, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors, provisions of a charter or bylaws (including the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company), or otherwise.

13.    Expenses to Enforce Agreement. In the event that the Indemnitee is subject to or intervenes in any action, suit, or proceeding in which the validity or enforceability of this Agreement is at issue or seeks an adjudication or award in arbitration to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee, if the Indemnitee prevails in whole or in part in such action, suit, or proceeding, shall be entitled to recover from the Company and shall be indemnified by the Company against any Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith.

14.    Continuation of Indemnity. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is a director, officer, employee,

 

7


agent, or trustee of the Company or while a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee is serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, and shall continue thereafter with respect to any possible claims based on the fact that the Indemnitee was a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of the Company or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan. This Agreement shall be binding upon all successors and assigns of the Company (including any transferee of all or substantially all of its assets and any successor by merger or operation of law) and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, and administrators.

15.    Notification and Defense of Proceeding. Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a request for indemnification or an advancement of Expenses in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to the Indemnitee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, with respect to any such Proceeding of which the Indemnitee notifies the Company:

(a)    The Company shall be entitled to participate therein at its own expense;

(b)    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 15(b), to the extent that it may wish, the Company, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to the Indemnitee of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the Company shall not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof except as otherwise provided below. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, based upon an opinion of counsel chosen by the Indemnitee and approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such Proceeding, (iii) under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, the counsel selected by the Company would have a conflict of interest in representing the Indemnitee, or (iv) the Company shall not within 60 calendar days of receipt of notice from the Indemnitee in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of the Proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which there is a conflict of interest as described in (ii) or (iii) above; and

(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Company’s written consent, or for any judicial

 

8


or other award, if the Company was not given an opportunity, in accordance with this Section 15, to participate in the defense of such Proceeding. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on or disclosure obligation with respect to the Indemnitee, or that would directly or indirectly constitute or impose any admission or acknowledgment of fault or culpability with respect to the Indemnitee, without the Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Company nor the Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement.

16.    Advancement of Expenses. All Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding described in Section 4 or 5 shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding at the request of the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee’s right to advancement shall not be subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and advances shall be made without regard to the Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise. To receive an advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit a written request to the Secretary of the Company. Such request shall include a schedule with supporting documentation relating thereto, setting forth in detail the Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee (which may be redacted as necessary to avoid the waiver of any privilege accorded by applicable law), and shall include or be accompanied by an undertaking, by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined, by final judicial decision of a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expenses by the Company as provided by this Agreement or otherwise. The Indemnitee agrees to repay all such amounts promptly following any such final judicial decision. The Indemnitee’s undertaking to repay any such amounts is not required to be secured. Each such advancement of Expenses shall be made within 20 calendar days after the receipt by the Secretary of the Company of such written request. The Indemnitee’s entitlement to Expenses under this Agreement shall include those incurred in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding by the Indemnitee seeking an adjudication or award in arbitration pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement (including the enforcement of this provision) to the extent the court or arbitrator shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to an advancement of Expenses hereunder.

17.    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law (a) the validity, legality, and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that are not by themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent of the parties that the Company provide protection to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent set forth in this Agreement.

 

9


18.    Headings; References; Pronouns. The headings of the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof. References herein to section numbers are to sections of this Agreement. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the singular or plural as appropriate.

19.    Other Provisions.

(a)    This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of conflicts of laws principles of the State of Delaware.

(b)    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.

(c)    This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company and any Indemnitee who is an officer of the Company, and, if the Indemnitee is an officer of the Company, the Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, and with or without severance compensation, except as may be otherwise provided in a separate written contract between the Indemnitee and the Company.

(d)    In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee (excluding insurance obtained on the Indemnitee’s own behalf), and the Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(e)    This Agreement may not be amended, modified, or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing specifically designated as an amendment hereto, signed on behalf of each party. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

10


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Indemnitee have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

ORGANON & CO.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Indemnitee

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.16

ORGANON & CO.

2021 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

(Effective May 28, 2021)

 

1.

PURPOSE

The Plan is established to encourage employees of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and its joint ventures to acquire common stock in the Company. The Plan shall be available to provide Incentives, including cash incentives, to Eligible Employees of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and its joint ventures, as provided under the terms of the Plan. It is believed that the Plan will serve the interests of the Company and its stockholders because it allows service providers to have a greater personal financial interest in the Company through ownership of, or the right to acquire the Company’s Common Stock and to earn cash incentives based on the achievement of performance goals, which in turn will stimulate such individuals’ efforts on the Company’s behalf and maintain and strengthen their desire to remain with the Company. It is believed that the Plan also will assist in the recruitment and retention of service providers of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and its joint ventures.

 

2.

DEFINITIONS

“Award Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

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

Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

 

  (a)

any Person becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (C) solely because the level of ownership held by any Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control will be deemed to occur;

 

1


  (b)

there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) 50% or more of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

 

  (c)

there is consummated a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to an entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or

 

  (d)

individuals who, on the Effective Date, are members of the Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board of Directors member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member will, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing definition or any other provision of this Plan, (A) the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, and (B) the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any affiliate and the Eligible Employee will supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Incentives subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply.

If required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion and without an Eligible Employee’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control” to conform to the definition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.

 

2


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

“Committee” means the Talent Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or subcommittee thereof, or such other successor committee of the Board of Directors.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company and any other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are exchanged.

“Company” means Organon & Co., a Delaware corporation.

“Eligible Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“Employee” means a person employed on a regular full-time or part-time basis by the Company, or its subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures, including officers, whether or not directors of the Company, and employees of a joint venture partner or affiliate of the Company who provide services to the joint venture with such partner or affiliate. The term “Employee” shall not include any of the following: a person who is an independent contractor, or agrees or has agreed that he/she is an independent contractor of the Company; a person who has any agreement or understanding with the Company, or any of its affiliates or joint venture partners that he/she is not an employee or an Eligible Employee, even if he/she previously had been an employee or Eligible Employee; or a person who is employed by a temporary or other employment agency, regardless of the amount of control, supervision or training provided by the Company or its affiliates; a “leased employee” as defined under Section 414(n) of the Code, in each case, even if a court, agency or other authority rules that he/she is a common-law employee of the Company or its affiliates.

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

“Fair Market Value” means as of any date, unless otherwise determined by the Committee the value of the Common Stock determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, system or market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing price for the Common Stock as quoted on such exchange, system or market as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable (or, if no sale of Common Stock is reported for such date, on the next preceding date on which any sale shall have been reported); and (ii) in the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, taking into account factors consistent with Treas. Reg. § 409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B) as the Committee deems appropriate.

“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means a stock option satisfying the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

“Incentive” means a grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation rights, Restricted Stock Grants, Performance Awards, Share Awards, Phantom Stock Awards, and cash or any or all of them.

 

3


“Nonqualified Option” means a stock option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Performance Shares” means an award denominated in shares granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 10.

“Performance Awards” means Performance Units or Performance Shares or either or both of them.

“Performance Goals” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

“Performance Units” means an award denominated in shares of Common Stock or cash granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 10.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust or unincorporated organization.

“Phantom Stock Award” means an award of phantom shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 12.

“Plan” means this Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended from time to time.

“Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.

“Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock issued or transferred to an Eligible Employee under Section 11.

“Restricted Stock Grants” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.

“Restricted Stock Units” means a right granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 11 representing a number of phantom shares of Common Stock.

“Section 16 Officer” means an individual who serves as an “officer” of the Company as such term is defined in Rule 16(a)-1(f) of the Exchange Act.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Share Award” means an award of actual shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Employee under Section 12.

“Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(b).

“Stand Alone SAR” means a Stock Appreciation Right granted without an underlying Stock Option as provided in Section 9.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive the appreciation in the Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock, as provided in Section 9.

“Stock Option” means a Nonqualified Option or an Incentive Stock Option, or either or both of them.

 

4


“Substitute Incentive” means an Incentive granted in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate with which the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate combines.

“Successor Incentive” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 25(a).

“Tandem SAR” means a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to an underlying Stock Option as provided in Section 9.

Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent” or “subsidiary of the Company, as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

3.

ADMINISTRATION

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or any designated subcommittee thereof (and references in this Plan to the Committee shall be to such subcommittee, acting in accordance with their governing documents). A Director may serve on the Committee only if he or she is a “Non-Employee Director” of the Company for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, determining which Eligible Employees receive Incentives, the types of Incentives they receive under the Plan, the number of shares covered by Incentives granted under the Plan, and the other terms and conditions of such Incentives. Determinations by the Committee under the Plan including, without limitation, determinations of the Eligible Employees, the form, amount and timing of Incentives, the terms and provisions of Incentives and the writings evidencing Incentives, need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Eligible Employees who receive, or are eligible to receive, Incentives hereunder, whether or not such Eligible Employees are similarly situated.

The Committee shall have the responsibility of construing and interpreting the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to the Plan, including but not limited to, the right to correct any defect or supply any omission, construe disputed or doubtful provisions, reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any related instrument or agreement, and of establishing, amending, rescinding and construing such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the Plan, related instrument or agreement. Any decision or action taken or to be taken by the Committee, arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation and effect of the Plan, related instrument or agreement, and the Plan’s rules and regulations, shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, be within its absolute discretion (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, all Eligible Employees and any person claiming under or through any Eligible Employee.

 

5


The Committee, as permitted by applicable state law, may delegate to one or more officers of the Company any or all of its power and authority hereunder, including the authority to do one or both of the following: (i) designate Eligible Employees who are not Section 16 Officers or Directors to receive Incentives and the terms of such Incentives; and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, subject to such Incentives; provided, however, that the Committee resolutions regarding such delegation will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Incentives granted by such delegate and such delegate may not grant any Incentive to himself or herself; and provided further, that such officer of the Company may further delegate such authority in accordance with the Company’s policy on delegation of authority.

For the purpose of this section and all subsequent sections, the Plan shall be deemed to include this Plan and any comparable sub-plans established by subsidiaries which, in the aggregate, shall constitute one Plan governed by the terms set forth herein.

 

4.

ELIGIBILITY

 

  (a)

Employees. Employees shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if designated by the Committee (“Eligible Employees”).

 

  (b)

No Right To Continued Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures to terminate the employment of any person at any time, nor confer upon any person the right to continue in the employ of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures. No Eligible Employee shall have a right to receive an Incentive or any other benefit under this Plan or having been granted an Incentive or other benefit, to receive any additional Incentive or other benefit. Neither the award of an Incentive nor any benefits arising under such Incentives shall constitute an employment contract with the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures, and accordingly, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Company without giving rise to liability on the part of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures for severance. Except as may be otherwise specifically stated in any other employee benefit plan, policy or program, neither any Incentive under this Plan nor any amount realized from any such Incentive shall be treated as compensation for any purposes of calculating an employee’s benefit under any such plan, policy or program.

 

5.

TERM OF THE PLAN

This Plan was approved by the Board of Directors and the sole stockholder of the Company on May 28, 2021, and is effective as of that same day (the “Effective Date”). No Incentive that is an Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan following the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (or such earlier date that the Plan may be terminated by the Board of Directors), but the term and exercise of Incentives granted theretofore may extend beyond such expiration date.

 

6


6.

INCENTIVES

Incentives under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Nonqualified Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Stock Grants, (e) Performance Awards, (f) Share Awards, (g) Phantom Stock Awards, and (h) cash. All Incentives shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions as may be established by the Committee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any Incentives granted to an individual who is not an Eligible Employee or otherwise in error shall be void ab initio.

 

7.

SHARES AVAILABLE FOR INCENTIVES

 

  (a)

Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as described in subsection (b), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 35,000,000 (the “Share Reserve”). No more than an aggregate of 35,000,000 shares may be issued as Incentive Stock Options during the term of the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, any stock options, performance share units or restricted share units of Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) converted into Company Incentives in connection with the separation of the Company’s business from Merck in accordance with the terms and conditions of that certain Employee Matters Agreement dated as of June 2, 2021 by and between Merck and the Company shall count against the Share Reserve.

