UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 7, 2024
Primo Brands Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-31410 | 99-3483984 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800 Tampa, Florida 33607 |
900 Long Ridge Road, Building 2 Stamford, Connecticut 06902 |
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (813) 544-8515
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 |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share | PRMB | The New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note
On November 8, 2024, Primo Brands Corporation (formerly known as Triton US HoldCo, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the Company), consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 1, 2024 (as amended, the Arrangement Agreement), by and among Primo Water Corporation, a company existing under the laws of Ontario (Primo Water), Triton Water Parent, Inc., formerly a Delaware corporation (BlueTriton), the Company, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueTriton, Triton Merger Sub 1, Inc., formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and 1000922661 Ontario Inc., formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (Amalgamation Sub). As contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement: (i) Amalgamation Sub acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares, no par value (the Primo Shares), of Primo Water that were outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement (as defined below) (the Effective Time) (other than any Primo Shares held by Amalgamation Sub or any of its affiliates) in exchange for shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Class A common stock), of the Company on a 1:1 basis, resulting in former owners of Primo Shares and former holders of Primo Equity Awards (as defined herein) holding shares of Class A common stock representing approximately 43% of the Fully Diluted Shares (as defined herein), followed immediately by an amalgamation of Primo Water and Amalgamation Sub, with the resulting amalgamated entity, named Primo Water Corporation, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the Arrangement); (ii) immediately following completion of the Arrangement, Merger Sub merged with and into BlueTriton (the Merger), with BlueTriton surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; (iii) immediately following the Merger, and as part of one integrated transaction with the Merger, BlueTriton, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, merged with and into the Company (the Subsequent Merger and, together with the Merger, the Mergers and, collectively with the Arrangement, the Transaction), with the Company being the surviving corporation in the Subsequent Merger; (iv) in connection with the Subsequent Merger, each share of common stock of BlueTriton issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger (other than shares cancelled in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement) were converted into shares of Class A common stock or shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Class B common stock), of the Company such that the sole shareholder of BlueTriton holds shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock (collectively, the Shares) representing approximately 57% of the Fully Diluted Shares; and (v) as a result of the Transaction, Primo Water and Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueTriton, became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.
Pursuant to the Arrangement, each option, whether vested or unvested (each, a Primo Option), to acquire Primo Shares granted pursuant to Primo Waters 2018 Equity Incentive Plan or Amended and Restated Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, and each as amended prior to the Effective Time, the Primo Stock Plans) or otherwise, which was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, was automatically converted into, and thereafter evidences, an option to acquire Class A common stock in an amount equal to the number of Primo Shares previously underlying such Primo Option (each, a Primo Brands Replacement Option) at an exercise price per share equal to the per share exercise price of the Primo Option.
Pursuant to the Arrangement, each restricted stock unit, whether vested or unvested, with respect to Primo Shares subject to time-based vesting granted pursuant to the Primo Stock Plans or otherwise (each, a Primo RSU), which was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, was automatically assumed and converted into a restricted stock unit award to acquire Class A common stock in an amount equal to the number of Primo Shares previously underlying such Primo RSU (each, a Primo Brands Replacement RSU). Each such Primo Brands Replacement RSU so assumed and converted continues to have, and is subject to, the same terms and conditions as applied to the Primo RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Each restricted stock unit, whether vested or unvested, with respect to Primo Shares subject to performance-based vesting granted pursuant to the Primo Stock Plans or otherwise (each, a Primo PSU and, together with Primo Options, Primo RSUs, and other equity interests granted as compensation or otherwise in respect of service, whether or not granted pursuant to the Primo Stock Plans, collectively, the Primo Equity Awards), which was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, was automatically assumed and converted into a restricted stock unit award to acquire Class A common stock in an amount equal to the number of Primo Shares previously underlying such Primo PSU based on progress against performance targets to date (each, a Primo Brands Conversion RSU and, together with the Primo Brands Replacement Options and Primo Brands Replacement RSUs, the Primo Brands Replacement Awards). Each such Primo Brands Conversion RSU has a time-based vesting period equal to the remaining performance period of such Primo PSU prior to the Effective Time.
As used herein, Fully Diluted Shares refers to the sum of (i) the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock issued and outstanding, plus (ii) the aggregate maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable in respect of any equity interests of the Company, including with respect to Primo Brands Replacement Options, Primo Brands Replacement RSUs, and Primo Brands Conversion RSUs, in each case, that are outstanding or deemed outstanding (and assuming the vesting in full of any of the foregoing subject to vesting or similar conditions).
The issuance of 160,395,812 shares of Class A common stock to the holders of Primo Shares in exchange for their Primo Shares and the issuance of Primo Brands Replacement Awards in exchange for Primo Equity Awards, respectively, in each case pursuant to the Arrangement, were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and such securities were issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof.
In connection with the Transaction, the Class A common stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) and trade under the symbol PRMB. As a result of the Transaction, the Company became the successor issuer to Primo Water pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). This Current Report on Form 8-K (this Current Report) establishes the Company as the successor issuer to Primo Water pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(e) under the Exchange Act, the Class A common stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.
The foregoing description of the Arrangement Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Arrangement Agreement and the amendment thereto, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, to this Current Report and which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Stockholders Agreement
Prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the Company entered into a Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024 (the Stockholders Agreement), by and between the Company and Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the holder of all of the common stock of BlueTriton prior to the Transaction (the Initial ORCP Stockholder), setting forth certain governance and other rights of the Initial ORCP Stockholder and certain of its permitted transferees, referred to collectively as the Sponsor Stockholders. Certain governance and other rights set forth in the Stockholders Agreement are specific to the Sponsor Stockholders who are affiliated with One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, referred to collectively as the ORCP Stockholders.
Board of Directors
The Stockholders Agreement provides for the initial composition of the Companys board of directors (the Board) as of the consummation of the Transaction, including that (i) C. Dean Metropoulos will serve as the initial non-executive chair of the Board for a two-year term and that (ii) Jerry Fowden will serve as the initial lead independent director of the Board. See Item 5.02 of this Current Report.
Consent Rights
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, so long as the ORCP Stockholders own at least 30% of the Companys outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock (collectively, the common stock), the ORCP Stockholders shall have consent rights over certain actions by the Company, including, but not limited to (and, in each case, subject to certain exceptions and materiality thresholds), the issuance of new equity securities, entry into or modifications of joint ventures or similar business agreements, acquisitions or divestitures, the declaration of certain dividends, the redemption or repurchase of equity securities, the incurrence of indebtedness or the designation of directors other than in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined herein). In addition, approval of 66 2/3% of the Board would be required for certain actions, including issuances of the Companys equity securities to Sponsor Stockholders (except pursuant to their purchase rights), effecting a change of control, increasing or decreasing the Board size or board of directors of any subsidiary or committee thereof other than as specified in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or initiating a voluntary liquidation or dissolution.
Furthermore, removing or replacing the Companys Chief Executive Officer in the first year following the consummation of the Transaction will require approval of 66 2/3% of the Board.
Liquidity and Transfer Restrictions
From the consummation of the Transaction until the three-month anniversary of such date (such three-month period is referred to as the Restricted Period), the Sponsor Stockholders will be subject to a lockup that will restrict transfers of shares of Class A common stock, other than to certain permitted transferees, or in certain types of transactions in which the transferee agrees to be bound by the lockup.
The ORCP Stockholders have agreed that the first registered sale of Class A common stock by the ORCP Stockholders will be in the form of an underwritten non-shelf registered offering or an underwritten shelf takedown, unless the ORCP Stockholders conclude in good faith that conducting an underwritten offering would adversely impact the price or liquidity of such sale compared to other liquidity alternatives being considered by the ORCP Stockholders.
Registration Rights
After the expiration or waiver of the Restricted Period, the ORCP Stockholders may request that the Company conduct a registered offering of their Class A common stock, subject to certain conditions. The ORCP Stockholders and any other Sponsor Stockholder that beneficially owns 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock may exercise piggyback rights to participate in any registered offering of Class A common stock conducted at their request or at the initiative of the Company.
The Company has agreed to file a shelf registration statement as promptly as practicable after the consummation of the Transaction to register the resale by the Sponsor Stockholders of their respective shares of Class A common stock from time to time. The ORCP Stockholders have the right to request a takedown offering of shares off of an effective shelf registration statement, and the ORCP Stockholders and any other Sponsor Stockholders that beneficially own greater than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock will have piggyback registration rights with respect to such a takedown.
Sponsor Stockholders who are not ORCP Stockholders, referred to as Other Sponsor Stockholders, and who own at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock may request a registered takedown if the shares of Class A common stock to be sold by such Other Sponsor Stockholder have an aggregate market value of at least $50 million. Such a request will require the consent of the ORCP Stockholders during the first 18 months after the consummation of the Transaction, and in the case of an Other Sponsor Stockholder beneficially owning 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Class A common stock, will be limited to two demand registrations, or, in the case of an Other Sponsor Stockholder beneficially owning between 10% and 20% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, will be limited to one demand registration.
Purchase and Notice Rights
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, so long as the ORCP Stockholders beneficially own at least 15% of the Class A common stock, the ORCP Stockholders will have the right to purchase their pro rata portion of any equity securities newly offered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in a public or non-public offering of equity securities, other than in certain circumstances. The Company will be required to provide the ORCP Stockholders with written notice at least seven business days prior to any intended issuance of such new equity securities. The Company will also be required to provide the ORCP Stockholders with written notice at least five business days prior to any (i) issuance of additional shares of Class A common stock, including any issuances pursuant to an equity compensation plan; or (ii) repurchase of any shares of Class A common stock, including pursuant to a share repurchase program established by the Board.
Information Rights
For so long as a Sponsor Stockholder beneficially owns at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, the Company will provide such Sponsor Stockholder with annual, quarterly and monthly financial statements, an annual budget, and such other information and access as is reasonably requested.
Termination
The Stockholders Agreement will terminate: (i) as to any Sponsor Stockholder once such Sponsor Stockholder ceases to beneficially own any shares of common stock; (ii) as to any Sponsor Stockholder upon the election of such Sponsor Stockholder; or (iii) as to all parties upon the election of the ORCP Stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock held by all Sponsor Stockholders.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Stockholders Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
Indemnification Agreements
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements provide the indemnitees with contractual rights to indemnification, and expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), subject to certain exceptions contained in those agreements.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of indemnification agreement (Indemnification Agreement), which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated by reference herein.
Parent Guarantees
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the Company entered into guarantees of the payment obligations of Primo Water Holdings Inc. (the Issuer) with respect to (i) the 3.875% Senior Notes due 2028 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2020, by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, BNY Canada, as Canadian trustee, BNY US, as U.S. trustee, and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as London paying agent, and (ii) the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2029 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2021, by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, BNY Canada, as Canadian trustee, and BNY US, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent, and authenticating agent.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the guarantees, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.9 and 4.10, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.01. | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.
Item 2.03. | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
Item 3.01. | Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
Prior to the consummation of the Transaction, Primo Shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on the NYSE. Prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the Primo Shares were also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX).
As a result of the Transaction, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Primo Water are held by the Company. Accordingly, on November 8, 2024, Primo Water notified the NYSE of its intent to remove its securities from listing on the NYSE and requested that the NYSE file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) an application on Form 25 to report the delisting of Primo Waters securities from the NYSE. It is expected that the NYSE will suspend trading of Primo Shares prior to market open on November 11, 2024, and shares of the Companys Class A common stock are expected to commence trading on the NYSE under the symbol PRMB on November 11, 2024. It is expected that, on or around November 12, 2024, in accordance with Primo Waters request, the NYSE will file a Form 25 with respect to the Primo Shares with the SEC in order to provide notification of such delisting of such securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Primo Water intends to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration of the Primo Shares under the Exchange Act and suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act approximately ten days after the aforementioned filing of the Form 25.
In addition, as a result of the Transaction, it is expected that the Primo Shares will be delisted from the TSX soon after the closing of the Transaction (the Closing). Primo Water will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer in all jurisdictions in which it is a reporting issuer and, subject to the approval of the applicable securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada, will terminate its reporting obligations in Canada. As a result of the Transaction, the Company has become a reporting issuer (or the equivalent) in all of the provinces of Canada and is therefore subject to Canadian continuous disclosure and other reporting obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws. Provided that all relevant conditions are met, the Company intends to apply to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 3.01 by reference.
Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
In connection with the Transaction, the Company issued, in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof, 160,395,812 shares of Class A common stock to the holders of Primo Shares in exchange for their Primo Shares on a 1:1 basis.