 

  (i)

The following shares of Common Stock shall be added to the maximum share limitation described in the first sentence of paragraph (a): (1) shares tendered or withheld by the Company in payment of all or part of the exercise price of a Stock Option; (2) shares tendered or withheld by the Company to satisfy all or part of the tax withholding obligation of an Incentive on the vesting or exercise thereof; and (3) shares not issued upon exercise of all or a portion of a Stock Appreciation Right that is settled in shares. Shares under this Plan may be delivered by the Company from its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or from issued and reacquired Common Stock held as treasury stock, or both. In no event shall fractional shares of Common Stock be issued under the Plan. For purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the Plan, only Incentives payable in shares of Common Stock shall be counted.

 

  (ii)

In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate or with which the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for issuance pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Incentives and shall not be counted as issued for purposes of determining the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the first sentence of this paragraph (a); provided that such Incentives shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

7


  (iii)

The following shares of Common Stock relating to Incentives are not counted as issued for purposes of determining the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan:

 

  (1)

Shares of Common Stock subject to an Incentive that is settled in cash in lieu of shares;

 

  (2)

Shares of Common Stock subject to an Incentive that expires, is forfeited, cancelled or terminates for any reason without issuance of shares;

 

  (3)

Shares of Common Stock subject to a Substitute Incentive; and

 

  (4)

Shares of Restricted Stock that are forfeited and returned to the Company upon a participant’s termination of employment.

 

  (b)

Adjustment of Shares. In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split or reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares, merger, consolidation, rights offering, spin off, split off, split up, change in corporate structure, or other event identified by the Committee, the Committee shall make such equitable adjustments, in a manner it may deem appropriate, in (i) the number and kind of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Incentives, (iii) the option price of Stock Options, (iv) the grant price of Stock Appreciation Rights; and (v) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Incentives (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto). Any such determination shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties.

 

8.

STOCK OPTIONS

The Committee may grant options qualifying as ISOs and Nonqualified Options. Such Stock Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:

 

  (a)

Stock Option Price. The option price per share with respect to each Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted other than Stock Options that are Substitute Incentives, as determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an ISO unless the exercise price of the ISO is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the ISO is granted.

 

8


  (b)

Period of Stock Option. The period of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that the period for all Stock Options shall not exceed ten years from the grant, provided further, however, that, (i) in the event of the death of an Optionee prior to the expiration of a Nonqualified Option, such Nonqualified Option may, if the Committee so determines, be exercisable for up to 11 years from the date of the grant, (ii) the Committee may provide in a grant agreement that the terms of any Stock Option shall be extended during any period that such Stock Option may not be exercised under any applicable law or during an applicable blackout period, and (iii) an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Stock Option, extend the term thereof, but in no event shall the extended term exceed ten years from the original grant date (11 in case of a grantee’s death).

 

  (c)

Exercise of Stock Option and Payment Therefore. No shares shall be issued until full payment of the option price has been made. The option price may be paid in cash or, if the Committee determines, in shares of Common Stock (by tendering previously acquired Shares, either actually or by attestation, or by the Company withholding shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option), a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, or through a cashless exercise procedure that allows grantees to sell immediately some or all of the shares underlying the exercised portion of the Option in order to generate sufficient cash to pay the option price. If the Committee approves the use of shares of Common Stock as a payment method, the Committee shall establish such conditions as it deems appropriate for the use of Common Stock to exercise a Stock Option. Stock Options awarded under the Plan shall be exercised through such procedure or program as the Committee may establish or define from time to time, which may include a designated broker that must be used in exercising such Stock Options.

 

  (d)

First Exercisable Date. The Committee shall determine how and when shares covered by a Stock Option may be purchased. The Committee may establish waiting periods, the dates on which Stock Options become exercisable or non-forfeitable and, subject to paragraph (b) of this section, exercise periods. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Option or portion thereof.

 

  (e)

Termination of Employment. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, upon the termination of a Stock Option grantee’s employment (for any reason other than gross misconduct), Stock Option privileges shall be limited to the shares that were immediately exercisable at the date of such termination. The Committee, however, in its discretion, may provide that any Stock Options outstanding but not yet exercisable upon the termination of a Stock Option grantee’s employment may become exercisable in accordance with a schedule determined by the Committee. Such Stock Option privileges shall expire unless exercised within such period of time after the date of termination of employment as may be established by the Committee, but in no event later than the expiration date of the Stock Option.

 

9


  (f)

Termination Due to Misconduct. If a Stock Option grantee’s employment is terminated for gross misconduct, as determined by the Company, all rights under the Stock Option shall expire upon the date of such termination.

 

  (g)

Limits on ISOs. Except as may otherwise be permitted by the Code, an Eligible Employee may not receive a grant of ISOs for stock that would have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of $100,000 (or such other amount as the Internal Revenue Service may decide from time to time), determined as of the time that the ISO is granted, that would be exercisable for the first time by such person during any calendar year. If any grant is made in excess of the limits provided in the Code, such grant shall automatically become a Nonqualified Option. In addition, ISOs may only be granted to Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

  (h)

Dividends. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on Stock Options.

 

9.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The Committee may, in its discretion, grant a Stock Appreciation Right either singly or in combination with an underlying Stock Option granted hereunder. Such Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:

 

  (a)

Time and Period of Grant. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted as a Tandem SAR, it may be granted at the time of the Stock Option grant or at any time thereafter but prior to the expiration of the Stock Option grant. At the time the Tandem SAR is granted the Committee may limit the exercise period for such Stock Appreciation Right, before and after which period no Stock Appreciation Right shall attach to the underlying Stock Option. In no event shall the exercise period for a Tandem SAR exceed the exercise period for such Stock Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted as a Stand Alone SAR the period for exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee. The maximum term of a Stand Alone SAR shall not exceed ten years from the grant, provided further, however, that, in the event of the death of the grantee prior to the expiration of such Stand Alone SAR, such Stand Alone SAR may, if the Committee so determines, be exercisable for up to eleven years from the date of the grant and the Committee may provide in a grant agreement that the term of any Stock Option shall be extended during any period that such Stock Option may not be exercised under any applicable law or during an applicable blackout period.

 

10


  (b)

Value of Stock Appreciation Right. The grantee of a Tandem SAR will be entitled to surrender the Stock Option which is then exercisable and receive in exchange therefore an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the election to surrender is received by the Company in accordance with exercise procedures established by the Company over the Stock Option price (the “Spread”) multiplied by the number of shares covered by the Stock Option which is surrendered. The grantee of a Stand Alone SAR will receive upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the election to surrender such Stand Alone SAR is received by the Company in accordance with exercise procedures established by the Company over the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant multiplied by the portion being exercised of the number of shares covered by the grant of the Stand Alone SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in its sole discretion the Committee at the time it grants a Stock Appreciation Right may provide that the Spread covered by such Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed a specified amount.

 

  (c)

Payment of Stock Appreciation Right. Payment of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination of shares and cash. The form of payment upon exercise of such a right shall be determined by the Committee either at the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right or at the time of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

  (d)

Dividends. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

  (e)

Termination of Employment. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, upon the termination of a Stock Appreciation Right grantee’s employment (for any reason other than gross misconduct), Stock Appreciation Right privileges shall be limited to the shares that were immediately exercisable at the date of such termination. The Committee, however, in its discretion, may provide that any Stand Alone Stock Appreciation Right outstanding but not yet exercisable upon the termination of a Stock Appreciation Right grantee’s employment may become exercisable in accordance with a schedule determined by the Committee. Such privileges shall expire unless exercised within such period of time after the date of termination of employment as may be established by the Committee, but in no event later than the expiration date of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

  (f)

Termination Due to Misconduct. If a Stock Appreciation Right grantee’s employment is terminated for gross misconduct, as determined by the Company, all rights under the Stock Appreciation Right shall expire upon the date of such termination.

 

10.

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

The Committee may grant Performance Awards, including Performance Shares or Performance Units, if the performance of the Company or its parent or any subsidiary, division, business unit, affiliate or joint venture of the Company selected by the Committee during the Award Period meets certain goals established by the Committee. Performance Awards shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:

 

11


  (a)

Award Period and Performance Goals. The Committee shall determine and include in the terms and conditions of a Performance Award the period of time for which a Performance Award is made (“Award Period”). The Committee also shall establish performance objectives (“Performance Goals”) to be met by the Company, its subsidiary, division, business unit, affiliate or joint venture of the Company during the Award Period as a condition to payment of the Performance Award. The Performance Goals may include minimum and optimum objectives or a single set of objectives, may be applied to either the Company as a whole or to a subsidiary, division, business unit, affiliate or joint venture, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee.

 

  (b)

Payment of Performance Awards. The Committee shall establish the method of calculating the amount of payment to be made under a Performance Award if the Performance Goals are met, including the fixing of a maximum payment. After the completion of an Award Period, the performance of the Company, its subsidiary, division, business unit, affiliate or joint venture of the Company shall be measured against the Performance Goals, and the Committee shall determine, in accordance with the terms of such Performance Award, whether all, none or any portion of a Performance Award shall be paid. The Committee, in its discretion, may elect to make payment in shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination of shares and cash. Any cash payment of an award measured relative to Common Stock shall be based on the Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock on, or as soon as practicable prior to, the date of payment. The Committee may establish rules and procedures to permit a grantee to defer recognition of income upon the attainment of a Performance Award.

 

  (c)

Revision of Performance Goals. The Committee may revise the Performance Goals and the computation of payment if one or more events occur which have a substantial effect on the performance of the Company, subsidiary, division, affiliate or joint venture of the Company and which, in the judgment of the Committee, make the application of the Performance Goals unfair unless a revision is made, including without limitation, to reflect losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gains and losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, structural changes/outsourcing, foreign exchange impacts, the impact of specified corporate transactions, accounting or tax law changes and other extraordinary or nonrecurring events.

 

12


  (d)

Requirement of Employment. Except as otherwise provided in the grant agreement evidencing the Incentive, a grantee of a Performance Award must remain in the employ of the Company, its subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture until the completion of the Award Period in order to be entitled to payment under the Performance Award; provided that the Committee may, in its discretion, provide for a full or partial payment where such an exception is deemed equitable.

 

  (e)

Dividends. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time of the Performance Award grant, determine if any dividends declared on the Common Stock during the Award Period which would have been paid with respect to Performance Shares had they been owned by a grantee or dividend equivalents be either (i) accumulated for the benefit of the grantee and used to increase the number of Performance Shares of the grantee, or paid as cash, at the end of the Award Period or (ii) not paid or accumulated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, such dividends or dividend equivalents shall only be payable following the end of the Performance Period to the extent that the Performance Shares have been earned.

 

11.

RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS

The Committee may grant Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to an Eligible Employee, which shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe (“Restricted Stock Grants”). Such grants shall not be free from restriction during the period designated by the Committee (the “Restricted Period”).

 

  (a)

Requirement of Employment. A grantee of a Restricted Stock Grant must remain in the employment of the Company during the Restricted Period in order to receive the shares, cash or combination thereof under the Restricted Stock Grant. Except as otherwise provided in the grant agreement evidencing the Incentive, if the grantee leaves the employment of the Company prior to the end of the Restricted Period, the Restricted Stock Grant shall terminate and any shares of Common Stock shall be returned immediately to the Company, provided that the Committee may provide for the employment restriction to lapse with respect to a portion or portions of the Restricted Stock Grant at different times during the Restricted Period. The Committee may, in its discretion, also provide for such complete or partial exceptions to the employment restriction as it deems equitable.

 

  (b)

Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificates. During the Restricted Period, the grantee may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Stock Grant, including but not limited to any shares of Common Stock. Any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued hereunder shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the grant.

 

  (c)

Escrow Agreement. The Committee may require the grantee to enter into an escrow agreement providing that any certificates representing the Restricted Stock Grant will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or expire.

 

13


  (d)

Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed under the Restricted Stock Grant shall lapse upon the expiration of the Restricted Period if the conditions as to employment set forth above have been met. The grantee shall then be entitled to have the legend removed from any certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock Units may be paid in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination of shares and cash as determined by the Committee. The Committee may establish rules and procedures to permit a grantee to defer recognition of income upon the expiration of the Restricted Period.

 

  (e)

Dividends. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time of the Restricted Stock Grant, provide that any dividends declared on Common Stock during the Restricted Period or dividend equivalents be (i) accumulated for the benefit of the grantee and used to increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Grant, or paid as cash, to the grantee at the expiration of the Restricted Period or (ii) not accumulated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, such dividends or dividend equivalents shall only be payable following the expiration of the Restricted Period to the extent that the Restricted Stock Grant has been earned.

 

12.

OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS

The Committee may grant a Share Award or Phantom Stock Award to any Eligible Employee on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. Share Awards may be made as additional compensation for services rendered by the Eligible Employee or may be in lieu of cash or other compensation to which the Eligible Employee is entitled from the Company. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time a Share Award or Phantom Award is granted, provide that any dividends declared on Common Stock during the applicable Restricted Period or dividend equivalents be (i) accumulated for the benefit of the grantee and used to increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the applicable Share Award or Phantom Award, or paid as cash, to the grantee at the expiration of the Restricted Period or (ii) not accumulated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, such dividends or dividend equivalents shall only be payable to the extent that the applicable Share Award or Phantom Award has been earned.

 

13.

CASH AWARDS

The Committee may grant a Cash Award to any Eligible Employee on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. Cash Awards may be made as additional compensation for services rendered by the Eligible Employee or may be in lieu other compensation to which the Eligible Employee is entitled from the Company. A Cash Award may or may not be subject to vesting conditions, including performance-based vesting conditions consistent with other forms of Performance Awards.

 

14.

TRANSFERABILITY

Each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; each other Incentive granted under the Plan will not be transferable or assignable by the recipient, and may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar procedures, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as determined by the Committee in accordance with the Exchange Act or any

 

14


other applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may adopt rules permitting the transfer, solely as gifts during the grantee’s lifetime, of Stock Options (other than ISOs) and Stock Appreciation Right to members of a grantee’s immediate family or to trusts, family partnerships or similar entities for the benefit of such immediate family members. For this purpose, immediate family member means the grantee’s spouse, parent, child, stepchild, grandchild and the spouses of such family members. The terms of a Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the grantee.

 

15.

DISCONTINUANCE OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

The Board of Directors may discontinue the Plan at any time and may from time to time amend or revise the terms of the Plan as permitted by applicable statutes, except that it may not, without the consent of the grantees affected, revoke or alter, in a manner that is materially unfavorable to the grantees of any Incentives hereunder, any Incentives then outstanding, nor may the Board of Directors amend the Plan without stockholder approval where the absence of such approval would cause the Plan to fail to comply with any requirement of applicable law or regulation or the listing requirements of any national securities exchange or association on which the Common Stock is then listed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without consent of affected grantees, Incentives may be amended, revised or revoked when necessary to avoid penalties under Section 409A of the Code, to ensure compliance with the listing requirements any national securities exchange or association on which the Common Stock is then listed, or as may be required or appropriate to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulations. Unless approved by the Company’s stockholders or as otherwise specifically provided under this Plan, no adjustments or reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights or Stock Options shall be made in the event of a decline in stock price, either by reducing the exercise price of outstanding Incentives or through cancellation of outstanding Incentives in connection with regranting of Incentives at a lower price to the same individual, nor may Stock Appreciation Rights or Stock Options be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment to account for a decline in stock price.

 

16.

NO LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION

Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its service providers, in cash or property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the Plan.

 

17.

NO CONSTRAINT ON CORPORATE ACTION

Nothing in the Plan shall be construed (i) to limit, impair or otherwise affect the Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets, or (ii) except as provided in Section 15, to limit the right or power of the Company, or any subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

15


18.

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any payment under the Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income, excise and employment taxes required or permitted by law to be withheld with respect to such payment or may require the Eligible Employee to pay to it such tax prior to and as a condition of the making of such payment. In accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines it establishes, the Committee may allow an Eligible Employee to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld from an Incentive by withholding from any payment of Common Stock due as a result of such Incentive, or by permitting the Eligible Employee to deliver to the Company, shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Committee, equal to the amount of such required or permitted withholding taxes.

 

19.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

With respect to Eligible Employees who are Section 16 Officers, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successor under the Exchange Act. To the extent that compliance with any Plan provision applicable solely to the Section 16 Officers is not required in order to bring a transaction by such Section 16 Officer into compliance with Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed null and void as to such transaction, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee and its delegees. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Plan administrators involving such Section 16 Officers is deemed not to comply with an applicable condition of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed null and void as to such Section 16 Officers, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Plan administrators.

 

20.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A OF THE CODE

To the extent applicable, to the extent an Incentive is granted to an Eligible Employee subject to the Code, it is intended that such Incentive be exempt from Section 409A of the Code or be structured in a manner that would not cause the Eligible Employee to be subject to taxes and interest pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan (and unless the award document specifically provides otherwise), if an Eligible Employee holding an Incentive that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and the Eligible Employee is otherwise subject to Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Eligible Employee’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Eligible Employee’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.

 

21.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Any proceeds received by the Company under the Plan shall be added to the general funds of the Company and shall be used for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors shall direct.

 

16


22.

GOVERNING LAW

The Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable grant agreement, the State and Federal courts located in the State of Delaware shall have exclusive jurisdiction for any action brought under the Plan or pursuant to any Incentive.

 

23.

REGISTRATION AND APPROVALS

The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver shares of Common Stock with respect to Incentives granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. Each Incentive is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Incentive or the issuance of shares of Common Stock, no Incentives shall be granted or payment made or shares of Common Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions as acceptable to the Committee. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan, the terms and conditions related to the Incentive, or any other agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act, and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such shares of Common Stock shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations thereunder. The Committee may require any individual receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Incentive granted under the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such shares of Common Stock, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the shares of Common Stock acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under said Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such shares of Common Stock shall be appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend placed thereon to reflect their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.

 

24.

OFFSET AND SUSPENSION OF EXERCISE

Anything to the contrary in the Plan notwithstanding, the Plan administrators may (i) offset any Incentive by amounts reasonably believed to be owed to the Company by the grantee and (ii) disallow an Incentive to be exercised or otherwise payable during a time when the Company is investigating reasonably reliable allegations of gross misconduct by the grantee.

 

17


25.

EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL

The following provisions will apply to Incentives in the event of a Change in Control unless otherwise provided in the grant agreement evidencing the Incentive or any other written agreement between the Company or any affiliate and the Eligible Employee or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee at the time of grant of an Incentive. In the event of a Change in Control, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Committee will take one or more of the following actions with respect to each outstanding Incentive, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Change in Control:

 

  (a)

arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) to assume or continue the Incentive or to substitute a similar award for the Incentive (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration per share paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Change in Control);

 

  (b)

accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Incentive (and, if applicable, the time at which the Incentive may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Committee determines, with such Incentive terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and with such exercise reversed if the Change in Control does not become effective;

 

  (c)

cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Incentive, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Committee, in its reasonable determination, may consider appropriate as an approximation of the value of the canceled Incentive, taking into account the value of the Common Stock subject to the canceled Incentive, the possibility that the Incentive might not otherwise vest in full, and such other factors as the Committee deems relevant; and

 

  (d)

cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Incentive, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, in exchange for a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Committee equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the value in the Change in Control of the property the Eligible Employee would have received upon the exercise of the Incentive immediately prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise

The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Incentives or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Committee may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Incentive.

 

18


In the absence of any affirmative determination by the Committee at the time of a Change in Control, each outstanding Incentive will be assumed or an equivalent award will be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (the “Successor Corporation”), unless the Successor Corporation does not agree to assume the Incentive or to substitute an equivalent award, in which case the vesting of such Incentive will accelerate in its entirety (along with, if applicable, the time at which the Incentive may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Committee determines, with such Incentive terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and with such exercise reversed if the Change in Control does not become effective.    

An Incentive may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the grant agreement evidencing the Incentive or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any affiliate and the Eligible Employee, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.

 

26.

CLAWBACK, RECOUPMENT

The Committee may specify in a grant agreement evidencing an Incentive that the Eligible Employee’s right, payment and benefits with respect to an Incentive shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, clawback or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events or as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law, in addition to any otherwise applicable forfeiture provisions that apply to the Incentive. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Incentive under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of any clawback policy maintained by the Company or as required by law, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

19

Exhibit 10.17

ORGANON & CO.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

 

I.

PURPOSE

The Organon & Co. Annual Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to motivate and reward employees of the Company who do not participate in the Sales Incentive Plan or generally any other incentive plan of the Company to achieve high levels of performance by rewarding performance that has a positive impact on the activities of the Company.

 

II.

DEFINITIONS

The following words and phrases as used herein shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

  1.

“Committee” shall mean the Talent Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, or its authorized delegate.

 

  2.

“Company” shall mean Organon & Co. and its subsidiaries.

 

  3.

“Plan Year” shall mean the calendar year, or such other performance period designated by the Committee for any award opportunity granted hereunder.

 

III.

ADMINISTRATION; DELEGATIONS

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the full discretionary power and authority to: (i) construe and interpret the Plan (including, without limitation, supplying omissions from, correcting deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the language of the Plan); (ii) determine all questions of fact arising under the Plan, including questions as to eligibility for and the amount of benefits; (iii) establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or appropriate for administration of the Plan; (iv) delegate responsibilities to others to assist in administering the Plan; and (v) perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper in connection with the administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding any delegations of authority to administer the Plan, the Committee shall retain full authority to act and make any determinations under the Plan.

 

IV.

ELIGIBILITY

Any employee of the Company selected by the Committee, based upon criteria as the Committee may establish, who is not currently eligible for an award under the Sales Incentive Plan or any other similar special cash-based incentive plan maintained by the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan.

The following persons are not eligible to receive awards under the Plan: (i) a person who is an independent contractor, or agrees or has agreed that he/she is an independent contractor, or has any agreement or understanding with the Company, or any of its affiliates that he/she is not an employee or an eligible employee, even if he/she previously had been an employee or eligible employee or is employed by a temporary or other employment agency, regardless of the amount of control, supervision or training provided by the Company or its affiliates, (ii) a “leased employee” as defined under section 414(n) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and (iii) a person who is a member of a collective bargaining unit that does not specifically indicate participation in this Plan (unless otherwise required by local law outside the United States). Any such excluded person is not eligible to participate in the Plan even if a court, agency or other authority rules that he/she is a common-law employee of the Company or its affiliates.


V.

AWARD FUND

The award fund for each Plan Year shall be determined by the Committee. If, for any Plan Year, the total amount of the awards under the Plan is less than the award fund, the difference shall not be carried forward or made available for awards in subsequent years.

 

VI.

AWARDS

Individual awards to be made for each Plan Year, if any, shall be determined by the Committee in its sole, non-reviewable discretion. In making its determinations, the Committee may take into consideration the recommendations of outside consultants, advisors, and/or Company management.

 

VII.

PAYMENT OF AWARDS

The amount of each award shall be paid in cash, or in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Company common stock, after the close of the Plan Year for which the award is made, but by no later than March 15 of the calendar year after the close of the Plan Year. The Committee may determine whether any awards may be deferred and if so which participants are eligible to defer awards and the terms of such deferrals.

 

VIII.

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

If a participant’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the last day of the Plan Year, all of the participant’s rights to an any award for the Plan Year shall be immediately forfeited. However, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay a pro-rated award or special payment in in lieu of an award under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a participant’s employment is terminated for cause, the participant shall in all cases forfeit any award not already paid.

 

IX.

DEDUCTIONS FROM AWARDS; RECOUPMENT

The Company will deduct from each award amounts required to be withheld for applicable taxes. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may also deduct any amounts the participant owes the Company for any reason.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, any incentive award payment earned, paid or payable hereunder shall be and is subject to such reconciliation, reduction and recoupment as may be required or permitted pursuant to any law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement, or any policy adopted by the Company.