In connection with the Transaction, the Company issued, in each case, in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof the following securities, which may not be re-offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements under applicable federal and state securities laws:
| 154,105,789 shares of Class A common stock to the Initial ORCP Stockholder; and |
| 64,512,579 shares of Class B common stock to the Initial ORCP Stockholder. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference.
Item 3.03. | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company were amended and restated in their entirety.
As a consequence of the amendment and restatement of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, the rights of the holders of Primo Shares were modified. A comparison of the material differences between the rights of holders of Primo Shares and the rights of holders of Class A common stock under the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) and amended and restated bylaws (the Amended and Restated Bylaws) was previously reported in Schedule P to Primo Waters Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 7, 2024, which comparison is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The information set forth in the Introductory Note, Item 1.01 pertaining to the Stockholders Agreement, Item 3.01, and Item 5.03 of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 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 by reference herein.
Description of Capital Stock
The following summary describes the Companys capital stock and certain provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws, and Stockholders Agreement as well as the DGCL. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to investors, is not intended to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws, and Stockholders Agreement, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, and 10.1, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.
General
The total amount of the Companys authorized capital stock consists of (i) 800,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share; (ii) 100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (iii) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the preferred stock).
The Board is authorized, without stockholder approval, except as required by the rules of the NYSE and subject to the rights granted to the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, to issue additional shares of the Companys capital stock.
As of November 8, 2024, the Company had approximately 873 holders of record of the Class A common stock and one holder of record of the Class B common stock, although there is a much larger number of beneficial holders of Class A common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than the number of record holders stated above, and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners, but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees. Of the authorized shares of the Companys capital stock, 314,501,601 shares of Class A common stock were issued and outstanding, 64,512,579 shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The Company has two classes of authorized common stock: Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion rights.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders, except that, prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), the Initial ORCP Stockholder and any other investment funds affiliated with One Rock Capital Partners, LLC (collectively, ORCP), as well as ORCPs affiliates, including any group (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) that includes ORCP or its affiliates (the ORCP Group) may not, collectively, vote more than 49% of the shares of Class A common stock then outstanding. Each holder of Class B common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of Class B common stock on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders, except that holders of Class B common stock will not be entitled to vote on the election, appointment, or removal of directors of the Company. The holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Companys stockholders, unless otherwise required by Delaware law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and except that holders of Class B common stock will not be entitled to vote on the election, appointment, or removal of directors of the Company. Delaware law could require either holders of Class A common stock or Class B common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:
| if the Company were to seek to amend the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase or decrease the par value of a class of the Companys capital stock, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and |
| if the Company were to seek to amend the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences, or special rights of a class of the Companys capital stock in a manner that affected holders adversely, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment. |
In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662⁄3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding voting stock will be required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of the Companys certificate of incorporation, including the provisions relating to amending the Companys bylaws and director or officer liability.
For so long as any shares of Class B common stock remain outstanding, the unanimous vote of the holders of shares of Class B common stock will be required to take certain actions, including amending the provisions of the Companys certificate of incorporation relating to the equal treatment of the shares of Class B common stock and to the voting and conversion rights relating to the shares of Class B common stock.
Conversion Rights
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that each share of Class B common stock may be converted into one share of Class A common stock at any time upon the election by the holder, provided that (i) at the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, all shares of Class B common stock shall automatically convert into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock and (ii) prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, the Company will not effect any conversion of shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock that would result in any person, group, or their respective affiliates beneficially owning in excess of 49% of the shares of Class A common stock then outstanding after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned by any such person, group, or any of their respective affiliates shall include the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Class B common stock with respect to which such conversion is being requested, but shall exclude shares of Class A common stock that would be issuable upon (x) conversion of the remaining, unconverted shares of Class B common stock beneficially owned by such person, group, or any of their respective affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person, group or any of their respective affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Once converted into shares of Class A common stock, the shares of Class B common stock will not be reissued.
Prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, each share of Class A common stock held by the ORCP Group may be converted into one share of Class B common stock upon election of the applicable holder.
Consent Rights
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, for so long as the ORCP Stockholders own at least 30% of the outstanding Shares, the prior written approval of the ORCP Stockholders will be required in order for the Company to do any of the following:
| authorize, create, or issue any Shares or other equity securities, or securities convertible into equity securities, including the designation of preferred stock, other than: |
| issuances to the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries; |
| issuances of up to 3% of the outstanding equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; |
| issuances pursuant to an equity compensation plan that came into effect at the Closing or approved by the Board; or |
| upon the conversion of convertible securities outstanding at the Closing or approved pursuant to the above requirements; |
| enter into or materially amend any joint ventures or similar business alliances with a fair market value of greater than $200 million; |
| enter into or materially amend any agreement providing for the acquisition or divestiture of assets or securities providing for aggregate consideration in excess of $200 million; |
| declare or pay dividends to stockholders on a non-pro rata basis or in excess of $175 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year; |
| redeem or repurchase equity securities, other than (i) from a departing employee, officer, director, or independent contractor as contemplated by the applicable equity plan or award agreement; or (ii) in connection with the clawback of erroneously awarded compensation in compliance with SEC rules; |
| incur indebtedness for borrowed money that would cause the total net leverage ratio (as such term or equivalent term is customarily defined) of the Company to exceed 3.5x, other than (i) incurrences under the senior note indentures in existence at Closing; and (ii) incurrences made in the ordinary course of business under the BlueTriton credit agreements in existence at the Closing; |
| amend, modify, waive, or repeal any provision of the Stockholders Agreement or the organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that adversely affects the powers, preferences, rights, or protections of the ORCP Stockholders or the Sponsor Nominees (as such term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement), increases the liability of a Sponsor Nominee, or adversely affects the Companys ability to perform its obligations under the Stockholders Agreement; |
| designate a director to the Board other than in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; and |
| enter into an agreement to do any of the foregoing. |
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, approval of 662⁄3% of the Board will be required in order for the Company to do any of the following:
| issue Shares or other equity securities, including any preferred stock, to the Initial ORCP Stockholder and certain of its permitted transferees, other than to ORCP pursuant to its purchase rights described below under Purchase and Notice Rights; |
| enter into or effect a change of control (as defined in any of the senior note indentures in existence at Closing) or similar transaction; |
| increase or decrease the size of the Board or the board of directors of any subsidiary, or any committee thereof, other than as specified above; and |
| initiate a voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up, bankruptcy, or other insolvency proceeding of the Company or any of its material subsidiaries. |
Furthermore, removing or replacing the Companys CEO in the first year following the Closing will require approval of 662⁄3% of the Board.
Purchase and Notice Rights
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, so long as the ORCP Stockholders beneficially own at least 15% of the shares of Class A common stock, the ORCP Stockholders will have the right to purchase their pro rata portion of any equity securities newly offered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in a public or non-public offering of equity securities, other than in certain circumstances, including issuances of equity securities to directors, officers, employees, or consultants, issuances pursuant to equity incentive or similar benefits plans, issuances made as consideration for any acquisition by the Company or as part of a strategic partnership or commercial arrangement on an arms-length basis, issuances pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, reorganization, or similar event, issuances upon the conversion of shares of Class B common stock issued to the ORCP Stockholders, and issuances of shares of a subsidiary to the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company is required to provide the ORCP Stockholders with written notice at least seven business days prior to any intended issuance of such new equity securities.
The Company is required to provide the ORCP Stockholders with written notice at least five business days prior to any (i) issuance of additional shares of Class A common stock, including any issuances pursuant to an equity compensation plan; or (ii) repurchase of any shares of Class A common stock, including pursuant to a share repurchase program established by the Board.
Information Rights
For so long as a Sponsor Stockholder beneficially owns at least 5% of the Class A common stock, the Company will provide such Sponsor Stockholder with annual, quarterly, and monthly financial statements, an annual budget, and such other information and access as is reasonably requested.
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable
All of the Companys outstanding Shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Shares
There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Under the terms of the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board is authorized to direct the Company to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval, unless required by law or by any stock exchange, and subject to the rights granted to the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement. The Board has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges, and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.
Subject to the rights granted to the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Board may authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of Shares. The issuance of shares of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of the Company that may otherwise benefit holders of Shares and may adversely affect the market price of the shares of Class A common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of Shares. The Company has no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Stockholders Agreement
In connection with the Transaction, the Company entered into the Stockholders Agreement, pursuant to which the ORCP Stockholders have certain governance and other rights. The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report pertaining to the Stockholders Agreement is incorporated herein by reference.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and the Companys Organizational Documents
Certain provisions of Delaware law as well as the Companys organizational documents, which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another person from acquiring control of the Company. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to negotiate first with the Board. The Company believes that the benefits of increased protection of the Companys potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire the Company because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Section 203 and Business Combinations
The Company has opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder. However, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes a prohibition on such business combinations with interested stockholders, with the following exceptions:
| the business combination or transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder was approved by the Board prior to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder; |
| upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the Companys voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers of the Company and shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| at or subsequent to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination was approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 662⁄3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In general, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation defines a business combination to include mergers, asset sales, and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder and an interested stockholder as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the Companys outstanding voting stock; provided, however, that an interested stockholder shall not include ORCP, certain persons to whom ORCP transfers Shares or any of their respective affiliates. The application of the above provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing changes in control of the Company.
Dual-Class Stock
As described above in Common StockVoting Rights, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a dual-class common stock structure.
Board Vacancies
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, subject to the rights of holders of shares of preferred stock or the Stockholders Agreement, vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders, except that prior to the Trigger Event (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement), any vacancies of a director nominated by a Sponsor Stockholder (if the size of the Board is not to be reduced as specified in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, by the sole remaining director, or by the stockholders.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, for so long as the Initial ORCP Stockholder is entitled to nominate a number of Sponsor Nominees representing less than a majority of the directors of the Board, the Sponsor Stockholders beneficially owning at least 5% of the Companys Class A common stock, together with the Unaffiliated Directors (as defined below), shall be entitled to mutually agree on any replacement of (including by filing a vacancy created by the resignation or removal of) the Mutually Agreed Director (as defined below) and any successive replacements thereof.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, a resolution adopted by 662⁄3% of the Board is required in order to increase or decrease the size of the Board other than in accordance with the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of the Board and then gaining control of the Board by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This will make it more difficult to change the composition of the Board and will promote continuity of management.
Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that at any time prior to the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. From and after the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders, and the Companys stockholders do not have the right to act by written consent, except that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of preferred stock.
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by or at the direction of the Board or the chairperson thereof, except that prior to the Trigger Event, special meetings of stockholders may also be called by or at the direction of the Board or the chairperson thereof at the request of the ORCP Stockholders. These provisions might delay the ability of the Companys stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of the Companys capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before annual or special meetings of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at annual or special meetings of stockholders. The Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholders notice. These provisions might preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at annual or special meetings of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. The Company expects that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirers own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.
No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporations certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
Amendment of Organizational Documents Provisions
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that Article VI (Board of Directors), Article VII (Stockholders), Article VIII (Liability), Article X (Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws) and Article XI (DGCL Section 203 and Business Combinations) of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may not be amended without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662⁄3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock entitled to vote thereon. From and after the Trigger Event, Section 6 of Article IV (Capital Stock) and Article IX (Certain Stockholder Relationships) of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may not be amended without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662⁄3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock entitled to vote thereon.
Further, for so long as any shares of Class B common stock are outstanding, (i) any amendment to the voting or conversion rights of the shares of Class B common stock and any provisions relating to the equal treatment of shares of Class B common stock require both the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and the unanimous vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock; and (ii) any other amendment to the terms of the shares of Class B common stock requires the unanimous vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock.
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board has the power to amend the Companys bylaws without the consent or vote of the Companys stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with Delaware law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the stockholders also have the power to amend such bylaws with, in addition to any vote required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise in the Amended and Restated Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662⁄3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Choice of Forum
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative action, suit, or proceeding brought on the Companys behalf; (ii) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any of the Companys directors, officers, or stockholders to the Company or its stockholders; (iii) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company arising pursuant to the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or Amended and Restated Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time); (iv) any action, suit, or proceeding asserting a claim against the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; or (v) any action in the right of the Company asserting a claim as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. As a result, any action brought by any stockholder(s) with regard to any of these matters will need to be filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and cannot be filed in any other jurisdiction; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action against the Company or any defendant arising under the Securities Act. Such provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Company, its officers and directors, employees, and agents. Nothing in the Amended and Restated Bylaws precludes stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.
If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope described above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a Foreign Action), in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the applicable provisions of the Amended and Restated Bylaws and having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Although the Amended and Restated Bylaws contain the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company or any of its directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims or make such lawsuits more costly for stockholders, although stockholders of the Company will not be deemed to have waived the Companys compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters
The DGCL gives corporations the power to indemnify persons in connection with proceedings that are brought by reason of the fact such person was or is acting pursuant to his or her corporate status. The Amended and Restated Bylaws require the Company to indemnify (and advance expenses to) its directors, officers, and agents, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Company is required to indemnify any director or officer made a party or threatened to be made a party to any type of proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company or, while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such proceeding, unless such person instituted such proceeding not at the authorization in the specific case by the board of directors.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Company is required to indemnify any employee or agent of the Company made a party or threatened to be made a party to any type of proceeding because he or she is or was an employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such proceeding.
The DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation must indemnify a director or officer against expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred if such person successfully defends himself or herself in a proceeding to which such person was a party because he or she was a director or officer of the Delaware corporation. The Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that the Company shall pay expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any director or officer and may pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any employee or agent, in each case in defending any proceeding with respect to which indemnification may be provided. Further, the DGCL and the Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability.
The effect of these provisions is to restrict the Companys rights and the rights of its stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director or officer for breach of fiduciary duties as a director or officer. These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A common stock is Computershare Trust Company N.A.
Item 4.01. | Changes in Registrants Certifying Accountant. |
(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm.
On November 8, 2024 the Audit Committee of the Board dismissed Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y), BlueTritons independent registered public accounting firm prior to the consummation of the Transaction.
The report of E&Y on the consolidated balance sheet of BlueTriton, the Companys accounting predecessor, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), consolidated statements of shareholders equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (successor), did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 and subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, there were no disagreements between BlueTriton and E&Y on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of E&Y, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its report on BlueTritons financial statements for such period.
During the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 and subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, there were no reportable events (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).
The Company has provided E&Y with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and has requested that E&Y furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Company set forth above. A copy of E&Ys letter, dated November 8, 2024, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report.
(b) Appointment of independent registered public accounting firm.
Effective upon consummation of the Transaction, the Audit Committee of the Board approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm effective November 8, 2024. PwC was Primo Waters independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Transaction. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the subsequent interim period through November 8, 2024, neither BlueTriton nor anyone on its behalf consulted with PwC regarding any of the matters described in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 5.01. | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
Prior to the Effective Time, the Company was wholly owned by BlueTriton, which held 100 shares of common stock of the Company. In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, and as a result of the merger of Merger Sub with and into BlueTriton and the merger of BlueTriton with and into the Company, all of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are now held either directly or indirectly by the former holders of Primo Shares or the Initial ORCP Stockholder.
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 5.01 by reference.
Principal Stockholders
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Companys voting shares immediately following the Closing by:
| each person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Companys voting shares; |
| each of the Companys named executive officers and directors; and |
| all executive officers and directors as a group. |
The amounts and percentages of Class A common stock and Class B common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of the regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days, provided that any person who acquires any such right with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities which may be acquired through the exercise of such right. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities.
The beneficial ownership of the Companys voting securities is based on 314,501,601 shares of Class A common stock and 64,512,579 shares of Class B common stock, each issued and outstanding as of November 8, 2024.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner listed below is: (i) 1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800, Tampa, Florida 33607 or (ii) 900 Long Ridge Road, Building 2, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.
Class A Shares | Class B Shares | Combined Voting Power Percentage(1) |
||||||||||||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | ||||||||||||||||
5% Stockholders |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment funds affiliated with One Rock(2) |
154,105,789 | 49.0 | % | 64,512,579 | 100.0 | % | 57.7 | % | ||||||||||||
FMR LLC(3) |
16,416,222 | 5.2 | % | | | % | 4.3 | % | ||||||||||||
BlackRock, Inc.(4) |
16,115,097 | 5.1 | % | | | % | 4.3 | % | ||||||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||||||||
Robbert Rietbroek(5) |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
David Hass(6) |
196,959 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Jason Ausher |
| | % | | | % | | % |
Class A Shares | Class B Shares | Combined Voting Power Percentage(1) |
||||||||||||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | ||||||||||||||||
Robert Austin |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Marni Morgan Poe(7) |
796,513 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Hih Song Kim |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
C. Dean Metropoulos |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Britta Bomhard |
56,515 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Susan E. Cates |
66,369 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Eric J. Foss |
18,445 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Jerry Fowden |
1,285,972 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Billy D. Prim(8) |
1,040,161 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Steven P. Stanbrook |
103,735 | * | | | % | * | ||||||||||||||
Kurtis Barker |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Michael Cramer |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Tony W. Lee(9) |
154,105,789 | 49.0 | % | 64,512,579 | 100.0 | % | 57.7 | % | ||||||||||||
Kimberly Reed |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Joseph Rosenberg |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
Allison Spector |
| | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (19 individuals) |
157,728,889 | 50.1 | % | 64,512,579 | 100.0 | % | 58.6 | % |
Notes:
* | Represents voting power of less than one percent. |
(1) | Percentage of combined voting power represents voting power with respect to all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class on all matters except the election of directors (for which only holders of the Class A common stock have voting rights). Each holder of Class A common stock will be entitled to one vote per share, and each holder of Class B common stock will be entitled to one vote per share, subject to the terms described in Item 3.03 pertaining to the description of capital stock. |
(2) | Represents shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock issued to the Initial ORCP Stockholder, Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, upon Closing. ORCP III DE TopCo GP, LLC is the general partner of Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP. R. Scott Spielvogel and Tony W. Lee are the managing members of ORCP III DE TopCo GP, LLC and have or share voting and investment discretion with |
respect to the securities held of record by the Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP. As a result of these relationships, each of ORCP III DE TopCo GP, LLC, R. Scott Spielvogel and Tony W. Lee may be deemed to have or share beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP. The principal business address of each of the entities and persons identified in this footnote is c/o One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor, New York, NY 10111. |
(3) | Based on information reported in a Schedule 13G filed by FMR LLC on September 10, 2024 with the SEC. As reported in such filing, FMR LLC was the beneficial owner of 16,416,222 Primo Shares, with sole voting power with respect to 16,274,412 Primo Shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 16,416,222 Primo Shares. In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, the Primo Shares held by FMR LLC were exchanged on a 1:1 basis for 16,416,222 shares of Class A common stock. The address of FMR LLC is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, United States. |
(4) | Based on information reported in a Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. on January 24, 2024 with the SEC. As reported in such filing, BlackRock, Inc. was the beneficial owner of 16,115,097 Primo Shares, with sole voting power with respect to 14,865,876 Primo Shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 16,115,097 Primo Shares. In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, the Primo Shares held by BlackRock, Inc. were exchanged on a 1:1 basis for 16,115,097 shares of Class A common stock. The address of Blackrock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, United States. |
(5) | Amounts reported do not reflect unvested, time-based Primo Brands Replacement RSUs or Primo Brands Conversion RSUs that do not vest within 60 days of Closing. |
(6) | Includes 22,700 shares of Class A common stock underlying Primo Brands Replacement Options exercisable within 60 days of Closing. Amounts reported do not reflect unvested, time-based Primo Brands Replacement RSUs or Primo Brands Conversion RSUs that do not vest within 60 days of Closing. |
(7) | Includes 480,807 shares of Class A common stock underlying Primo Brands Replacement Options exercisable within 60 days of Closing. Amounts reported do not reflect unvested, time-based Primo Brands Replacement RSUs or Primo Brands Conversion RSUs that do not vest within 60 days of Closing. |
(8) | Includes: (i) 1,071,915 shares of Class A common stock held by the Billy D. Prim Revocable Trust (as to which he has shared voting and investment power); (ii) 3,177 shares of Class A common stock held by the 2010 Irrevocable Trust fbo Jager Grayln Dean Bellissimo (as to which he has shared voting and investment power); and (iii) 3,177 shares of Class A common stock held by the 2010 Irrevocable Trust fbo Joseph Alexander Bellissimo (as to which he has shared voting and investment power). |
(9) | Represents shares held by the Initial ORCP Stockholder as discussed further in footnote (2) above. |
Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers. |
Resignation of Director
Immediately prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the resignation of R. Scott Spielvogel from the Board went into effect, and Mr. Spielvogel will not serve as a member of the Board following the consummation of the Transaction.
Appointment of Directors
Immediately prior to the consummation of the Transaction, each of the following individuals were appointed by the then-current Board and became members of the Board along with Tony W. Lee: (i) C. Dean Metropolous; (ii) Kurtis Barker; (iii) Britta Bomhard; (iv) Susan E. Cates; (v) Michael Cramer; (vi) Eric J. Foss; (vii) Jerry Fowden; (viii) Billy D. Prim; (ix) Kimberly Reed; (x) Robbert Rietbroek; (xi) Joseph Rosenberg; (xii) Allison Spector; and (xiii) Steven P. Stanbrook.
Resignation of Officers
Effective as of the consummation of the Transaction, R. Scott Spielvogel and Tony W. Lee resigned their positions as President and as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, of the Company. Messrs. Lee and Spielvogel will not serve as executive officers of the Company following the consummation of the Transaction.
Appointment of Officers
Immediately upon consummation of the Transaction, the executive officers of the Company are: (i) Robbert Rietbroek, as Chief Executive Officer; (ii) David Hass, as Chief Financial Officer; (iii) Robert Austin, as Chief Operating Officer, (iv) Jason Ausher, as Chief Accounting Officer; (v) Marni Morgan Poe, as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary; and (vi) Hih Song Kim, as Chief Administrative Officer & Assistant Corporate Secretary.
Family Relationship
There are no family relationships between any members of the Board and any of the Companys executive officers.
Director Independence
Pursuant to the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, a director employed by the Company cannot be deemed to be an independent director. Each other director will qualify as independent only if the Board affirmatively determines that he or she has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. Ownership of a significant amount of the common stock, by itself, does not constitute a material relationship.
The Board has determined that each of Ms. Bomhard, Ms. Cates, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Foss, Mr. Fowden, Mr. Prim, and Mr. Stanbrook qualifies as an independent director in accordance with the rules of the NYSE. Under the rules of the NYSE, the definition of independence includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of the Companys employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with the Company. In addition, as required by the rules of the NYSE, the Board has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, the Board reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and the Company with regard to each directors relationships as they may relate to the Company and its management.