 

X.

LIMITATIONS

No employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an award under this Plan. A participant may not assign or transfer any awards under this Plan.

Neither the action of the Company in establishing the Plan nor any action taken by it or by the Committee under the provisions hereof, nor any provision of the Plan, shall be construed as giving any employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

2


No amounts awarded or accrued under the Plan will be funded, set aside or otherwise segregated prior to payment. The obligation to pay the incentive award amount granted hereunder will at all times be an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Participants shall have the status of general creditors and shall look solely to the general assets of the Company for the payment of their incentive awards.

 

XI.

AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN IN WHOLE OR IN PART

The Committee may suspend or discontinue the Plan at any time and may from time to time amend or revise the terms of the Plan for any reason.

 

XII.

GOVERNING LAW

The Plan and all rights thereunder are to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, wherein venue shall lie for any dispute arising hereunder.

 

3

Exhibit 10.18

 

LOGO

Organon Executive Change in Control Severance Program

This document sets forth the terms of the Organon Executive Change in Control Severance Program (as the same may be amended, the “Plan”) as in effect on June 2, 2021. This document is both the legal plan document as well as the Summary Plan Description for the Plan.

The Plan applies to certain executives of Organon & Co. and its wholly owned subsidiaries who are determined to be participants in the Plan.

Organon reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan in whole or in part or to discontinue the Plan completely at any time.

Terms that are frequently used in the Plan are defined in the Glossary.

 


Contents

 

About Your Executive Change in Control Severance Program

  

Overview

     1  

Eligibility

     1  

Eligibility in General

     1  

When Eligibility Ends

     1  

ERISA

     2  

Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits

     2  

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries

     2  

Enforce Your Rights

     2  

Assistance with Your Questions

     3  

Administrative Information

     3  

Sponsor

     3  

Plan Administrator

     4  

Agent for Service of Legal Process

     5  

Plan Funding and Administration

     5  

No Right to Employment

     6  

Plan Amendment and Termination

     6  

Plan Year

     6  

Benefits under the Executive Severance Program

  

How the Plan Works

     7  

Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason

     7  

Separation Pay Schedule

     7  

Medical and Dental Coverage Payment

     7  

Reduction of Benefits

     8  

When and How Benefits Are Paid

     8  

Taxation of Benefits

     9  

Forfeiture of Benefits

     9  

Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits

     9  

Return of Separation Plan Benefits

     10  

Death of Participant

     10  

Filing a Claim

     10  

Appealing An Adverse Benefit Determination

     11  

Glossary

     13  

 

Organon Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   i    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

About Your Executive Change in Control Severance Program

The following About Your Executive Change in Control Severance Program section provides you with important information about eligibility and other administrative details.

Overview

This Plan is designed to help you meet financial needs if your employment with the Employer is terminated under certain circumstances within the context of a Change in Control.

Eligibility

Eligibility in General

Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. You will be eligible to receive Separation Pay and Separation Benefits under this Plan if you are an Eligible Employee whose employment with the Employer terminates in a Qualifying Termination as a result of your termination by the Employer without Cause or as a result of your resignation with Good Reason, in each case during the two-year period following a Change in Control. Such benefits are provided only if you have signed, and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims.

Release of Claims. The Release of Claims will contain such terms and conditions as determined by the Employer, including but not limited to a general release of claims, known or unknown, that you may have against the Employer and its affiliates, including claims related to your employment and termination of employment.

Eligible Employee. An Eligible Employee under this Plan includes all employees of an Employer who are in Band 700 or higher. However, any employee of an Employer who has an individual employment, separation or similar agreement with the Employer that provides for separation, severance or termination payments or benefits will not be eligible for Separation Plan Benefits under this Plan, but rather the terms of such individual employment, separation or similar agreement will control.

See the Glossary for the full definition of Eligible Employee, Qualifying Termination and Release of Claims.

When Eligibility Ends

Your eligibility to participate in this Plan ends on the earliest of:

 

   

The date your employment with the Employer terminates for any reason other than a Qualifying Termination within a Change in Control Period;

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   1    Effective: June 2, 2021


   

The date you are no longer an Eligible Employee; or

 

   

The date this Plan is terminated by the Employer.

ERISA

This Plan is considered a “welfare benefit plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). You are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that all plan participants are entitled to:

Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits

 

   

Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator’s office and at other specified locations, such as worksites and union halls, all documents governing this Plan.

 

   

Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of this Plan and updated summary plan descriptions. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries

In addition to creating rights for plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the employee benefit plan. The people who operate the Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other plan participants and beneficiaries. No one, including your employer, or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.

Enforce Your Rights

If your claim for a welfare benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules. See Filing a Claim and Appealing a Claim.

Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan (if applicable) and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator.

If you submit a claim for benefits under this Plan within the time period specified for filing a claim and your claim is:

 

  (i)

ignored, or

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   2    Effective: June 2, 2021


  (ii)

denied, and you file an appeal within the applicable time frame and that appeal is then

 

  (a)

ignored or

 

  (b)

denied,

you may file a lawsuit in a state or Federal court. Please note that before you can file a lawsuit in a state or Federal court, you must follow the Plan’s procedures for filing a claim and an appeal of a denied claim.

If it should happen that the plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan’s money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file a lawsuit in a Federal court. If you file a lawsuit the court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

Assistance with Your Questions

If you have any questions about this Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or write to the following address:

Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries

Employee Benefits Security Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20210

You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration or visiting their website.

Administrative Information

This section contains information on the administration and funding for this Plan. While you may not need this information for day-to-day participation in this Plan, you should read through this section. It is important for you to understand your rights, the procedures you need to follow, and the appropriate contacts you may need in certain situations.

Sponsor

Organon LLC sponsors this Plan. The employer identification number assigned to Organon LLC by the IRS is #85-2269702. The address and phone number for Organon LLC is as follows:

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   3    Effective: June 2, 2021


Secretary, Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

1-215-631-6972

Plan Administrator

The Plan Administrator for this Plan is Organon’s Total Rewards Operations Council or its delegate; provided, however, that the Talent Committee of the Board of Directors of Organon & Co. (the “Board”) administers this Plan with respect to any executive officers of Organon & Co. other than the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. and the Board administers this Plan with respect to the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. Any references to Organon’s “Total Rewards Operations Council” will refer to the Talent Committee or the Board with respect to such Participants. Administration of this Plan is the responsibility of the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator makes determinations as to eligibility and benefits.

The Plan Administrator has the full exclusive discretionary authority to:

 

   

Construe and interpret the provisions of this Plan (including without limitation, supplying omissions from, correcting deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the language of this Plan);

 

   

Determine all questions of fact arising under this Plan;

 

   

Decide all questions of eligibility for benefits;

 

   

Determine the amount of benefits;

 

   

Establish such rules and regulations (consistent with the terms of this Plan) as it deems necessary or appropriate for administration of this Plan;

 

   

Delegate responsibilities to others to assist in administration of the Plan; and

 

   

Perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper in connection with the administration of this Plan.

Its decisions on such matters are final and conclusive. The Plan Administrator has reserved the right to delegate all or any portion of its discretionary authority described in the preceding sentence to a representative and the representative’s decisions on such matters are final and conclusive. With respect to determining claims and appeals for benefits under this Plan, the Claims Reviewer (and its delegate) is the delegate of the Plan Administrator and has all of the powers and duties of the Plan Administrator described above.

Any interpretations or determinations made pursuant to such discretionary authority of the Plan Administrator or its representative will be upheld in judicial review unless it is shown that the interpretation or determination was an abuse of discretion.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   4    Effective: June 2, 2021


If you have any questions concerning this Plan, please contact the Plan Administrator as follows:

Chief Human Resources Officer

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Agent for Service of Legal Process

If, for any reason, you want to seek legal action against this Plan, you can serve legal process on Organon, by directing service to the following address:

General Counsel

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Plan Funding and Administration

Separation Plan Benefits under this Plan is financed entirely by the Employer, is paid from the Employer’s general assets as due and constitutes an unfunded obligation of the Employer. This Plan constitutes solely an unsecured promise by the Employer to pay the benefits to Participants to the extent provided herein.

This Plan is not intended to be an “employee pension plan” as the term is defined in section 3(2) of ERISA. The Plan is, however, intended to be an employee welfare benefit plan as the term is defined in section 3(1) of ERISA.

This Plan and all rights thereunder are to be governed by and construed in accordance with ERISA and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, with the laws of the state of Delaware, wherein venue shall lie for any dispute arising hereunder.

 

Plan Funding and Administration Chart

Formal Plan Name

  

Plan Number

  

Plan/Type Benefits
Type

  

Plan Administrator

  

Type of
Administration

  

Insured or Self-
insured

Organon Executive Change in Control Severance Program    515    Welfare/ Severance    Organon Total Rewards Operations Council    Employer Administration    Self-insured by the Employer

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   5    Effective: June 2, 2021


No Right to Employment

Nothing in this Plan represents nor is considered an employment contract, and neither the existence of this Plan nor any statements made by or on behalf of the Employer can be construed to create any promise or contractual right to employment or to the benefits of employment. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Employer or you may terminate the employment relationship without notice at any time and for any reason.

Plan Amendment and Termination

The Total Rewards Strategic Design Council has the right to amend, modify or terminate this Plan at any time without prior notice to or the consent of any employee; provided, however, that any such action that affects benefits payable hereunder to the Chief Executive Officer shall be approved by the Board and any such action that affects any other executive officer of the Organon & Co. shall be approved by the Talent Committee of the Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for two years following a Change in Control, the material terms of this Plan (including terms relating to eligibility, benefit calculation, benefit accrual, cost to participants, subsidies and rates of employee contributions) may not be modified in a manner that is materially adverse to Eligible Employees. During that two-year period, the Employer will pay the legal fees and expenses of any Eligible Employee that prevails on at least one material item of his or her claim for relief in an action regarding an impermissible amendment (other than ordinary claims for benefits).

Any Eligible Employee whose employment continues after amendment of this Plan is governed by the Plan as so amended. Any Eligible Employee whose employment continues after termination of this Plan has no right to Separation Plan Benefits.

Plan Year

The plan year for this Plan ends on December 31 of each year. The financial records of this Plan are kept on a calendar-year basis.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   6    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

Benefits under the Executive Severance Program

How the Plan Works

Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason

You may receive Separation Pay and Separation Benefits under this Plan if your employment is terminated by the Employer without Cause or you resign for Good Reason during the two-year period following a Change in Control. Such benefits are provided only if you have signed, and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims. If you meet all these conditions for eligibility, you are considered a Participant in the Plan.

Separation Pay Schedule

Upon a Qualifying Termination during the Change in Control Period, your Separation Pay under this Plan includes:

 

  (i)

a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the Severance Multiplier multiplied by the sum of your Annual Base Salary (the “Base Salary Separation Pay”) and your Annual Target Bonus; and

 

  (ii)

a pro-rata Annual Target Bonus for the calendar year in which your termination of employment occurs, calculated based on the AIP-Eligible Months that you were employed during the year.

The Severance Multiplier varies by position and is set forth in the Glossary at the end of this document.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you were employed by Merck & Co., Inc. or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries immediately prior to the legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc., the Base Salary Separation Pay component of your Separation Pay shall be no less than the amount calculated in Exhibit A (based on your complete years of continuous service with the Employer and Merck & Co., Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to the extent recognized by Merck & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries immediately prior to legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc.).

For purposes of this Plan, years of continuous service will be calculated from your most recent re-hire date.