Composition of the Board
The business and affairs of the Company are managed by or under the direction of the Board, which is chaired by Mr. Metropoulos. When considering whether directors and director nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills, taken as a whole, to enable the Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of its business and structure, the Board expects to focus primarily on each persons background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors individual biographies in order to provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of the business. The total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time in the manner as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation also provides the Sponsor Stockholders with certain director designation rights for so long as the Sponsor Stockholders continue to own at least 5% of the Companys issued and outstanding Class A common stock.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, among other things, the initial Board following the consummation of the Transaction shall be comprised of (i) seven directors designated for election to the Board by the Initial ORCP Stockholder (the ORCP Designees), (ii) seven directors designated for election to the Board by Primo Water (the Unaffiliated Directors), all but one of whom must qualify as independent under the listing standards of the NYSE, and (iii) one director who will be mutually agreed upon by the ORCP Stockholders and the Unaffiliated Directors (the Mutually Agreed Director). Each of Dean Metropoulos, Kurtis Barker, Michael Cramer, Tony W. Lee, Kimberly Reed, Joseph Rosenberg, and Allison Spector are the ORCP Designees. It is expected that the Mutually Agreed Director will be identified after conducting an executive search. The information set forth in Item 1.01 pertaining to the Stockholders Agreement is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Committees of the Board
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the Board has four standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Governance Committee, and a Sustainability Committee. Each committee will initially consist of three or four directors, including up to two ORCP Designees and two Unaffiliated Directors, each of whom shall be qualified to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law and stock exchange listing standards, and, taking into account any applicable transition provisions or exceptions, shall qualify as independent under applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC. For so long as the ORCP Stockholders have the right to nominate at least one ORCP Designee, the ORCP Stockholders will have the right to designate a number of members to each committee of the Board equal to the lesser of (i) two directors and (ii) the number of directors that is proportionate (rounding up to the whole director) to the number of ORCP Designees that the ORCP Stockholders are entitled to nominate to the Board pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board will each be chaired by an individual designated by the Unaffiliated Directors, and the Sustainability Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board will each be chaired by an ORCP Designee. In addition to these four standing committees, upon consummation of the Transaction, the Board also has an ad hoc Integration Committee consisting of four directors. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of the Board are described below.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board (the Audit Committee) consists of three members, including Ms. Cates, Mr. Foss, and Mr. Rosenberg, with Ms. Cates serving as Chair, and each of whom satisfies the applicable independence requirements under the applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC, other than Mr. Rosenberg. The Audit Committee will transition to consist solely of independent directors in accordance with the phase-in provisions of the NYSE listing rules. In addition, the Board has determined that Ms. Cates qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined under SEC rules. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Companys corporate accounting and financial reporting process and assisting the Board in its oversight of (i) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company; (ii) the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) the qualifications and independence of the Companys independent auditor; (iv) the performance of the Companys internal auditors and independent auditor; and (v) disclosure controls, internal controls over financial reporting, and compliance with ethical standards adopted by the Company. The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:
| appointing, compensating, retaining, and overseeing the work of the Companys independent auditor; |
| discussing with the Companys independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties and managements response; |
| pre-approving all permitted audit and non-audit services performed for the Company by its independent auditor (other than those provided pursuant to appropriate preapproval policies established by the Audit Committee or exempt from such requirement under SEC rules); |
| reviewing and discussing the Companys annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with the Companys management and its independent auditor; |
| overseeing the Companys risk management activities, including holding periodic discussions with management regarding the Companys guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment, risk management, and major strategic, financial, and operational risk exposures such as fraud, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data privacy matters, and environmental, competitive, and regulatory risks, and providing oversight and accountability with respect to the execution of appropriate plans to mitigate and/or address such risks; and |
| establishing procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by the Companys employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of the Board (the Compensation Committee) is composed of Mr. Cramer, Mr. Foss, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Stanbrook, with Mr. Cramer serving as Chair. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee qualifies as independent under the applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC, other than Mr. Lee. The Compensation Committee will transition to consist solely of independent directors in accordance with the phase-in provisions of the NYSE listing rules. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to, among other things, (i) discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of the Companys chief executive officer; (ii) discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of executive officers as defined under Rule 16a-1(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Executive Officers); (iii) annually review and report to the Board on organizational structure and ensure that a succession plan for the chief executive officer and the Executive Officers of the Company has been developed; (iv) administer the Companys incentive compensation and equity-based plans subject to Board approval; (v) review and discuss with management the Companys Compensation Discussion and Analysis, and produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; and (vi) review and discuss with management the Companys key people management strategies and programs, including culture, diversity, and equity and inclusion initiatives, in furtherance of the Companys environmental, social, and governance related strategies. Specific responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include, among other things:
| reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the cash and equity compensation, perquisites, evaluation, and employment agreements of the Companys chief executive officer; |
| reviewing, considering the recommendations of the Companys chief executive officer and the head of the Companys human resources function, and establishing the annual compensation of the Executive Officers; |
| reviewing and approving grants for participants under the Companys equity compensation plans; and |
| reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation of non-employee directors. |
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board (the Nominating Committee) is composed of Mr. Fowden, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Prim, and Ms. Reed, with Mr. Fowden serving as Chair. The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating Committee qualifies as independent under the applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC, other than Ms. Reed. The Nominating Committee will transition to consist solely of independent directors in accordance with the phase-in provisions of the NYSE listing rules. The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to, among other things, (i) identify individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with criteria adopted by the Board; (ii) select, or recommend that the Board select, the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders; (iii) develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company; (iv) oversee the evaluation of the Board; (v) monitor significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance and of the duties and responsibilities of directors of public companies; and (vi) monitor and evaluate the Companys compliance with applicable corporate governance laws and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws, and governance policies;
Specific responsibilities of the Nominating Committee include, among other things and subject to the provisions of the Companys organizational documents and the Stockholders Agreement:
| establishing and articulating qualifications and selection criteria for members of the Board or any Board committee, in accordance with relevant law and applicable NYSE rules; |
| considering and making recommendations to the Board regarding the composition and chairmanship of the Board and its committees; |
| developing and making recommendations to the Board the Companys corporate governance guidelines and monitoring, on behalf of the Board, the Corporations approach to governance issues; and |
| overseeing annual self-evaluations of the performance of the Board, including its individual directors and committees. |
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee of the Board (the Sustainability Committee) is composed of Ms. Spector, Ms. Bomhard, Ms. Reed, and Mr. Stanbrook, with Ms. Spector serving as Chair. The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to, among other things, assist the Board in discharging its oversight responsibility related to the Companys policies and programs related to sustainability matters and strategy, such as climate change impacts, risks and opportunities, energy and natural resources conservation, environmental and supply chain sustainability, human rights, equity and inclusion, and other sustainability issues that are relevant and material to the Company.
Specific responsibilities of the Sustainability Committee include, among other things:
| reviewing the governing documents and mandates of the Board committees and recommending changes as necessary in accordance with and with respect to sustainability policies, programs, practices, and related goals; |
| reporting on sustainability matters as required by all applicable mandatory disclosure requirements; |
| reviewing and assessing the adequacy and appropriateness of the sustainability policies, programs, practices, and related goals of the Company and recommending any proposed changes to the Board for approval; and |
| reviewing and assessing the Companys initiatives and policies relating to the prevention and reduction of the risk of forced labor or child labor. |
Integration Committee
The Integration Committee of the Board (the Integration Committee) is composed of Mr. Cramer, Mr. Foss, Mr. Stanbrook, and Mr. Rosenberg, with Mr. Cramer serving as Chair. The purpose of the Integration Committee is to, among other things, oversee the integration of the businesses of Primo Water and BlueTriton following the closing of the Transaction. Specific responsibilities of the Integration Committee include, among other things:
| ensuring that the activities related to the integration of the businesses of Primo Water and BlueTriton following the closing of the Transaction align with the overarching strategic vision and priorities established by the Board; |
| monitoring and assessing integration milestones, deliverables, and timelines; |
| overseeing the integration of key business functions, including sales, marketing, finance, human resources, and operations, to ensure smooth operational transitions; |
| supporting efforts to blend organizational cultures, reinforcing the Companys shared values, mission, and vision; and |
| identifying, evaluating, and addressing any risks associated with the integration process, including operational, financial, and regulatory risks, and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are in place. |
Risk Oversight
The Board has extensive involvement in the oversight of risk management related to the Company and its business and accomplishes this oversight primarily through the Audit Committee. To that end, the Audit Committee will hold periodic discussions with management regarding the Companys guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment, risk management, and major strategic, financial, and operational risk exposures such as fraud, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data privacy matters, and environmental, competitive, and regulatory risks. The Audit Committee will also receive regular updates regarding such risks and the steps management has taken to monitor and control any exposure resulting from such risks. On at least an annual basis, the Audit Committee will facilitate a discussion with the Board regarding the Companys risk management function and the Companys major strategic, financial and operational risk exposures and disclosures.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the Company adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Ethics Code) applicable to all of the Companys directors, officers (including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer), and employees that addresses legal and ethical issues that may be encountered in carrying out their duties and responsibilities, including the requirement to report any conduct they believe to be a violation of the Ethics Code. The Ethics Code is available on the Companys website at www.primobrands.com under Investor Relations. The information available on or through such website is not part of this Current Report. If the Company were to ever amend or waive any provision of the Ethics Code that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or any person performing similar functions, it intends to satisfy its disclosure obligations with respect to any such waiver or amendment by posting such information on its internet website set forth above rather than by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the Executive Officers serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity, other than Primo Water, that has one or more executive officers serving on the Board or Compensation Committee. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of the Compensation Committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) and any executive, member of the board of directors, or member of the compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any other public company.
In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, each of the Executive Officers and members of the Board entered into an indemnification agreement with the Company. The information set forth in Item 1.01 pertaining to the Indemnification Agreement is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Executive and Director Compensation
The named executive officers of the Company are:
1. Robbert Rietbroek, Chief Executive Officer;
2. David Hass, Chief Financial Officer;
3. Robert Austin, Chief Operating Officer;
4. Jason Ausher, Chief Accounting Officer; and
5. Marni Morgan Poe, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary.
Messrs. Rietbroek, Hass and Ausher and Ms. Poe were employed by Primo Water during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Mr. Austin was employed by BlueTriton during the fiscal year ending December 30, 2023. All compensation received by our named executive officers was received by their respective employer. The description of our named executive officers compensation from Primo Water (other than with respect to Mr. Ausher) is incorporated by reference from Schedule G to Primo Waters definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on October 7, 2024. The description of our named executive officers compensation from BlueTriton is incorporated by reference from Schedule H to Primo Waters definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on October 7, 2024. Mr. Ausher was an executive officer, but not a named executive officer, of Primo Water for the fiscal year ending December 30, 2023. As a result, Mr. Aushers compensation will commence being disclosed for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 (assuming he remains a named executive officer).
Compensatory Plans
Adoption of Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, Primo Brands Corporation Employee Share Purchase Plan, Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, and Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan
In connection with but prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the Company adopted (i) the Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan and (ii) the Primo Brands Corporation Employee Share Purchase Plan (the ESPP), in each case as of the Effective Time as described in Schedule H to Primo Waters Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 7, 2024.
Under the Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, the Company may grant future awards of stock options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, restricted share units, performance shares, performance units, unrestricted shares, and other stock or cash-based awards to the Companys employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors. The Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan includes an initial reserve of 38,000,000 shares of Class A common stock authorized for issuance under the plan, subject to adjustment in connection with changes in capitalization, reorganization, and change in control events, which will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on and including January 1, 2034 by an amount equal to the lesser of (1) 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of the Company issued and outstanding on the day immediately preceding the applicable date, or (2) such smaller amount determined by the Board.
Under the ESPP, the Company offers eligible employees the opportunity to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a discounted price. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. The ESPP includes an initial reserve of 7,600,000 shares of Class A common stock authorized for issuance, subject to adjustment in the event of changes in capitalization, reorganization, or other corporate transactions, which will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on and including January 1, 2034 by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the aggregate number of Class A common stock and Class B common stock issued and outstanding on the day immediately preceding the applicable date, or (ii) such smaller amount as determined by the Board. The ESPP is administered by the Compensation Committee, which has the authority to interpret the plan, determine eligibility, and make necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Additionally, as described in the Introductory Note, the Company assumed the outstanding equity awards under the Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, each as amended, and the employment inducement RSU award to Robbert Rietbroek each of which will be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions under the (i) Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and (ii) Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (together, the Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plans).
Non-employee Director Compensation Policy
In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, the Company adopted the Primo Brands Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy pursuant to which non-employee directors of the Company may receive cash retainers or fees, and equity grants in connection with their performance of services. Each non-employee director may elect to receive shares of Class A common stock in lieu of cash compensation to which they would otherwise be entitled.
The Company expects to finalize executive compensation arrangements following the consummation of the Transaction.
Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company were amended and restated in their entirety.
The information set forth in Item 3.03 is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.
Item 5.07. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the pre-closing Company board of directors submitted certain matters for the approval of the sole stockholder of the Company, including the adoption of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the adoption of the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the adoption of the Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, the Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plans, the ESPP and the Primo Brands Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, which matters were adopted by the sole stockholder of the Company prior to the Effective Time.
The information set forth in Items 3.03 and 5.02 is incorporated into this Item 5.07 by reference.
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
On November 8, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Transaction. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Information regarding Primo Brands Corporation, including press releases, investor presentations, and financial information, is routinely posted and accessible on the Companys website at www.primobrands.com.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
BlueTriton
Pursuant to General Instruction B.3 of Form 8-K, the (i) audited consolidated financial statements of BlueTriton as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the periods from February 3, 2021 (date of incorporation) through December 31, 2021 (successor), and January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 (predecessor), including the independent auditors report, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for such periods, in each case, are not required to be filed again in this Current Report because such information was previously included in Primo Waters Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on October 7, 2024.
The (i) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of BlueTriton as of September 30, 2024 and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for such periods, are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
Primo Water
Pursuant to General Instruction B.3 of Form 8-K, the (i) audited consolidated financial statements of Primo Water and the notes thereto for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2023, including the independent registered public accounting firms report, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for such periods, in each case, are not required to be filed again in this Current Report because such information was previously included in Primo Waters Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024.
Pursuant to General Instruction B.3 of Form 8-K, the (i) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Primo Water as of September 28, 2024 and for the three and nine month periods ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for such periods, in each case, are not required to be filed again in this Current Report because such information was previously included in Primo Waters Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 28, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2024.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of BlueTriton and Primo Water as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit |
Description | |
99.4 | Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Triton Water Parent, Inc. and Primo Water Corporation as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023. | |
99.5 | Primo Brands Corporation Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
* | Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Company agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Primo Brands Corporation | ||||||
Date: November 8, 2024 | By: | /s/ Marni Morgan Poe | ||||
Marni Morgan Poe | ||||||
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Corporation is Primo Brands Corporation.