Medical and Dental Coverage Payment

Upon a Qualifying Termination during the Change in Control Period, your Separation Benefits under this Plan include a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the number of months in the Benefits Continuation Period multiplied by your monthly cost, as of the Separation Date, to obtain continued medical care coverage for yourself and your spouse and eligible dependents under the Employer’s employee group health plan at the level in effect on your Separation Date.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   7    Effective: June 2, 2021


Reduction of Benefits

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant’s Separation Pay and Separation Benefits, if applicable, will be reduced by:

 

   

Any amount the Plan Administrator reasonably concludes the Participant owes the Employer including, without limitation, unpaid bills under the corporate credit card program and for vacation used, but not earned;

 

   

Any severance or severance-type benefits that the Employer must pay to a Participant under applicable law or collective or labor agreement (other than unemployment compensation under applicable law), including any amounts payable pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or any other similar federal, state or local statute;

 

   

Where permitted by law, any payments received by the Participant pursuant to state workers compensation laws; and

 

   

Short-term disability benefits where applicable law does not permit Separation Pay to be offset from short term disability benefits (or where the Employer in its sole and absolute discretion determines it is administratively easier for the Employer to reduce Separation Pay by short term disability benefits in lieu of reducing short term disability benefits by Separation Pay).

When and How Benefits Are Paid

Separation Plan Benefits will be paid in a lump sum (less applicable withholdings) as soon as practicable after the Participant’s Separation Date and the expiration of any period during which the Participant may consider, sign and, if a revocation period is applicable, revoke the Release of Claims, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the Participant’s Separation Date. If the period during which the Participant may consider, sign and, if a revocation period is applicable, revoke, the Release of Claims spans two calendar years the Separation Plan Benefits will be paid in the second calendar year.

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, Separation Plan Benefits that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be administered to comply with and to avoid the excise tax under Section 409A. The Employer will take any and all steps it determines are necessary, in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust benefits under this Plan (including Separation Pay and Separation Benefits) to avoid the excise tax under Section 409A, including but not limited to, reducing or eliminating benefits, changing the time or form of payment of benefits, etc.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “Specified Employee” (as defined under Section 409A) on his or her Separation Date, to the extent required by Section 409A, no payments will be made to him or her until the earlier of (i) his or her death; or (2) the expiration of the six-month period following his or her Separation Date. Instead, amounts that would otherwise have been payable during that six-month period will be accumulated and paid, without interest, as soon as administratively feasible, and in all events within 30 days, following the end of such six-month period.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   8    Effective: June 2, 2021


Taxation of Benefits

Separation Plan Benefits are subject to the withholding of appropriate Federal, state and local taxes. The Employer will withhold taxes as required, but the Employer reserves the right to treat Separation Plan Benefits as supplemental wages subject to flat-rate withholding (not taking into account any exemptions).

In the event that any payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Employer or its affiliates for the benefit of the Participant, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such payments or benefits shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax, but only if such reduction would cause the amount to be retained by the Participant to be greater than would be the case if the Participant were required to pay the Excise Tax. Any such reduction shall be made by the Employer in its sole discretion consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Forfeiture of Benefits

The Employer reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel all Separation Plan Benefits and to seek the return of Separation Plan Benefits in the event a Participant engages in any of the following activities:

 

   

Any activity that constitutes Cause (regardless of whether such activity is known before or after the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date, unless the Claims Reviewer determines in its sole discretion that Cause shall not cause the forfeiture of Separation Plan Benefits in a particular case); or

 

   

Breaching any of the terms of the Release of Claims.

Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits

Separation Pay and Separation Benefits cease in the event a Participant is rehired by the Employer or one of its affiliates.

A Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan, and all Separation Plan Benefits shall cease upon the occurrence of the earliest of:

 

   

Termination of the Plan;

 

   

Inability of the Employer to pay Separation Plan Benefits when due;

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   9    Effective: June 2, 2021


   

Completion of payment to the Participant of the Separation Plan Benefits for which the Participant is eligible; and

 

   

The Claims Reviewer’s determination, in its sole discretion, of the occurrence by the Eligible Employee of an activity that constitutes Cause, regardless of whether such determination occurs before or after the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date, unless the Claims Reviewer determines in its sole discretion that Cause shall not cause the cessation of Separation Plan Benefits in a particular case.

Return of Separation Plan Benefits

If an event occurs pursuant to which Separation Plan Benefits would cease or otherwise be reduced or offset (see Reduction of Benefits, Forfeiture of Benefits and Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits), then, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Participant must repay to the Employer the gross amount of any Separation Plan Benefits previously paid or provided within thirty (30) days following receipt of a demand for such repayment.

Death of Participant

If a Participant dies following his or her Separation Date and a valid Release of Claims was signed by the Participant or is signed by the Participant’s estate then any unpaid Separation Plan Benefits will be paid to the Participant’s estate.

Filing a Claim

If benefits are not automatically paid or provided to you and you feel you are entitled to benefits under this Plan or if you have a dispute regarding a benefit paid or provided, you (or your duly authorized representative) must file a claim with the Claims Reviewer at the following address:

Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Your claim must be received by the Claims Reviewer within 60 days after your employment with an Employer ends; provided, however for claims regarding the cessation of Separation Plan Benefits, the claim must be received by the Claims Reviewer within 60 days after the date Separation Plan Benefits are cancelled.

The claim for benefits will be reviewed by, and a determination made by, the Claims Reviewer. The Claims Reviewer will make a determination regarding the claim within a reasonable time, but not later than 90 days after its receipt by the Claims Reviewer. If the Claims Reviewer determines that an extension of time to process the claim is required, you will receive written notice before the end of the initial 90-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension (not to exceed an additional 90 days without your written consent) and the date by which the Claims Reviewer expects to render a decision.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   10    Effective: June 2, 2021


If the Claims Reviewer does not fully agree with your claim, you will receive a written or electronic notice of an “adverse benefit determination” within the 90-day period (as it may be extended as described above). The notice of adverse benefit determination will include:

 

   

The specific reason(s) for the adverse benefit determination;

 

   

The specific provision(s) of this Plan on which the determination was based;

 

   

Any material or information necessary for the benefits to be paid or provided as well as an explanation of why the material or information is necessary;

 

   

An explanation of the appeal procedures set forth below; and

 

   

A statement of your right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following the denial of your appeal.

An “adverse benefit determination” is a denial, reduction, or termination of, or failure to provide, or make payment (in whole or in part) of a benefit.

Appealing An Adverse Benefit Determination

If you receive notice of an adverse benefit determination, you are entitled to apply for a full and fair review of your claim and the adverse benefit determination. To apply for the a review, you or your duly authorized representative must file an appeal within 60 days after your receipt of the Claims Reviewer’s notice of adverse benefit determination. If you fail to file a written appeal within the 60-day period, the Claim Reviewer’s adverse benefit determination is final and conclusive.

The appeal must be made in writing and must be filed with the Plan Administrator within the 60-day period at the following address:

Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

The appeal is deemed to be filed when it is received by the Total Rewards Operations Council.

You or your duly authorized representative may upon request and free of charge have reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (the relevance to be determined by the Total Rewards Operations Council in accordance with ERISA) to your claim for benefits and may submit in writing any comments, documents, records and other information relating to your claim for benefits. The Total Rewards Operations Council will re-examine all issues relevant to the original adverse benefit determination taking into account all comments, document, records and other information submitted by you or your duly authorized representative relating to the claim without regard to whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   11    Effective: June 2, 2021


The Total Rewards Operations Council will provide written or electronic notice to you or your duly authorized representative of its determination on review. The notice will be provided within a reasonable time, but not later than 60 days after the appeal is received by the Total Rewards Operations Council. If the Total Rewards Operations Council determines that an extension of time to process the claim is required, you will receive written notice before the end of the initial 60-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension (not to exceed an additional 60 days without your written consent), and the date by which the Total Rewards Operations Council expects to render a decision.

If your appeal is denied, you will receive a notice of adverse benefit determination on review. The notice will include:

 

   

The specific reason(s) for the adverse determination on review;

 

   

Reference to the specific provisions of the Executive Severance Program on which the benefit determination is based;

 

   

A statement that you are entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim for benefits (the relevance to be determined by the Total Rewards Operations Council in accordance with ERISA); and

 

   

A description of your right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.

All decisions of the Total Rewards Operations Council are final and binding unless determined to be arbitrary and capricious by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   12    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

Glossary

Glossary Terms

AIP-Eligible Months” means the number of days that a Participant was employed in a position that was eligible to participate in the Employer’s annual bonus program during the Plan Year adjusted for any leaves of absence and divided by 30, with regular rounding rules applied.

Annual Base Salary means a Participant’s annual base salary as in effect at his or her Separation Date or, if greater, prior to any reduction that gives rise to Good Reason, according to the Employer’s payroll records, without reduction for any contributions to Employer-sponsored benefit plans. Annual Base Salary does not include bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, shift pay, premium pay, lump sum merit increases, cost of living allowances, income from stock options or other incentives under an incentive stock plan of the Employer, stock grants or other incentives, or other pay not specifically included above.

Annual Target Bonus means a Participant’s annual target bonus opportunity as in effect at his or her Separation Date or, if greater, prior to any reduction that gives rise to Good Reason, under the annual bonus plan or program maintained by the Employer.

Benefits Continuation Period means twenty-four (24) months following the first day of the calendar month following the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date.

“Cause means a Participant’s: (i) material breach of any written agreement between the Participant and the Employer, including the Participant’s breach of any material representation, warranty or covenant made under any such agreement, or the Participant’s breach of any written policy or code of conduct established by the Employer and applicable to Participant; (ii) commission of an act of gross negligence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, theft or embezzlement; (iii) commission of, or conviction or indictment for, or plea of nolo contendere to, any felony (or state law equivalent) or any crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) willful failure or refusal to perform Participant’s duties to the Employer or to follow any lawful directive from the Board or Participant’s supervisor.

Change in Control” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Organon & Co. 2021 Incentive Stock Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor Organon & Co. incentive stock plan.

“Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on a Change in Control and ending on the second anniversary of such Change in Control.

Claims Reviewer means Organon’s Total Rewards Operations Council its delegate.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   13    Effective: June 2, 2021


Glossary Terms

Eligible Employee means any regular full-time or regular part-time employee of an Employer who is in Band 700 or higher excluding any employee who has an individual employment, separation or similar agreement with the Employer that provides for separation, severance or termination payments or benefits. An “Eligible Employee” does not include any individual who is considered by the Employer in its sole discretion to be an independent contractor, regardless of whether the individual is in fact an employee of the Employer.

Whether an individual is an Eligible Employee or not is determined as of the date of his/her Qualifying Termination.

Employer means Organon & Co. and its subsidiaries, successors and assigns who participate in this Plan by virtue of employing an Eligible Employee.

Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following without the Participant’s prior written consent: (i) a material diminution in the Participant’s Annual Base Salary or Annual Target Bonus; (ii) a material diminution in Participant’s title, authority, duties or responsibilities; or (iii) the required relocation of the geographic location of Participant’s principal place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles from the location of Participant’s previous principal place of employment; provided, however, that (A) the Participant must provide written notice to the Employer of the existence of such condition(s) within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such condition(s); (B) the condition(s) specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for fifteen (15) days following the Employer’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the date of Participant’s termination of employment must occur within sixty (60) days after the initial existence of the condition(s) specified in such notice.

Participant means an Eligible Employee who has experienced a Qualifying Termination and who has signed, and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims in a form that is satisfactory to the Employer in its sole and absolute discretion.

Plan means this Organon Executive Change in Control Severance Program, as it may be amended from time to time.

Plan Administrator means the Total Rewards Operations Council or its delegate.

Plan Year means the calendar year January 1 through December 31 on which the records of the Plan are kept.

Qualifying Termination” means the termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment by the Employer without Cause or as a result of the Eligible Employee’s resignation with Good Reason.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   14    Effective: June 2, 2021


Glossary Terms

Release of Claims means the agreement that an Eligible Employee must execute in order to become a Participant and to receive Separation Plan Benefits, which shall be prepared by the Employer and shall contain such terms and conditions as determined by the Employer, including but not limited to a general release of claims, known or unknown, that the Eligible Employee may have against the Employer and its affiliates, including claims related to the employment and termination of employment of the Eligible Employee. Such Release of Claims may also contain, in the Employer’s discretion, other terms and conditions including, without limitation, post-termination cooperation, non-disclosure and confidentiality provisions.