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware, 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND DURATION
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as the same exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented from time to time, the DGCL). The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000,000,000, which shall be divided into three classes as follows:
800,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class A Common Stock);
100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class B Common Stock and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the Common Stock); and
100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (Preferred Stock).
Section 1. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and powers of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any series of Preferred Stock as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) and outstanding from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2. Except as otherwise provided herein (including any certificate of designation establishing any series of Preferred Stock) or expressly required by law, each holder of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders and shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter; provided, that prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time (as defined below), Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP (the Initial ORCP Stockholder; provided, however, that following the date hereof, the Initial ORCP Stockholder may designate any other ORCP Stockholder (as defined below) as an additional (or a replacement) Initial ORCP Stockholder hereunder and if, as a result of such designation, there is more than one Initial ORCP Stockholder, the Initial ORCP Stockholders shall designate one of them to serve as the designated representative of the Initial ORCP Stockholder for purposes of taking any actions pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation) or any other investment funds Affiliated (as defined below) with One Rock Capital Partners, LLC (collectively, ORCP) and ORCPs Affiliates (as defined below), including any group (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act (as defined below), each, a Group) that includes ORCP or its Affiliates (such Groups, collectively with ORCP and its Affiliates, the ORCP Group) may not, collectively, vote more than 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding.
Section 3. Except as otherwise provided herein or expressly required by law, (a) holders of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on the election, appointment or removal of directors of the Corporation, and (b) each holder of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders, other than the election, appointment or removal of directors, and shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be included in determining the number of shares of Common Stock voting or entitled to vote on the election, appointment or removal of directors of the Corporation.
Section 4. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) 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 certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.
Section 5. Except as expressly set forth in (a) Section 3 of this Article IV with respect to voting rights, (b) Section 8 of this Article IV with respect to dividend rights and (c) Article V with respect to conversion rights, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights and privileges and rank equally to, share ratably with and be identical in all respects as to all matters. If the Corporation in any manner subdivides or combines the shares of Class A Common Stock, then the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will be subdivided or combined in the same proportion and manner, and if the Corporation in any manner subdivides or combines the shares of Class B Common Stock, then the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock will be subdivided or combined in the same proportion and manner.
2
Section 6. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board is hereby expressly authorized to provide from time to time, by resolution or resolutions, for the creation and issuance, out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock by filing a certificate of designation relating thereto with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, setting forth such resolution or resolutions and, with respect to each such series, establishing the designation of such series and the number of shares to be included in such series and fixing the terms of such series, the voting powers (full or limited, or no voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of each such series, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock may, to the extent permitted by law, provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to the Preferred Stock of any other series to the extent permitted by law and this Certificate of Incorporation. The terms, voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock may be different from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of designation establishing a series of Preferred Stock, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution or resolutions originally fixing the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock.
Section 7. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock). Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).
Section 8. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation which are legally available for this purpose at such times and in such amounts as the Board in its discretion shall determine, and the holders of Class A Common Stock and the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to share equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, in such dividends as may be declared by the Board from time to time with respect to the Common Stock out of the assets legally available therefor; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such
3
shares), and holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares, as the case may be), as applicable.
Section 9. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them, respectively.
Section 10. In the case of any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity or any conversion, domestication, transfer or continuance of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock shall be treated identically and ratably on a per share basis with respect to any consideration into which such shares are converted or any such consideration paid or otherwise distributed to the stockholders.
Section 11. The number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) without a separate class vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Preferred Stock, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto).
ARTICLE V
CONVERSION RIGHTS
Section 1. Following the earliest to occur of (a) the repayment or redemption in full of both series of the Primo Notes (as defined below) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Primo Indentures (as defined below), (b) 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 30, 2029 or (c) the effectiveness of the waiver of (or amendment to render inapplicable) the change of control provisions in each of the Primo Indentures by holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount then outstanding of each series of the Primo Notes (such time on which the earliest event occurs, the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time), all of the shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, and without any further action on the part of the holders of the Class B Common Stock, convert into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock. As promptly as practicable thereafter, the Corporation shall provide notice to the converted holder(s) of Class B Common Stock of such event and the resulting conversion of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V.
Section 2. Prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, each share of Class A Common Stock held by a member of the ORCP Group may be converted into one share of Class B Common Stock at any time at the option of such holder.
4
Section 3. Subject to Section 1 and Section 4 of this Article V, each share of Class B Common Stock may be converted into one share of Class A Common Stock at any time at the option of the holder.
Section 4. Prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock and no holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to convert shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, any Person (as defined below), Group or any of their respective Affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by any such Person, Group or any of their respective Affiliates shall include the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock with respect to which such conversion is being requested, but shall exclude shares of Class A Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) conversion of the remaining, unconverted shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person, Group or any of their respective Affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation beneficially owned by such Person, Group or any of their respective Affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 4, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 5. Prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, if any transfer, issuance or other event occurs that, if effective, would result in the ORCP Group Beneficially Owning in excess of 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately after such transfer, issuance or other event, (i) then that number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would otherwise cause the ORCP Group to Beneficially Own in excess of 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation outstanding (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically converted into shares of Class B Common Stock or, (ii) if, for any reason, the conversion described in clause (i) of this sentence is not automatically effective as provided therein to prevent the ORCP Group from Beneficially Owning more than 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding, then the transfer, issuance or other event that otherwise would cause the ORCP Group to Beneficially Own more than 49.0% of the shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding shall be void ab initio and the ORCP Group shall have no rights in respect of such additional shares of Class A Common Stock.
Section 6. In connection with any conversion of shares of Class A Common Stock into shares of Class B Common Stock or Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V, if reasonably required by the Corporations transfer agent, the Corporation shall, as promptly as practicable, deliver or cause to be delivered to such transfer agent any opinions, authorizations, certificates and/or directions in order to authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this Article V.
5
Section 7. Upon any conversion of shares of Class A Common Stock into shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, the holder shall surrender each certificate or certificates (if shares are in certificated form) representing the shares being converted, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office stating the name or names in which the certificate or certificates representing the shares issued upon such conversion are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as the case may be (if such shares are certificated), to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid or, if such shares are uncertificated, register such shares in book-entry form. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of any event described in Section 1, Section 2 or Section 3 of this Article V, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares as of such date.
Section 8. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect a conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. Prior to the Beneficial Ownership Sunset Time, the Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect a conversion of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock then held by the ORCP Group. The Corporation covenants that all shares issued upon any such conversion will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Section 9. In the event any shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V, the shares of Class B Common Stock so converted shall be retired and shall not be reissued by the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:
Section 1. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
Section 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to (i) the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) or (ii) Section 6 of this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors, the Total Number of Directors (as defined below) shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board; provided, however, that for so long as at least one Sponsor Stockholder (as defined below) qualifies as a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder (as defined below), unless otherwise requested in writing by the ORCP Stockholders (as defined below), the Total Number of Directors shall be fixed at the number of directors included in the table below that corresponds with the Beneficial Ownership (as defined below) of Class A Common Stock by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders (subject to clause (b) below):
6
Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders |
Total Number of Directors | |
53% or greater |
15 | |
Less than 53%, but greater than or equal to 45% |
15 | |
Less than 45%, but greater than or equal to 40% |
14 | |
Less than 40%, but greater than or equal to 35% |
13 | |
Less than 35%, but greater than or equal to 30% |
12 | |
Less than 30%, but greater than or equal to 25% |
12 | |
Less than 25%, but greater than or equal to 15% |
12 | |
Less than 15%, but greater than or equal to 5% |
12 | |
Less than 5% |
11 |
(b) For so long as a Sponsor Stockholder (other than a Specified Mutual Fund (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger in the form executed and delivered as of June 16, 2024)) Beneficially Owns greater than or equal to five percent (5%) of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, such Sponsor Stockholder shall have certain director nomination rights (each such Sponsor Stockholder, a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder and collectively, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders). The Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate a number of individuals for election to the Board equal to the Sponsor Board Representation Number (as defined below) (with each of such individuals being nominated by the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder as such Nominating Sponsor Stockholder shall from time to time designate in writing to the Corporation) and who are reasonably acceptable to the Unaffiliated Directors (each, a Sponsor Nominee); provided, that a Sponsor Nominee who is a senior employee or operating partner of a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder shall be considered to be reasonably acceptable to the Unaffiliated Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Unaffiliated Directors may determine that a Sponsor Nominee is not reasonably acceptable if such Sponsor Nominee is a Competing Director. The Sponsor Board Representation Number shall be equal to that number of directors included in the table below that corresponds with the collective Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders that is included in the table below, based on the percentages shown below of shares of Class A Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders in the aggregate:
Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders |
Sponsor Board Representation Number | |
53% or greater |
8 | |
Less than 53%, but greater than or equal to 45% |
7 | |
Less than 45%, but greater than or equal to 40% |
6 | |
Less than 40%, but greater than or equal to 35% |
5 | |
Less than 35%, but greater than or equal to 30% |
4 | |
Less than 30%, but greater than or equal to 25% |
3 | |
Less than 25%, but greater than or equal to 15% |
2 | |
Less than 15%, but greater than or equal to 5% |
1 | |
Less than 5% |
0 |
7
In the event that more than one Sponsor Stockholder qualifies as a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder pursuant to this Section 2(b), such Sponsor Nominees shall be allocated among the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders as determined by the ORCP Stockholders in their sole discretion, provided, however, that (i) without the consent of the Unaffiliated Directors, in no event shall the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders that are not ORCP Stockholders have the right to designate more than one Sponsor Nominee in the aggregate, (ii) in the event that the aggregate number of Sponsor Nominees is limited pursuant to the preceding clause (i) (so as to be a lower number than it would have been but for the application of such clause), then (x) the aggregate number of Sponsor Nominees shall be the sum of (A) the Sponsor Nominees the ORCP Stockholders are entitled to designate according to the Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock by the ORCP Stockholders without regard for the holdings of other Nominating Sponsor Stockholders, plus (B) the additional Sponsor Nominee designated by the other Nominating Sponsor(s), (y) the aggregate Sponsor Board Representation Number included in the table above shall be deemed reduced to give effect to such limitation and (z) the Total Number of Directors, as determined pursuant to Section 2(a), shall be correspondingly reduced, and (iii) in no event shall the total number of Sponsor Nominees exceed the Sponsor Board Representation Number. In the event that the ORCP Stockholders intend to allocate the right to designate a director nominee to a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder that is not an ORCP Stockholder as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the ORCP Stockholders shall (i) provide notice to the Unaffiliated Directors regarding such determination and (ii) if such designee is intended to replace a director previously designated to the Board by the ORCP Stockholders, then the ORCP Stockholders shall notify the Unaffiliated Directors which director nominee designated by the ORCP Stockholders such designee will replace. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the event that a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder ceases to Beneficially Own greater than or equal to 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, such Sponsor Stockholder shall cease to be a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder for purposes of this Section 2 and shall no longer have the right to nominate any Sponsor Nominees; (ii) in no event shall the ORCP Stockholders be entitled to nominate a majority of the Total Number of Directors pursuant to this Section 2 if doing so would violate the terms of either of the Primo Indentures; and (iii) for so long as the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders are entitled to nominate a number of Sponsor Nominees representing less than a majority of the Total Number of Directors, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders, together with the Unaffiliated Directors, shall be entitled to mutually agree on any replacement of (including by filing a vacancy created by the resignation or removal of) the Mutually Agreed Director and any successive replacements thereof.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by law, for so long as the Sponsor Stockholders have the right to nominate any Sponsor Nominees, in connection with each election of directors, (i) the Corporation shall nominate each such Sponsor Nominee for election as a director as part of the slate that is included in the proxy statement (or consent solicitation or similar document) of the Corporation relating to the election of directors, and shall provide the highest level of support for the election of each such Sponsor Nominee as it provides to any other individual standing for election as a director as part of the Corporations slate of directors, and (unless the Board determines in good faith that such actions would violate the directors fiduciary duties under applicable law) the Board shall recommend that the stockholders of the Corporation elect to the
8
Board each such Sponsor Nominee, and (ii) the Corporation shall include in the slate that is included in the proxy statement (or consent solicitation or similar document) of the Corporation relating to the election of directors, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, only (1) the Sponsor Nominees nominated by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders in accordance with Section 2(b) and (2) the other director nominees nominated by the Unaffiliated Directors (or a committee thereof). For so long as the Sponsor Stockholders have the right to nominate any Sponsor Nominees, the Board (and any committee thereof) shall not nominate (and the Corporation shall not include in the slate that is included in the proxy statement (or consent solicitation or similar document) of the Corporation relating to the election of directors) a number of nominees for any election of directors that exceeds the Total Number of Directors on the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent the Corporation from including director nominees submitted by stockholders for inclusion in the Corporations proxy statement under proxy access or similar rules under the Exchange Act.
(d) If the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders have nominated fewer directors than the Sponsor Board Representation Number, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional number of Sponsor Nominees to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 2(b). In such event, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall take all necessary action to: (i) increase the size of the Board if required to enable the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders to so nominate such additional Sponsor Nominees and (ii) designate such additional Sponsor Nominees nominated by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders to fill such newly created directorships, as applicable; provided, however, that the number of authorized directors shall not exceed the Total Number of Directors.
(e) If, from time to time, the Sponsor Board Representation Number shall decrease as a result of a decrease in the Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock of a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder and the applicable number of Sponsor Nominees have resigned from the Board, the Total Number of Directors shall be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2(a). Subject to the immediately foregoing sentence, in the event that a Sponsor Nominee shall cease to serve as a director for any reason (including any removal thereof), the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder shall have the right to fill any vacancy resulting therefrom with another Sponsor Nominee and the Corporation shall take all necessary action to fill such vacancy with the Sponsor Nominee and shall take the actions set forth in Section 2(c) with respect to such Sponsor Nominee (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such director seat shall remain vacant until such vacancy is filled in accordance with this Section 2(e)). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the failure of the stockholders of the Corporation to elect any Sponsor Nominee shall not affect the right of the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder to nominate the Sponsor Nominee for election pursuant to this Section 2(e) in connection with any future election of directors. During the 24-month period following November 8, 2024, a vacancy created by an Unaffiliated Director ceasing to serve as a director for any reason (including any removal thereof) shall be filled by the Unaffiliated Directors with an individual chosen by the Unaffiliated Directors who is reasonably acceptable to the ORCP Stockholders (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Following such 24-month period following November 8, 2024, a vacancy created by an Unaffiliated Director ceasing to serve as a director for any reason (including any removal thereof) shall be filled by the Board with, so long as the ORCP Stockholders are entitled to appoint at least two (2) directors, an individual chosen by the Board who is reasonably acceptable to the ORCP Stockholders (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
9
(f) In accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (as defined below), (i) the Board shall establish and maintain an audit committee of the Board, as well as all other committees of the Board required in accordance with applicable law and stock exchange regulations, and (ii) the Board may from time to time by resolution establish and maintain other committees of the Board.
(g) Subject to Section 2(c) and (d), for so long as the ORCP Stockholders have the right to nominate at least one (1) Sponsor Nominee, the ORCP Stockholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate a number of members to each committee of the Board equal to the lesser of (A) two (2) directors or (B) the number of directors that is proportionate (rounding up to the whole director) to the number of Sponsor Nominees that the ORCP Stockholders are entitled to nominate to the Board under this Article VI (it being understood that for so long as the ORCP Stockholders Beneficially Own greater than or equal to 45% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, the ORCP Stockholders shall have the right to designate at least half of the members of each committee); provided, that any such designee or designees shall be a director, shall be qualified to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law and stock exchange listing standards, and, taking into account any applicable transition provisions or exceptions, shall qualify as independent under applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Any additional committee members shall be determined by the Board.
(h) The Sponsor Nominees designated to serve on a committee of the Board shall have the right to remain on such committee until the next election of directors, regardless of the Sponsor Board Representation Number following such designation, subject to the first sentence of Section 2(e), in which case the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders may designate a different Sponsor Nominee, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in Section 2(g) of this Article VI, to serve on such committee until such time. Unless the ORCP Stockholders notify the Corporation otherwise prior to the time the Board takes action to change the composition of a committee, and to the extent the Sponsor Board Representation Number is such that the ORCP Stockholders have the right pursuant to Section 2(g) to nominate a committee member at the time the Board takes action to change the composition of any such committee, any Sponsor Nominee currently designated by the ORCP Stockholders to serve on a committee shall be presumed to be re-designated for such committee. If the ORCP Stockholders have designated less than the number of directors to serve on one or more committees to which they are entitled, the ORCP Stockholders shall have the right, at any time, to designate such (or such additional number of) Sponsor Nominees to committees to which they are entitled.
(i) If at any time a Sponsor Nominee serving on the Board becomes a Competing Director and such Sponsor Nominee has resigned from the Board, the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right to fill the resulting vacancy, including, in the case of the ORCP Stockholders, on any applicable committee of the Board, and the Corporation shall take all necessary action to fill such vacancy with the new Sponsor Nominee, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in Section 2(g) of this Article VI (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such director seat shall remain vacant until such vacancy is filled in accordance with this paragraph (i)).
10
Section 3. Directors of the Corporation shall be elected annually for terms of one year and any such director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.
Section 4. Subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any or all of the directors may be removed with or without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally on the election of directors; provided, however, that prior to the Trigger Event (as defined below), any of the directors nominated by a Sponsor Stockholder may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally on the election of directors.
Section 5. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, and subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or the rights granted pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Article VI, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal, retirement or other causes (if the size of the Board is not to be reduced as specified in Article VI) and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders; provided, however, that prior to the Trigger Event, and except as otherwise expressly required by law, and subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or the rights granted pursuant to the provisions of this Article VI, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal, retirement or other causes of a director nominated by a Sponsor Stockholder (if the size of the Board is not to be reduced as specified in Article VI) shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, by the sole remaining director, or by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 6. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the special right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (a) the then otherwise Total Number of Directors shall automatically be increased by such specified number of additional directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation establishing such series of Preferred Stock), and (b) each such additional director shall serve until such directors successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such directors right to hold such office terminates pursuant to the certificate of designation establishing such series of Preferred Stock, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation establishing any series of Preferred Stock), whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock
11
having the special right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including pursuant to any such certificate of designation), the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 7. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the Bylaws) so provide.
Section 8. Except as may otherwise be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the Board providing for the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and then only with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, cumulative voting in the election of directors is specifically denied.
ARTICLE VII
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. At any time prior to the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL. From and after the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation (and may not be effected by any consent in lieu of a meeting); provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time only by or at the direction of the Board or the Chair of the Board, and such special meetings may not be called by stockholders or any other Person or Persons; provided, however, that prior to the Trigger Event, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation shall also be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time by or at the direction of the Board or the Chair of the Board at the request of ORCP.
Section 3. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
12
ARTICLE VIII
LIABILITY
Section 1. No director or officer of the Corporation shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. If the DGCL is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VIII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.
Section 2. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VIII, nor the adoption by amendment of this Certificate of Incorporation of any provision inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VIII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VIII, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
ARTICLE IX
CERTAIN STOCKHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS
Section 1. In recognition and anticipation that (a) certain directors, principals, members, officers, associated funds, employees and/or other representatives of the Sponsor Stockholders (as defined below) and their Affiliates may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (b) the Sponsor Stockholders and their Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (c) members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (Non-Employee Directors) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Persons identified in (a), (b) or (c) above (such Persons being referred to, collectively, as Identified Persons and, individually, as an Identified Person) and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.
Section 2. None of the Identified Persons shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (a) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (b) competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity
13
to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article IX. Subject to Section 4 of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other matter or business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no fiduciary duty or other duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person, or does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.
Section 3. The Corporation and its Affiliates do not have any rights in and to the business ventures of any Identified Person, or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the Corporation agrees that each of the Identified Persons may do business with any potential or actual customer or supplier of the Corporation or may employ or otherwise engage any officer or employee of the Corporation.
Section 4. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 2 of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.
Section 5. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (a) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake, (b) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporations business (or is not under development and projected to grow into a material business for the Corporation) or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (c) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
Section 6. For purposes of this Article IX, Affiliate shall mean (a) in respect of any Sponsor Stockholder, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Sponsor Stockholder, controls such Sponsor Stockholder or is under common control with such Sponsor Stockholder and shall include (i) any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any Person that is controlled by the Corporation) and (ii) any funds or vehicles advised by Affiliates of such Sponsor Stockholder, (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any Person that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation.
14
Section 7. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX. Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
Section 1. Subject to the provisions of this Article X, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all rights and powers conferred herein on stockholders, directors and officers are subject to this reserved power. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock required by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock) or applicable law, the following provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, this Article X or Article XI. From and after the Trigger Event, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock required by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock) or applicable law, the following provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Section 6 of Article IV, or Article IX. For so long as any shares of Class B Common Stock are outstanding, (a) none of Section 5 of Article IV, Section 10 of Article IV, Section 8 of Article IV or Section 9 of Article IV (as they relate to the equal treatment of the Class B Common Stock) shall be waived, altered, amended or repealed (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in whole or in part, without the unanimous vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and (b) none of Section 3 of Article IV, Article V or this proviso of Article X shall be waived, altered, amended or repealed (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in whole or in part, without (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock plus (ii) the unanimous vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Section 2. The Board is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the Bylaws without the consent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders
15
of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), by the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE XI
DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Section 1. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
Section 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporations Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
a) | prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or |
b) | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or |
c) | at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 3. The restrictions contained in this Article XI shall not apply if a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (a) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder; and (b) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership.
16
Section 4. For purposes of this Article XI, references to:
a) | Affiliate means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person. |
b) | associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other person of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person. |
c) | ORCP Direct Transferee means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a brokers transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from any of the ORCP Group beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. |
d) | ORCP Indirect Transferee means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a brokers transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from any ORCP Direct Transferee or any other ORCP Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. |
e) | business combination, when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means: |
i. | any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (A) with the interested stockholder, or (B) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other person if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 2 of this Article XI is not applicable to the surviving entity; |
ii. | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation; |
iii. | any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities |
17
exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (E) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (C)-(E) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholders proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); |
iv. | any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or |
v. | any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary. |
f) | control, including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other person shall be presumed to have control of such person, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XI, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such person. |
18
g) | interested stockholder means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an Affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the Affiliates and associates of such person; but interested stockholder shall not include or be deemed to include, in any case, (A) ORCP or any of its respective current and future Affiliates (so long as such Affiliates remain an Affiliate) or successors or any group, or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of owner below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise. |
h) | owner, including the terms own and owned, when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or associates: |
i. | beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or |
ii. | has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such persons Affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such persons right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten or more persons; or |
iii. | has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (B) of subsection (ii) of the definition of owner above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock. |
19
i) | person means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity. |
j) | stock means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other person, any equity interest. |
k) | voting stock means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. |
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision or provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock and each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation or certificate of designation containing any such provision or provisions held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
When the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation refer to a specific agreement or other document or a decision by any body or Person that determines the meaning or operation of a provision hereof, the secretary of the Corporation shall maintain a copy of such agreement, document or decision at the principal executive offices of the Corporation and a copy thereof will be provided free of charge to any stockholder who makes a request therefor. Unless expressly provided herein or the context otherwise requires, any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein).
ARTICLE XIII
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise expressly provided herein and unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate means, other than as set forth in Article IX and Article XI, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person, including any partner, officer, director or member of the specified Person and, if the specified Person is a private equity fund, any investment fund now or hereafter existing that is managed by, or which is controlled by or is under common control with, one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, the specified Person or any investment fund, managed account vehicle, collective
20
investment scheme or comparable investment vehicle, other than any such vehicle formed for a single investor (Fund) now or hereafter existing that shares the same management company or registered investment advisor with such specified Person or any Fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by, under common control with, managed or advised by the same management company or registered investment advisor that controls, is under common control with, manages or advises the Fund that controls such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control (including, with its correlative meanings, the terms controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise.
Beneficial Ownership other than as set forth in Section 4 of Article V or in the definition of Trigger Event, means ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; provided, that, for purposes of Section 2 of Article VI, Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock shall not include any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Class B Common Stock prior to the actual conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock thereof. The terms Beneficially Own and Beneficial Owner shall have a correlative meaning.