Section 16 Officer” means an “officer” as such term is defined in Rule 16(a)-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of Organon & Co. who is also an Eligible Employee of Organon & Co.

Separation Benefits means the cash benefit payable under this Plan as described in the section entitled Medical and Dental Coverage Payment.

Separation Date means the Eligible Employee’s last day of employment with the Employer due to a Qualifying Termination.

Separation Pay means the cash benefit payable under this Plan as described in the section entitled Separation Pay Schedule.

Separation Plan Benefits means, collectively, Separation Pay and Separation Benefits.

Severance Multiplier” means: (i) 2.0 for each Section 16 Officer and (ii) 1.25 for all other Eligible Employees.

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   15    Effective: June 2, 2021


Exhibit A

Base Salary Separation Pay

(For Eligible Employees Previously Employed with Merck & Co., Inc.)

 

Complete Years of Continuous Service at Separation Date

  

Amount of Base Salary Separation Pay in Weeks (Annual Base Salary
Divided by 52)

0    26
1    40
2    40
3    40
4    40
5    42
6    44
7    46
8    48
9    50
10    52
11    54
12    56
13    58
14    60
15    62
16    64
17    66
18    68
19    70
20    72
21    74
22    76
23+    78

 

Organon

Executive Change in Control

Severance Program

   1    Effective: June 2, 2021

Exhibit 10.19

 

LOGO

Organon Executive Severance Program

This document sets forth the terms of the Organon Executive Severance Program (as the same may be amended, the “Plan”) as in effect on June 2, 2021. This document is both the legal plan document as well as the Summary Plan Description for the Plan.

The Plan applies to certain executives of Organon & Co. and its wholly owned subsidiaries who are determined to be participants in the Plan.

Organon reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan in whole or in part or to discontinue the Plan completely at any time.

Terms that are frequently used in the Plan are defined in the Glossary.

 


Contents

 

About Your Executive Severance Program

  

Overview

     1  

Eligibility

     1  

Eligibility in General

     1  

When Eligibility Ends

     1  

ERISA

     2  

Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits

     2  

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries

     2  

Enforce Your Rights

     2  

Assistance with Your Questions

     3  

Administrative Information

     3  

Sponsor

     4  

Plan Administrator

     4  

Agent for Service of Legal Process

     5  

Plan Funding and Administration

     5  

No Right to Employment

     6  

Plan Amendment and Termination

     6  

Plan Year

     6  

Benefits under the Executive Severance Program

  

How the Plan Works

     7  

Termination without Cause

     7  

Separation Pay Schedule

     7  

Continuation of Medical and Dental Coverage

     7  

Continuation of Basic Life Insurance Coverage

     9  

Outplacement Benefits

     9  

Reduction of Benefits

     9  

When and How Benefits Are Paid

     10  

Taxation of Benefits

     10  

Forfeiture of Benefits

     10  

Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits

     11  

Return of Separation Pay

     11  

Death of Participant

     12  

Filing a Claim

     12  

Appealing An Adverse Benefit Determination

     13  

Glossary

     15  

 

Organon Executive Severance

Program

   i    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

About Your Executive Severance Program

The following About Your Executive Severance Program section provides you with important information about eligibility and other administrative details.

Overview

This Plan is designed to help you meet financial needs if your employment with the Employer is terminated under certain circumstances.

Eligibility

Eligibility in General

Termination without Cause. You will be eligible to receive Separation Pay, Separation Benefits and Outplacement Benefits under this Plan if you are an Eligible Employee whose employment with the Employer terminates in a Qualifying Termination as a result of your termination by the Employer without Cause (and not as the result of your performance). Such benefits are provided only if you have signed and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims.

Release of Claims. The Release of Claims will contain such terms and conditions as determined by the Employer, including but not limited to a general release of claims, known or unknown, that you may have against the Employer and its affiliates, including claims related to your employment and termination of employment. Such Release of Claims may also contain, in the Employer’s discretion, other terms and conditions including, without limitation, post-termination cooperation, non-disclosure, confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and/or non-competition provisions.

Eligible Employee. An Eligible Employee under this Plan includes employees of an Employer in Band 700 or higher. However, any employee of an Employer who has an individual employment, separation or similar agreement with the Employer that provides for separation, severance or termination payments or benefits will not be eligible for Separation Plan Benefits under this Plan, but rather the terms of such individual employment, separation or similar agreement will control. In addition, should benefits be payable to a participant in the Organon Executive Change in Control Severance Plan, no payments or benefits will be provided under this Plan.

See the Glossary for the full definition of Eligible Employee, Qualifying Termination and Release of Claims.

When Eligibility Ends

Your eligibility to participate in this Plan ends on the earliest of:

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   1    Effective: June 2, 2021


   

The date your employment with the Employer terminates for any reason other than a Qualifying Termination;

 

   

The date you are no longer an Eligible Employee; or

 

   

The date this Plan is terminated by the Employer.

ERISA

This Plan is considered a “welfare benefit plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). You are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that all plan participants are entitled to:

Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits

 

   

Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator’s office and at other specified locations, such as worksites and union halls, all documents governing this Plan.

 

   

Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of this Plan and updated summary plan descriptions. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries

In addition to creating rights for plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the employee benefit plan. The people who operate the Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other plan participants and beneficiaries. No one, including your employer, or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.

Enforce Your Rights

If your claim for a welfare benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules. See Filing a Claim and Appealing a Claim.

Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan (if applicable) and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   2    Effective: June 2, 2021


If you submit a claim for benefits under this Plan within the time period specified for filing a claim and your claim is:

 

  (i)

ignored, or

 

  (ii)

denied, and you file an appeal within the applicable time frame and that appeal is then

 

  (a)

ignored or

 

  (b)

denied,

you may file a lawsuit in a state or Federal court. Please note that before you can file a lawsuit in a state or Federal court, you must follow the Plan’s procedures for filing a claim and an appeal of a denied claim.

If it should happen that the plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan’s money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file a lawsuit in a Federal court. If you file a lawsuit the court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

Assistance with Your Questions

If you have any questions about this Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or write to the following address:

Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries

Employee Benefits Security Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20210

You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration or visiting their website.

Administrative Information

This section contains information on the administration and funding for this Plan. While you may not need this information for day-to-day participation in this Plan, you should read through this section. It is important for you to understand your rights, the procedures you need to follow, and the appropriate contacts you may need in certain situations.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   3    Effective: June 2, 2021


Sponsor

Organon LLC sponsors this Plan. The employer identification number assigned to Organon LLC by the IRS is #85-2269702. The address and phone number for Organon LLC is as follows:

Secretary, Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

1-215-631-6972

Plan Administrator

The Plan Administrator for this Plan is Organon’s Total Rewards Operations Council or its delegate; provided, however, that the Talent Committee of the Board of Directors of Organon & Co. (the “Board”) administers this Plan with respect to any executive officers of Organon & Co. other than the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. and the Board administers this Plan with respect to the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. Any references to Organon’s “Total Rewards Operations Council” will refer to the Talent Committee or the Board with respect to such Participants. Administration of this Plan is the responsibility of the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator makes determinations as to eligibility and benefits.

The Plan Administrator has the full exclusive discretionary authority to:

 

   

Construe and interpret the provisions of this Plan (including without limitation, supplying omissions from, correcting deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the language of this Plan);

 

   

Determine all questions of fact arising under this Plan;

 

   

Decide all questions of eligibility for benefits;

 

   

Determine the amount of benefits;

 

   

Establish such rules and regulations (consistent with the terms of this Plan) as it deems necessary or appropriate for administration of this Plan;

 

   

Delegate responsibilities to others to assist in administration of the Plan; and

 

   

Perform all other acts it believes reasonable and proper in connection with the administration of this Plan.

Its decisions on such matters are final and conclusive. The Plan Administrator has reserved the right to delegate all or any portion of its discretionary authority described in the preceding sentence to a representative and the representative’s decisions on such matters are final and conclusive. With respect to determining claims and appeals for benefits under this Plan, the Claims Reviewer (and its delegate) is the delegate of the Plan Administrator and has all of the powers and duties of the Plan Administrator described above.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   4    Effective: June 2, 2021


Any interpretations or determinations made pursuant to such discretionary authority of the Plan Administrator or its representative will be upheld in judicial review unless it is shown that the interpretation or determination was an abuse of discretion.

If you have any questions concerning this Plan, please contact the Plan Administrator as follows:

Chief Human Resources Officer

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Agent for Service of Legal Process

If, for any reason, you want to seek legal action against this Plan, you can serve legal process on Organon, by directing service to the following address:

General Counsel

Organon & Co.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Plan Funding and Administration

Separation Pay and Outplacement Benefits under this Plan are financed entirely by the Employer, are paid from the Employer’s general assets as due and constitute an unfunded obligation of the Employer. This Plan constitutes solely an unsecured promise by the Employer to pay the benefits to Participants to the extent provided herein. Participant contributions are required for the continued medical and dental benefits which are part of the Separation Benefits. Separation Benefits under this Plan provide Participants with eligibility for continued medical and dental and life insurance coverage under the applicable plans of Employer or its subsidiaries. This Plan does not provide the substantive benefits under those plans. For information on the funding and administration of each of those plans, see the summary plan descriptions (and any applicable summaries of material modification) applicable to each individual plan.

This Plan is not intended to be an “employee pension plan” as the term is defined in section 3(2) of ERISA. The Plan is, however, intended to be an employee welfare benefit plan as the term is defined in section 3(1) of ERISA.

This Plan and all rights thereunder are to be governed by and construed in accordance with ERISA and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, with the laws of the state of Delaware, wherein venue shall lie for any dispute arising hereunder.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   5    Effective: June 2, 2021


Plan Funding and Administration Chart

Formal Plan Name

  

Plan Number

  

Plan/Type Benefits
Type

  

Plan Administrator

  

Type of
Administration

  

Insured or Self-
insured

Organon Executive Severance Program    514    Welfare/ Severance    Organon Total Rewards Operations Council    Employer Administration    Self-insured by the Employer

No Right to Employment

Nothing in this Plan represents nor is considered an employment contract, and neither the existence of this Plan nor any statements made by or on behalf of the Employer can be construed to create any promise or contractual right to employment or to the benefits of employment. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Employer or you may terminate the employment relationship without notice at any time and for any reason.

Plan Amendment and Termination

The Total Rewards Strategic Design Council has the right to amend, modify or terminate this Plan at any time without prior notice to or the consent of any employee; provided, however, that any such action that affects benefits payable hereunder to the Chief Executive Officer shall be approved by the Board and any such action that affects any other executive officer of the Organon & Co. shall be approved by the Talent Committee of the Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for two years following a Change in Control, the material terms of this Plan (including terms relating to eligibility, benefit calculation, benefit accrual, cost to participants, subsidies and rates of employee contributions) may not be modified in a manner that is materially adverse to Eligible Employees. During that two-year period, the Employer will pay the legal fees and expenses of any Eligible Employee that prevails on at least one material item of his or her claim for relief in an action regarding an impermissible amendment (other than ordinary claims for benefits).

Any Eligible Employee whose employment continues after amendment of this Plan is governed by the Plan as so amended. Any Eligible Employee whose employment continues after termination of this Plan has no right to Separation Plan Benefits. Nothing in this Plan in any way limits the right of the Employer (or its applicable subsidiary) to amend or terminate any or all of the plans of the Employer (or its applicable subsidiary) that provide Separation Benefits under this Plan.

Plan Year

The plan year for this Plan ends on December 31 of each year. The financial records of this Plan are kept on a calendar-year basis.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   6    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

Benefits under the Executive Severance Program

How the Plan Works

Termination without Cause

You may receive Separation Pay, Separation Benefits and Outplacement Benefits under this Plan if your employment is terminated by the Employer without Cause (and not as the result of your performance). Such benefits are provided only if you have signed, and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims. If you meet all these conditions for eligibility, you are considered a Participant in the Plan.

Separation Pay Schedule

Upon a Qualifying Termination, your Separation Pay under this Plan includes:

 

  (i)

a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of your Annual Base Salary (the “Base Salary Separation Pay”) and your Annual Target Bonus; provided, however, if you are the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. such payment shall be equal to the sum of two times (2x) your Annual Base Salary and two times (2x) your Annual Target Bonus; and

 

  (ii)

if your employment is terminated between June 30th and December 31st of the calendar year, a pro-rata Annual Target Bonus for the calendar year in which your termination of employment occurs, calculated based on the AIP-Eligible Months that you were employed during the year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you were employed by Merck & Co., Inc. or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries immediately prior to the legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc., the Base Salary Separation Pay component of your Separation Pay shall be no less than the amount calculated in Exhibit A (based on your complete years of continuous service with the Employer and Merck & Co., Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to the extent recognized by Merck & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries immediately prior to legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc.). For purposes of this Plan, years of continuous service will be calculated from your most recent re-hire date.

Continuation of Medical and Dental Coverage

A Participant who is covered under any of the Employer’s group employee medical and dental plans as of his or her Separation Date will be provided the opportunity to continue his or her employee and dependent coverage during his or her Benefits Continuation Period (as such coverage may be amended from time to time, in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plans), provided the Participant timely pays the required contribution to continue coverage.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   7    Effective: June 2, 2021


The required contribution is calculated at the active employee rates applicable to such coverage, as the same may be changed from time to time, during his or her Benefits Continuation Period.

A Participant who, prior to his or her Separation Date, had elected no employee medical or dental coverage under the applicable employee medical or dental plan will not be permitted to change from no medical and/or dental coverage to coverage as a result of a Qualifying Termination.

The Benefits Continuation Period begins on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Separation Date and shall end on the last day of the month in which the Benefits Continuation Period ends, provided the Participant pays the required contributions for coverage in the time and manner required. If the Participant fails to pay the required contributions for coverage in the time and manner required, or the Participant elects to terminate active medical and/or dental coverage, coverage will end as of the last day of the month for which the contribution was paid and it will not be reinstated during the Benefits Continuation Period. If the Participant has medical and/or dental coverage on the last day of the Benefits Continuation Period, the Participant may be eligible to continue coverage in effect at the end of the Benefits Continuation Period in accordance with COBRA or other similar law by timely electing and paying the full COBRA, or other applicable, premium.

If the Participant elects to end the Benefits Continuation Period earlier than the period set forth in the definition of the Benefits Continuation Period, all employee medical and/or dental benefit coverage that the Participant would otherwise have been eligible to receive during the maximum Benefits Continuation Period will be permanently and irrevocably forfeited.

If, as of his or her Separation Date, a Participant is eligible to participate in the Merck Retiree Medical Plan, then he or she:

 

   

will be eligible to continue active Organon medical and dental benefits during the Benefits Continuation Period as described above; and

 

   

following the completion of the Benefits Continuation Period, will be eligible for retiree medical benefits in accordance with the terms of the Merck Retiree Medical Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

If a Participant is not eligible to continue Organon employee medical coverage during the Benefits Continuation Period (i.e., because the Participant had no employee coverage on his/her Separation Date) or the Participant’s medical coverage ends during the Benefits Continuation Period (for any reason, including non-payment), the Participant cannot enroll for Merck Retiree Medical Plan coverage until the end of the Benefits Continuation Period. If the Participant elects to end the Benefits Continuation Period earlier than the period set forth on Exhibit B, all Organon employee medical and/or dental benefit coverage that the Participant would otherwise have been eligible to receive during the maximum Benefits Continuation Period will be permanently and irrevocably forfeited. A Participant cannot be covered as an Organon employee and as a Merck retiree (even under the retiree no coverage option, if available) during the same period; provided, however, that a Participant may be covered through COBRA at full COBRA rates for Organon employee dental coverage even if during that period the Participant is also covered as a Merck retiree for medical coverage.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   8    Effective: June 2, 2021


Continuation of Basic Life Insurance Coverage

A Participant will be eligible to continue Basic Life Insurance coverage at no cost to the Participant during his or her Benefits Continuation Period subject to and in accordance with the terms of the applicable life insurance plan as they may be amended from time to time. The Participant is responsible for paying applicable tax on imputed income, if any, for Basic Life Insurance coverage during his or her Benefits Continuation Period.

Outplacement Benefits

A participant will be eligible for 12 months of outplacement counseling or other outplacement services. Outplacement Benefits are provided through a third party vendor. The Employer reserves the right to change the vendor or the programs at any time.

Reduction of Benefits

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, a Participant’s Separation Pay and Separation Benefits, if applicable, will be reduced by:

 

   

Any amount the Plan Administrator reasonably concludes the Participant owes the Employer including, without limitation, unpaid bills under the corporate credit card program and for vacation used, but not earned;

 

   

Any severance or severance-type benefits that the Employer must pay to a Participant under applicable law or collective or labor agreement (other than unemployment compensation under applicable law), including any amounts payable pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or any other similar federal, state or local statute;

 

   

Where permitted by law, any payments received by the Participant pursuant to state workers compensation laws; and

 

   

Short-term disability benefits where applicable law does not permit Separation Pay to be offset from short term disability benefits (or where the Employer in its sole and absolute discretion determines it is administratively easier for the Employer to reduce Separation Pay by short term disability benefits in lieu of reducing short term disability benefits by Separation Pay).

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   9    Effective: June 2, 2021


When and How Benefits Are Paid

Separation Pay will be paid in a lump sum (less applicable withholdings) as soon as practicable after the Participant’s Separation Date and the expiration of any period during which the Participant may consider, sign and, if a revocation period is applicable, revoke the Release of Claims, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the Participant’s Separation Date. If the period during which the Participant may consider, sign and, if a revocation period is applicable, revoke, the Release of Claims spans two calendar years the Separation Pay will be paid in the second calendar year.

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, benefits under this Plan (including Separation Pay and Separation Benefits) that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be administered to comply with and to avoid the excise tax under Section 409A. The Employer will take any and all steps it determines are necessary, in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust benefits under this Plan (including Separation Pay and Separation Benefits) to avoid the excise tax under Section 409A, including but not limited to, reducing or eliminating benefits, changing the time or form of payment of benefits, etc.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “Specified Employee” (as defined under Section 409A) on his or her Separation Date, to the extent required by Section 409A, no payments will be made to him or her until the earlier of (i) his or her death; or (2) the expiration of the six-month period following his or her Separation Date. Instead, amounts that would otherwise have been payable during that six-month period will be accumulated and paid, without interest, as soon as administratively feasible, and in all events within 30 days, following the end of such six-month period.

Taxation of Benefits

Separation Pay is subject to the withholding of appropriate Federal, state and local taxes. The Employer will withhold taxes as required, but the Employer reserves the right to treat Separation Pay as supplemental wages subject to flat-rate withholding (not taking into account any exemptions).

In the event that any payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Employer or its affiliates for the benefit of the Participant, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such payments or benefits shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax, but only if such reduction would cause the amount to be retained by the Participant to be greater than would be the case if the Participant were required to pay the Excise Tax. Any such reduction shall be made by the Employer in its sole discretion consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Forfeiture of Benefits

The Employer reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel all Separation Plan Benefits and to seek the return of Separation Pay in the event a Participant engages in any activity that the Employer considers detrimental to its interests (or the interests of any of its affiliates) as determined by Organon’s Total Rewards Operations Council. Activities that the Employer considers detrimental to its interest (or the interests of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates) include, but are not limited to:

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   10    Effective: June 2, 2021


   

Any activity that constitutes Cause (regardless of whether such activity is known before or after the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date, unless the Claims Reviewer determines in its sole discretion that Cause shall not cause the forfeiture of Separation Plan Benefits in a particular case);

 

   

Breach of any obligations of the Participant’s terms and conditions of employment;

 

   

Making false or misleading statements about the Employer or any of its affiliates or their products, officers or employees to competitors, customers, potential customers or to current employees or former employees of the Employer; and

 

   

Breaching any of the terms of the Release of Claims, including, if included in the Release of Claims, any non-solicitation or non-competition provisions.

Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits

Separation Pay and Separation Benefits cease in the event a Participant is rehired by the Employer or one of its affiliates.

A Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan, and all Separation Plan Benefits shall cease upon the occurrence of the earliest of:

 

   

Termination of the Plan;

 

   

Inability of the Employer to pay Separation Plan Benefits when due;

 

   

Completion of payment to the Participant of the Separation Plan Benefits for which the Participant is eligible; and

 

   

The Claims Reviewer’s determination, in its sole discretion, of the occurrence by the Eligible Employee of an activity that constitutes Cause, regardless of whether such determination occurs before or after the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date, unless the Claims Reviewer determines in its sole discretion that Cause shall not cause the cessation of Separation Plan Benefits in a particular case.

Return of Separation Pay

If an event occurs pursuant to which Separation Plan Benefits would cease or otherwise be reduced or offset (see Reduction of Benefits, Forfeiture of Benefits and Cessation of Separation Pay and Benefits), then, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Participant must repay to the Employer the gross amount of any Separation Plan Benefits previously paid or provided within thirty (30) days following receipt of a demand for such repayment.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   11    Effective: June 2, 2021


Death of Participant

If a Participant dies following his or her Separation Date and a valid Release of Claims was signed by the Participant or is signed by the Participant’s estate then:

 

   

any unpaid Separation Pay will be paid to the Participant’s estate; and

 

   

if the Participant was eligible to continue medical and/or dental coverage during the Benefits Continuation Period on the Participant’s date of death and the Participant’s surviving dependents were covered under the Participant’s medical and dental coverages at the time of the Participant’s death, they may continue such coverage for the balance of the Benefits Continuation Period, provided they continue to remain eligible dependents and they pay the applicable contributions at active employee rates, as they may change from time to time.

Medical and dental coverage under this section is subject to and in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans of Employer (or its subsidiaries) as they may be amended from time to time.

Filing a Claim

If benefits are not automatically paid or provided to you and you feel you are entitled to benefits under this Plan or if you have a dispute regarding a benefit paid or provided, you (or your duly authorized representative) must file a claim with the Claims Reviewer at the following address:

Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Your claim must be received by the Claims Reviewer within 60 days after your employment with an Employer ends; provided, however for claims regarding the cessation of Separation Plan Benefits, the claim must be received by the Claims Reviewer within 60 days after the date Separation Plan Benefits are cancelled.

The claim for benefits will be reviewed by, and a determination made by, the Claims Reviewer. The Claims Reviewer will make a determination regarding the claim within a reasonable time, but not later than 90 days after its receipt by the Claims Reviewer. If the Claims Reviewer determines that an extension of time to process the claim is required, you will receive written notice before the end of the initial 90-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension (not to exceed an additional 90 days without your written consent) and the date by which the Claims Reviewer expects to render a decision.

If the Claims Reviewer does not fully agree with your claim, you will receive a written or electronic notice of an “adverse benefit determination” within the 90-day period (as it may be extended as described above). The notice of adverse benefit determination will include:

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   12    Effective: June 2, 2021


   

The specific reason(s) for the adverse benefit determination;

 

   

The specific provision(s) of this Plan on which the determination was based;

 

   

Any material or information necessary for the benefits to be paid or provided as well as an explanation of why the material or information is necessary;

 

   

An explanation of the appeal procedures set forth below; and

 

   

A statement of your right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following the denial of your appeal.

An “adverse benefit determination” is a denial, reduction, or termination of, or failure to provide, or make payment (in whole or in part) of a benefit.

With respect to Separation Benefits, the claims and appeals procedure described in this Plan apply only to claims for eligibility to continue participation in medical, dental and life insurance coverage due to a Qualifying Termination under the applicable plans of Employer. Claims and appeals for substantive benefits (e.g., payment of medical/dental or life insurance claims incurred) under those plans must be filed in accordance with the applicable provisions of those plans.

Appealing An Adverse Benefit Determination

If you receive notice of an adverse benefit determination, you are entitled to apply for a full and fair review of your claim and the adverse benefit determination. To apply for the a review, you or your duly authorized representative must file an appeal within 60 days after your receipt of the Claims Reviewer’s notice of adverse benefit determination. If you fail to file a written appeal within the 60-day period, the Claim Reviewer’s adverse benefit determination is final and conclusive.