Competing Director means any Sponsor Nominee who serves as an officer, director, partner, member, or employee for any business that competes in any material respect with the Corporation or its Subsidiaries, if a majority of the independent directors determines in good faith that such Sponsor Nominees service on the Board would constitute a violation of the Corporations bona fide conflict-of-interest policies, as applied consistently with respect to all actual or potential Directors; provided, however, that ORCP and its Affiliated Funds and other Affiliates (excluding any portfolio companies controlled by Funds advised by ORCP that so compete) will not be considered businesses that compete with the Corporation or its Subsidiaries.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations).
Mutually Agreed Director means the one director mutually agreed by the Unaffiliated Directors and the ORCP Stockholders to serve on the Board.
ORCP Stockholders means, collectively, (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder (including any additional Initial ORCP Stockholder designated as such pursuant to the definition of Initial ORCP Stockholder) and (ii) any Sponsor Stockholder Transferees that are Affiliates of the Initial ORCP Stockholder that are directly or indirectly controlled by the Person or Persons or their respective Affiliates who control the Initial ORCP Stockholder. Unless the Corporation is otherwise notified in writing by the Initial ORCP Stockholder, the Initial ORCP Stockholder shall at all times serve as the designated representative to act on behalf of the ORCP Stockholders for purposes of Article VI and shall have the sole power and authority to bind the ORCP Stockholders with respect to all provisions of Article VI; provided, however, that if the Initial ORCP Stockholder elects in its sole discretion to cease to serve as the designated representative of the ORCP Stockholders, then the Initial ORCP Stockholder or, in the absence of the Initial ORCP Stockholder doing so, a majority
21
in interest of the members of the ORCP Stockholders at such time shall designate and appoint one member of the ORCP Stockholders to serve as the designated representative of the ORCP Stockholders for purposes of Article VI, which designee (and any successor thereafter designated and appointed) shall have the sole power and authority to bind the ORCP Stockholders with respect to all provisions of Article VI. The Corporation and the Sponsor Stockholders shall be entitled to rely on all actions taken by the Initial ORCP Stockholder or such designee on behalf of the ORCP Stockholders.
Permitted Transferee means, with respect to any Sponsor Stockholder, (i) any Affiliate of such Sponsor Stockholder, (ii) any director, officer or employee of any Affiliate of such Sponsor Stockholder, (iii) any direct or indirect member or general or limited partner of such Sponsor Stockholder that is the Transferee of Shares pursuant to a pro rata distribution of Shares by such Sponsor Stockholder to its partners or members, as applicable (or any subsequent transfer of such Shares by the Transferee to another Permitted Transferee), or (iv) any other Transferee designated as a Permitted Transferee by the ORCP Stockholders.
Person means, other than as set forth in Section 4 of Article XI, an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, government (or agency or political subdivision thereof) or any other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
Primo Indentures means, collectively, (a) the Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2020 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms), by and among Primo Water Holdings Inc., as issuer, the guarantors party thereto, BNY Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent and authenticating agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as London paying agent, governing Primo Water Holdings Inc.s 3.875% Senior Notes due 2028, and (b) the Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2021 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms), by and among Primo Water Holdings Inc., as issuer, the guarantors party thereto, BNY Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian trustee, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent and authenticating agent, governing Primo Water Holdings Inc.s 4.375% Senior Notes due 2029.
Primo Notes means, collectively, Primo Water Holding Inc.s 3.875% Senior Notes due 2028 and 4.375% Senior Notes due 2029, in each case, issued pursuant to the Primo Indentures.
Shares means, at any time, (i) shares of Common Stock and (ii) any other equity securities, in each case, now or hereafter issued by the Corporation, together with any options, warrants or other rights thereon and any other shares or other equity securities issued or issuable with respect thereto (whether by way of a share dividend, share split or in exchange for or in replacement or upon conversion of such shares or otherwise in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization).
22
Sponsor Board Representation Number means, at any time of determination, the Total Number of Directors that the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right to nominate for election to the Board.
Sponsor Stockholders means, collectively, (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder and (ii) any Sponsor Stockholder Transferees.
Sponsor Stockholder Transferee means a Permitted Transferee (other than pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Transferee) of (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder or (ii) an Affiliate of the Initial ORCP Stockholder, in each case, (x) to which is Transferred any shares of Common Stock by the Initial ORCP Stockholder or a Permitted Transferee of the Initial ORCP Stockholder and (y) which becomes a party hereto by executing a joinder agreement to the Stockholders Agreement; provided, that any Person that is a Sponsor Stockholder Transferee that is a Permitted Transferee pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Permitted Transferee, shall only be considered a Sponsor Stockholder Transferee for purposes of Article VI hereof if such Permitted Transferee is either (x) a Permitted Sell-Down Transferee that is not a Specified Mutual Fund (each as defined in the Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger in the form executed and delivered as of June 16, 2024) or (y) approved by the Unaffiliated Directors (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Stockholders Agreement means the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024, between the Corporation and Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Total Number of Directors means, at any time of determination, the total authorized number of directors comprising the Board; provided, that for so long as at least one Sponsor Stockholder qualifies as a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder pursuant to Section 2(b) of Article VI, unless otherwise requested by ORCP in writing and subject to Section 2(b) of Article VI, the Total Number of Directors shall be fixed at the number of directors included in Section 2(a) that corresponds with the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders collective Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock at such time.
Transfer means any direct or indirect transfer, donation, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, grant of a security interest in or other disposal or attempted disposal of all or any portion of a security, any interest or rights in a security, or any rights under the Stockholders Agreement.
Transferee means the recipient of a Transfer.
Trigger Event means the first date on which the ORCP Stockholders cease to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than 40% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. For the purpose of this definition, beneficial ownership or the phrase beneficially own shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Unaffiliated Directors means a committee of the members of the Board who are not the Mutually Agreed Director or a Sponsor Nominee, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority vote of the total members of the committee; provided, however, for purposes of Section 2(e) of Article VI, Unaffiliated Directors means a director who is not a Mutually Agreed Director or a Sponsor Nominee.
* * * *
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Primo Brands Corporation has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 7th day of November, 2024.
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Hih Song Kim | |
Name: |
Hih Song Kim | |
Title: |
Chief Administrative Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Table of Contents
Article I Corporate Offices |
1 | |||||
1.1 |
Registered Office | 1 | ||||
1.2 |
Other Offices | 1 | ||||
Article II Meetings of Stockholders |
1 | |||||
2.1 |
Place of Meetings | 1 | ||||
2.2 |
Annual Meeting | 1 | ||||
2.3 |
Special Meetings | 1 | ||||
2.4 |
Notice of Business to be Brought Before a Meeting | 2 | ||||
2.5 |
Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors | 6 | ||||
2.6 |
Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors | 10 | ||||
2.7 |
Action by Written Consent in Lieu of a Meeting | 11 | ||||
2.8 |
Notice of Stockholders Meetings | 12 | ||||
2.9 |
Quorum | 12 | ||||
2.10 |
Adjourned Meeting; Notice | 12 | ||||
2.11 |
Organization; Conduct of Business | 13 | ||||
2.12 |
Voting | 13 | ||||
2.13 |
Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes | 14 | ||||
2.14 |
Proxies | 15 | ||||
2.15 |
List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 15 | ||||
2.16 |
Inspectors of Election | 15 | ||||
2.17 |
Delivery to the Corporation | 16 | ||||
Article III Directors |
16 | |||||
3.1 |
Powers | 16 | ||||
3.2 |
Number of Directors | 16 | ||||
3.3 |
Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors | 16 | ||||
3.4 |
Chairperson of the Board | 17 | ||||
3.5 |
Lead Independent Director | 17 | ||||
3.6 |
Resignation and Vacancies | 17 | ||||
3.7 |
Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone | 17 | ||||
3.8 |
Regular Meetings | 17 | ||||
3.9 |
Special Meetings; Notice | 18 | ||||
3.10 |
Quorum | 18 |
i
3.11 |
Board Action by Written Consent without a Meeting | 18 | ||||
3.12 |
Fees and Compensation of Directors | 19 | ||||
Article IV Committees |
19 | |||||
4.1 |
Committees of Directors | 19 | ||||
4.2 |
Committee Minutes | 19 | ||||
4.3 |
Meetings and Actions of Committees | 19 | ||||
4.4 |
Subcommittees | 20 | ||||
4.5 |
Quorum | 20 | ||||
Article V Officers |
20 | |||||
5.1 |
Officers | 20 | ||||
5.2 |
Appointment of Officers | 20 | ||||
5.3 |
Subordinate Officers | 21 | ||||
5.4 |
Removal and Resignation of Officers | 21 | ||||
5.5 |
Vacancies in Offices | 21 | ||||
5.6 |
Representation of Shares of Other Corporations | 21 | ||||
5.7 |
Authority and Duties of Officers | 21 | ||||
5.8 |
Compensation | 22 | ||||
Article VI General Matters |
22 | |||||
6.1 |
Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments | 22 | ||||
6.2 |
Stock Certificates | 22 | ||||
6.3 |
Lost Certificates | 22 | ||||
6.4 |
Shares Without Certificates | 23 | ||||
6.5 |
Construction; Definitions | 23 | ||||
6.6 |
Dividends | 23 | ||||
6.7 |
Fiscal Year | 23 | ||||
6.8 |
Seal | 23 | ||||
6.9 |
Transfer of Stock | 23 | ||||
6.10 |
Agreements Regarding Transfer | 24 | ||||
6.11 |
Registered Stockholders | 24 | ||||
6.12 |
Waiver of Notice | 24 | ||||
Article VII Notice |
24 | |||||
7.1 |
Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission | 24 | ||||
Article VIII Indemnification |
25 | |||||
8.1 |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers | 25 |
ii
8.2 |
Indemnification of Others | 26 | ||||
8.3 |
Prepayment of Expenses | 26 | ||||
8.4 |
Determination; Claim | 26 | ||||
8.5 |
Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 26 | ||||
8.6 |
Insurance | 27 | ||||
8.7 |
Other Indemnification | 27 | ||||
8.8 |
Continuation of Indemnification | 27 | ||||
8.9 |
Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation | 27 | ||||
Article IX Amendments |
28 | |||||
Article X Forum Selection |
28 | |||||
Article XI Interpretation |
29 | |||||
Article XII Definitions |
29 |
iii
Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Primo Brands Corporation
Article I Corporate Offices
1.1 | Registered Office. |
The address of the registered office of Primo Brands Corporation (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporations certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the Certificate of Incorporation).
1.2 | Other Offices. |
The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporations board of directors (the Board) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
Article II Meetings of Stockholders
2.1 | Place of Meetings. |
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place either within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board 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 as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders meetings shall be held at the Corporations principal executive office.
2.2 | Annual Meeting. |
The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting of stockholders. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.
2.3 | Special Meetings. |
Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by such Persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board; provided, however, that, with respect to any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board or the chairperson of the Board at the request of ORCP, the Board shall not postpone, reschedule or cancel such special meeting without the prior written consent of ORCP.
No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such special meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling the meeting pursuant to this Section 2.3.
2.4 | Notice of Business to be Brought Before a Meeting. |
(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting (or supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (1) (A) was a record owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects or (2) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the Exchange Act). The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before the annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action pursuant to these bylaws and applicable law. For purposes of this Section 2.4, present in person shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of stockholders, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting, either in person or by means of remote communication. A qualified representative of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at or before the annual meeting of stockholders in writing or by electronic communication. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(ii) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.4(i)(c), the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation (the Secretary) and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting which, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger in the form executed and delivered as of June 16, 2024, by and among Triton Water Parent, Inc. (Parent), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware, the Corporation, Triton Merger Sub 1, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation (Merger Sub), 1000922661 Ontario Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and Primo Water Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, the date of the preceding years annual meeting shall be deemed to be May 8, 2024; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date,
2
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not more than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than (i) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, (ii) if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined below) of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, Timely Notice). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.
(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (1) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporations books and records); (2) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; (3) the date or dates such shares were acquired; (4) the investment intent of such acquisition of shares; and (5) any pledge by such Proposing Person with respect to any of such shares (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) through (5), Stockholder Information);
(b) As to each Proposing Person, (1) the material terms and conditions of any derivative security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a call equivalent position (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) or a put equivalent position (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or other derivative or synthetic arrangement in respect of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation (Synthetic Equity Position) that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person, including, without limitation: (A) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, future or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (B) any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position or a short position in any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, a stock loan transaction, a stock borrowing transaction, or a share repurchase transaction or (C) any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to (x) produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (y) mitigate any loss relating to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of, or manage the risk of share price decrease in, any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or (z) increase or decrease the voting power in respect of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person; including, without limitation, due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such
3
instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the holder thereof may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the price or value of any shares of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation; provided, that, for the purposes of the definition of Synthetic Equity Position, the term derivative security shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a derivative security as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie any Synthetic Equity Position that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Persons business as a derivatives dealer; (2) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable pursuant to such agreement, arrangement or understanding from the underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation; (3) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation; (4) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand; (5) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); (6) any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or a Synthetic Equity Position held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which any such Proposing Person (A) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (B) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity; (7) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal; and (8) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) through (8), Disclosable Interests); and
4
(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (2) 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 the bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (3) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (A) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (B) between or among any Proposing Person and any other Person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and (4) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Section 2.4(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the record owner directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term Proposing Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(v) The Board may request that any Proposing Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Proposing Person shall provide such additional information within 10 days after it has been requested by the Board.