The appeal must be made in writing and must be filed with the Plan Administrator within the 60-day period at the following address:

Total Rewards Operations Council

Organon LLC

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

The appeal is deemed to be filed when it is received by the Total Rewards Operations Council.

You or your duly authorized representative may upon request and free of charge have reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (the relevance to be determined by the Total Rewards Operations Council in accordance with ERISA) to your claim for benefits and may submit in writing any comments, documents, records and other information relating to your claim for benefits. The Total Rewards Operations Council will re-examine all issues relevant to the original adverse benefit determination taking into account all comments, document, records and other information submitted by you or your duly authorized representative relating to the claim without regard to whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   13    Effective: June 2, 2021


The Total Rewards Operations Council will provide written or electronic notice to you or your duly authorized representative of its determination on review. The notice will be provided within a reasonable time, but not later than 60 days after the appeal is received by the Total Rewards Operations Council. If the Total Rewards Operations Council determines that an extension of time to process the claim is required, you will receive written notice before the end of the initial 60-day period indicating the special circumstances requiring an extension (not to exceed an additional 60 days without your written consent), and the date by which the Total Rewards Operations Council expects to render a decision.

If your appeal is denied, you will receive a notice of adverse benefit determination on review. The notice will include:

 

   

The specific reason(s) for the adverse determination on review;

 

   

Reference to the specific provisions of the Executive Severance Program on which the benefit determination is based;

 

   

A statement that you are entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim for benefits (the relevance to be determined by the Total Rewards Operations Council in accordance with ERISA); and

 

   

A description of your right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review.

All decisions of the Total Rewards Operations Council are final and binding unless determined to be arbitrary and capricious by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   14    Effective: June 2, 2021


 

Glossary

Glossary Terms

AIP-Eligible Months” means the number of days that a Participant was employed in a position that was eligible to participate in the Employer’s annual bonus program during the Plan Year adjusted for any leaves of absence and divided by 30, with regular rounding rules applied.

Annual Base Salary means a Participant’s annual base salary as in effect at his or her Separation Date, according to the Employer’s payroll records, without reduction for any contributions to Employer-sponsored benefit plans. Annual Base Salary does not include bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, shift pay, premium pay, lump sum merit increases, cost of living allowances, income from stock options or other incentives under an incentive stock plan of the Employer, stock grants or other incentives, or other pay not specifically included above.

Annual Target Bonus means a Participant’s annual target bonus opportunity as in effect at his or her Separation Date under the annual bonus plan or program maintained by the Employer.

Basic Life Insurance” means life insurance provided to an Eligible Employee under a plan sponsored by the Employer equal to 1.0 x “base pay” as defined under the life insurance plan in which the Eligible Employee participates, as it may be amended from time to time.

Benefits Continuation Period means twelve (12) months following the first day of the calendar month following the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date; provided, however, if the Eligible Employee is the Chief Executive Officer of Organon & Co. such period shall be twenty-four (24) months following the first day of the calendar month following the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you were employed by Merck & Co., Inc. or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries immediately prior to the legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc and have 20 or more complete years of continuous service (based on your complete years of continuous service with the Employer and Merck & Co., Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to the extent recognized by Merck & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries immediately prior to legal separation of Organon & Co. and Merck & Co, Inc.), such period shall be 78 weeks following the first day of the calendar month following the Eligible Employee’s Separation Date (or through the last day of the month in which such 78-week period ends if the Eligible Employee is eligible for subsidized retiree medical benefits under the Merck Retiree Medical Plan on their Separation Date).

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   15    Effective: June 2, 2021


Glossary Terms

Cause means a Participant’s: (i) material breach of any written agreement between the Participant and the Employer, including the Participant’s breach of any material representation, warranty or covenant made under any such agreement, or the Participant’s breach of any written policy or code of conduct established by the Employer and applicable to Participant; (ii) commission of an act of gross negligence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, theft or embezzlement; (iii) commission of, or conviction or indictment for, or plea of nolo contendere to, any felony (or state law equivalent) or any crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) willful failure or refusal to perform Participant’s duties to the Employer or to follow any lawful directive from the Board or Participant’s supervisor.

Claims Reviewer means Organon’s Total Rewards Operations Council or its delegate.

COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Section 4980B of the Code, and Section 601, et seq., of ERISA.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Eligible Employee means any regular full-time or regular part-time employee of an Employer who is in Band 700 or higher excluding any employee who has an individual employment, separation or similar agreement with the Employer that provides for separation, severance or termination payments or benefits. An “Eligible Employee” does not include any individual who is considered by the Employer in its sole discretion to be an independent contractor, regardless of whether the individual is in fact an employee of the Employer.

Whether an individual is an Eligible Employee or not is determined as of the date of his/her Qualifying Termination.

Employer means Organon & Co. and its subsidiaries, successors and assigns who participate in this Plan by virtue of employing an Eligible Employee.

Outplacement Benefits” means benefits for outplacement counseling or other outplacement services made available to a Participant who incurs a Qualifying Termination described in the Outplacement Benefits section of this Plan.

Participant means an Eligible Employee who has experienced a Qualifying Termination and who has signed, and, if a revocation period is applicable, not revoked, a Release of Claims in a form that is satisfactory to the Employer in its sole and absolute discretion.

Plan means this Organon Executive Severance Program, as it may be amended from time to time.

Plan Administrator means the Total Rewards Operations Council or its delegate.

Plan Year means the calendar year January 1 through December 31 on which the records of the Plan are kept.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   16    Effective: June 2, 2021


Glossary Terms

Qualifying Termination” means the termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment by the Employer without Cause (and not as the result of the Eligible Employee’s performance). The determination of whether a termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment by the Employer is a Qualifying Termination and was not the result of the Eligible Employee’s performance shall be made in the sole discretion of the Employer.

Release of Claims means the agreement that an Eligible Employee must execute in order to become a Participant and to receive Separation Plan Benefits, which shall be prepared by the Employer and shall contain such terms and conditions as determined by the Employer, including but not limited to a general release of claims, known or unknown, that the Eligible Employee may have against the Employer and its affiliates, including claims related to the employment and termination of employment of the Eligible Employee. Such Release of Claims may also contain, in the Employer’s discretion, other terms and conditions including, without limitation, post-termination cooperation, non-disclosure, confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and/or non-competition provisions.

Separation Benefits means the continuing medical, dental and Basic Life Insurance benefits described in this Plan in the sections entitled Continuation of Medical and Dental Benefits and Continuation of Life Insurance Benefits.

Separation Date means the Eligible Employee’s last day of employment with the Employer due to a Qualifying Termination.

Separation Pay means the cash benefit payable under this Plan as described in the section entitled Separation Pay Schedule.

Separation Plan Benefits means, collectively, Separation Pay, Separation Benefits and Outplacement Benefits.

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   17    Effective: June 2, 2021


Exhibit A

Base Salary Separation Pay

(For Eligible Employees Previously Employed with Merck & Co., Inc.)

 

Complete Years of Continuous Service at Separation Date

  

Amount of Base Salary Separation Pay in Weeks (Annual Base Salary
Divided by 52)

0    26
1    40
2    40
3    40
4    40
5    42
6    44
7    46
8    48
9    50
10    52
11    54
12    56
13    58
14    60
15    62
16    64
17    66
18    68
19    70
20    72
21    74
22    76
23+    78

 

Organon

Executive Severance Program

   18    Effective: June 2, 2021

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO       News Release  

 

 

 

  Media Contacts:    Karissa Peer    Investor Contacts:    Jennifer Halchak
  

(614) 314-8094

 

Kate Vossen

(732) 675-8448

     

(201) 275-2711

 

Edward Barger

(267) 614-4669

Organon Launches as New Global Women’s Health Company

Only company of its size focused on women’s health

Launching with a commitment to listen to women to understand her health needs and help identify solutions that are urgently needed

Jersey City, N.J., June 3, 2021 – Organon (NYSE: OGN), today celebrates its launch as a global women’s health company with employees and women from around the world, as the Organon executive leadership team rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Recognizing the need to listen to and act on women’s experiences to address the challenges in women’s health, Organon gathered voices from around the world to create the “Wall of Voices,” a multimedia installation outside of the NYSE.

Organon focuses on women’s everyday health needs, with a focus on reproductive health, health issues that are unique to women, as well as conditions that disproportionately affect women. The “Wall of Voices” shares powerful perspectives, voices and images of women from around the world highlighting these health issues and serves as a symbol of Organon’s commitment. Women everywhere are invited to take the “microphone” to add their voice to the digital “Wall of Voices” at HereForHerHealth.com.

“At Organon, we are here for her health. Our vision is to create a better and healthier every day for every woman around the world. There is no other healthcare company with our global footprint dedicated to putting women at the center that will focus on identifying medicines and solutions that they so urgently need,” said Kevin Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Organon. “The time is right for Organon to bring forward more options for women and healthcare providers to help shape the future of women’s health.”


Diverse Portfolio will Drive Sustainable Growth

At launch, Organon’s portfolio will consist of more than 60 medicines and products across an international footprint that serves people in more than 140 markets, with nearly 80% of its approximately $6.5 billion in annual revenue generated outside the U.S. Organon believes it is well positioned for organic low-to-mid-single digit growth from its 2021 base of business.

Organon has three core pillars that will benefit from renewed management focus and commercial investment:

 

   

Womens Health: Anchored by NEXPLANON (etonogestrel implant), a long-acting reversible contraception, along with its contraceptive and fertility businesses and boosted by its recently announced proposed acquisition of Alydia Health, a medical device company focused on preventing maternal morbidity and mortality caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) or abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding.

 

   

Biosimilars: A key growth pillar with products available in various parts of the world including RENFLEXIS (infliximab-abda) and BRENZYS (etanercept) in immunology and ONTRUZANT (trastuzumab-dttb) in oncology. Organon’s expertise is in the commercialization of these products, bringing them to more people around the world.

 

   

Established Brands: 49 well-known products in the respiratory, cardiovascular, dermatology and non-opioid pain areas.

Women at the Center: Organon’s Approach to Innovation

Organon’s R&D philosophy is to build a business around patient needs, with the goal of identifying and advancing healthcare options for women that enable them to live their best lives every day.

“For too long, for too many common conditions, such as heavy, painful, and irregular menstrual bleeding, incontinence and menopause and many others, women have been told to accept and normalize these conditions as a part of life,” said Sandy Milligan, Head of Organon Research & Development. “Organon’s mission is to change this. We believe this approach will be very successful — we hope to discover the ability to identify diseases earlier, the ability to modify the course of diseases or healthcare conditions and to ultimately, improve the quality of life for women at all stages.”

 

- 2 -


The company’s extensive global capabilities in clinical development and patient safety, regulatory and medical affairs make it well-positioned to identify promising drugs, diagnostics and devices with the greatest potential to impact women’s health.

Majority Female Board of Directors Will Guide Team of Committed Employees

Organon believes the journey to improve women’s health is foundational to the gender equity it wants to see in its organization. The representation of women on the Board — comprising 70% of positions — is higher than any S&P 500 healthcare company. Together with Organon’s employees, a global community of approximately 9,000 strong, they are united in their drive to better support the health of women around the globe.

A live webcast of the Opening Bell from the exchange will be available on the NYSE website today from 9:30 a.m. EST.

About Organon

Organon (NYSE: OGN) is a global healthcare company formed through a spinoff from Merck to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Here for her health, the company has a portfolio of more than 60 medicines and products across a range of therapeutic areas. Led by the reproductive health portfolio coupled with an expanding biosimilars business and stable franchise of established medicines, Organon’s products produce strong cash flows that will support investments in future growth opportunities in women’s health, including business development. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 9,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

For more information, visit www.organon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statement of Organon & Co., Jersey City, N.J., USA

This news release of Organon & Co. (the “company”) may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “will” or words of

 

- 3 -


similar meaning. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the recent global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its registration statement on Form 10, available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

 

- 4 -