(vi) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
5
(vii) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The Board shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if the Board so determines, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and authority to so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. If at any meeting of stockholders business is proposed to be brought before the meeting for which advance notice was not given or provided as required by this Section 2.4, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and authority to declare that such proposed business shall not be transacted.
(viii) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporations proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(ix) For purposes of these bylaws, public disclosure shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(x) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these bylaws, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below) remains in effect with respect to ORCP, ORCP (to the extent then subject to the Stockholders Agreement) shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.4.
2.5 | Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors. |
(i) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (a) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (b) by a stockholder present in person who (1) was a record owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.5 and 2.6 as to such notice and nomination; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these bylaws, for so long as a Sponsor Stockholder is entitled to nominate a Director pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, such Sponsor Stockholder shall not be subject to this Section 2.5. For purposes of this Section 2.5, present in person shall mean that the stockholder nominating any person for election to the Board at the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting, either in person or by means of remote communication to present the nomination. A qualified representative of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other Person authorized by a
6
writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such Person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at or before the meeting of stockholders in writing or by electronic transmission. The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting.
(ii) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to each Nominating Person (as defined below) and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(iii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling a special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to each Nominating Person and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholders notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such special meeting at which directors are to be elected was first made by the Corporation (such notice and within such time periods, Special Meeting Timely Notice). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person (as defined below) provide Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (ii) of this Section 2.5 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors subject to election at the meeting is increased, such stockholders notice as to any additional nominees only shall be due on the later of (a) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, or (b) the 10th day following the date of public disclosure of such increase.
(v) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
7
(a) As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term Nominating Person shall be substituted for the term Proposing Person in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a);
(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term Nominating Person shall be substituted for the term Proposing Person in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(b) shall be made with respect to the nomination of persons for election to the Board to be brought before the meeting); and provided that, in lieu of including the information set forth in Section 2.4(iii)(b)(7), the Nominating Persons notice for purposes of this Section 2.5 shall include a representation as to whether the Nominating Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and solicit the holders of shares representing at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporations nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
(c) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (1) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidates written consent to being named in a proxy statement and accompanying proxy card relating to the Corporations next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected and to serving as a director for a full term if elected), (2) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates (as defined in Rule 14a-1(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act) or any other participants (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii) through (vi) of Instruction 3 of Item 4 of Schedule 14A) in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the registrant for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), the Nominee Information), and (3) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.6(i).
(vi) For purposes of this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6, the term Nominating Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(vii) The Board may request that any Nominating Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Nominating Person shall provide such additional information within 10 days after it has been requested by the Board.
8
(viii) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice or the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.5, as applicable, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination, including by changing or adding nominees, to submit any new nomination, or to submit any new proposal, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(ix) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5, unless otherwise required by law, (a) no Nominating Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporations nominees unless such Nominating Person has, or is part of a group that has, complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder, in accordance with the time frames required in this Section 2.5 or by Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as applicable, and (b) if (1) any Nominating Person provides notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) (x) such notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) is not provided within the time period of Timely Notice of Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable and (y) such Nominating Person subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (z) such Nominating Person fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Nominating Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the nomination of such Nominating Persons proposed nominees shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that each such nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporations proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). If any Nominating Person provides notice in accordance with Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
9
2.6 | Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors. |
(i) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in the case of a nomination by a stockholder of record, in accordance with the time periods set forth in Section 2.5), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in the same form used for the Corporations existing directors, to be provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) that such candidate for nomination (1) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominees ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominees fiduciary duties under applicable law, (2) 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 or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed therein or to the Corporation, (3) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such persons term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), and (4) if elected as a director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.
(ii) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a director to furnish such other information related to such candidates eligibility or qualification to serve as a director as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidates nomination is to be acted upon. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may request such other information in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation or to comply with the director qualification standards and additional selection criteria in accordance with the Corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines. Such other information shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the request by the Board has been delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Nominating Person.
(iii) A candidate for nomination as a director by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.5(i)(b) shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the
10
meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) No candidate proposed to be nominated by a stockholder in accordance with these bylaws shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidates name in nomination has complied with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, as applicable. The Board shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, and if the Board so determines, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and authority to so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect. If at any meeting of stockholders a nomination is made for which advance notice was not given or provided as required by Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and authority to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded.
(v) Subject to Section 2.6(vi) of these bylaws, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6; provided, however, that nothing in Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6 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.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, for so long as a Sponsor Stockholder is entitled to nominate a Director pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, such Sponsor Stockholder shall not be subject to Section 2.5 or this Section 2.6.
2.7 | Action by Written Consent in Lieu of a Meeting. |
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with applicable law.
11
2.8 | Notice of Stockholders Meetings. |
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 7.1 of these bylaws not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
2.9 | Quorum. |
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present or represented. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
2.10 | Adjourned Meeting; Notice. |
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, (including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication) unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders 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 or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. 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 determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
12
2.11 | Organization; Conduct of Business. |
Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairperson of the Board, if any, or, in his or her absence, by the chief executive officer of the Corporation or, in the absence of the foregoing persons, by a chairperson, who shall be a director or officer of the Corporation, designated by the Board. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairperson of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations (which need not be in writing) for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting (whether or not a quorum is present), to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of 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 (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for the removal of disruptive persons from the meeting); (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other Persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairperson at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
2.12 | Voting. |
Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Unless a different or minimum vote is provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law, or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.
13
2.13 | Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes. |
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the Board 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, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board 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 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, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is first 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 adjournment or postponement of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned or postponed meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned or postponed meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned or postponed meeting.
To the extent stockholder action by consent is permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board 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, and which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
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 the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no 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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.
14
2.14 | Proxies. |
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another Person or Persons to act for such stockholder by proxy as permitted by law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but, no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board.
2.15 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. |
The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the 10th day before each 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 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), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required 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 for a period of at least 10 days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporations principal executive office. 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. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. Except as otherwise provided 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 2.15 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
2.16 | Inspectors of Election. |
Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment or postponement and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more Persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any Person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.
Such inspectors shall:
(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;
15
(ii) count all votes or ballots;
(iii) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and
(iv) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.
Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspectors ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such Persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.
2.17 | Delivery to the Corporation. |
Other than as specified by Section 2.14, whenever this Article II requires one or more Persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. 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 to the Corporation required by this Article II (other than as specified by Section 2.14).
Article III Directors
3.1 | Powers. |
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board.
3.2 | Number of Directors. |
The total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time in the manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that directors term of office expires.
3.3 | Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors. |
The terms of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders to be qualified for election or service as a director of the Corporation. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.
16
3.4 | Chairperson of the Board. |
The Board may appoint from among its members a chairperson of the Board and/or a vice chairperson of the Board. Neither the chairperson nor the vice chairperson need be an officer of the Corporation. The chairperson or the vice chairperson of the Board, in each case, if appointed and when present, shall have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
3.5 | Lead Independent Director. |
The Board may appoint from among its members a Lead Independent Director (who must meet applicable independence requirements). The Lead Independent Director, if there be one, shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as may from time to time be assigned by these bylaws, applicable law or regulatory requirement or by the Board of Directors.
3.6 | Resignation and Vacancies. |
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt.
Any vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
3.7 | Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone. |
The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any 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 in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.8 | Regular Meetings. |
Regular meetings of the Board may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and at such time and at such place, if any, as which has been designated by the Board and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board.
17
3.9 | Special Meetings; Notice. |
Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board, the Lead Independent Director, the chief executive officer, the president (if the Corporation has a president), the Secretary or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:
(i) | delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone; |
(ii) | sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid; |
(iii) | sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or |
(iv) | sent by other means of electronic transmission, |
directed to each director at that directors address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporations records.
If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporations principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.
3.10 | Quorum. |
At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Stockholders Agreement or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
3.11 | Board 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, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board.
18
3.12 | Fees and Compensation of Directors. |
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Stockholders Agreement or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
Article IV Committees
4.1 | Committees of Directors. |
The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law or provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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 that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend 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 (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.
4.2 | Committee Minutes. |
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
4.3 | Meetings and Actions of Committees. |
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:
(i) | Section 3.7 (Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone); |
(ii) | Section 3.8 (Regular Meetings); |
(iii) | Section 3.9 (Special Meetings; Notice); |
(iv) | Section 3.11 (Board Action by Written Consent without a Meeting); and |
(v) | Section 6.12 (Waiver of Notice), |
19
with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:
(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;
(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or by the chairperson of the applicable committee; and
(iii) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Stockholders Agreement or applicable law.
4.4 | Subcommittees. |
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, or the charter of such committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
4.5 | Quorum. |
At all committee meetings, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the directors then serving on such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.
Article V Officers
5.1 | Officers. |
The officers of the Corporation shall include a chief executive officer and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a president, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as deemed necessary or advisable and as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person. Officers need not be stockholders or directors of the Corporation for service as an officer of the Corporation.
5.2 | Appointment of Officers. |
The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.
20
5.3 | Subordinate Officers. |
The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president (if the Corporation has a president), to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board or an authorized officer (as applicable), may from time to time determine.
5.4 | Removal and Resignation of Officers. |
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer appointed by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these bylaws, removal or replacement of the chief executive officer or equivalent officer of the Corporation prior to November 8, 2025 shall require approval of two-thirds of the total number of the authorized directors (66.7%) of the Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice, by electronic transmission or otherwise, to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect upon receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.5 | Vacancies in Offices. |
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, as applicable.
5.6 | Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. |
The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer or the president (if the Corporation has a president) of this Corporation, or any other Person authorized by the Board, the chief executive officer or the president (if the Corporation has a president), is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or securities of any other corporation or other entity standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein 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 such Person having the authority.
5.7 | Authority and Duties of Officers. |
All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.
21
5.8 | Compensation. |
The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.
Article VI General Matters
6.1 | Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments. |
The Board may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, 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 ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, or as set forth herein (including pursuant to Section 5.7 and Section 6.2), no officer, agent or employee 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.
6.2 | Stock Certificates. |
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided, that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The chairperson or vice chairperson of the Board, chief executive officer, the president (if the Corporation has a president), vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. 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 he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
6.3 | Lost Certificates. |
Except as provided in this Section 6.3, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time in accordance with applicable law. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock 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 such owners legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
22
6.4 | Shares Without Certificates. |
The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.
6.5 | Construction; Definitions. |
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.
6.6 | Dividends. |
The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation or (iii) the Stockholders Agreement, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of the Corporations capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporations capital stock.
The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation and meeting contingencies.
6.7 | Fiscal Year. |
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
6.8 | Seal. |
The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
6.9 | Transfer of Stock. |
Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Stockholders Agreement, shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holders attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate Person or Persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the Persons from and to whom it was transferred.
23
6.10 | Agreements Regarding Transfer. |
The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.
6.11 | Registered Stockholders. |
The Corporation:
(i) 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
(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
6.12 | Waiver of Notice. |
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, 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 of the event for which notice is to be given, 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 annual or special meeting of the stockholders 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.
Article VII Notice
7.1 | Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission. |
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholders mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholders electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholders address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholders 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. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.
24
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this section without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and
(iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Article VIII Indemnification
8.1 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Person in
25
connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 8.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Person only if the Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the specific case by the Board.
8.2 | Indemnification of Others. |
The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with any such Proceeding.
8.3 | Prepayment of Expenses. |
The Corporation shall to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any officer or director of the Corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
8.4 | Determination; Claim. |
If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 60 days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
8.5 | Non-Exclusivity of Rights. |
The rights conferred on any Person by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, these bylaws or otherwise.
26
8.6 | Insurance. |
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
8.7 | Other Indemnification. |
The Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
8.8 | Continuation of Indemnification. |
The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.
8.9 | Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation. |
The provisions of this Article VIII shall constitute a contract between, on the one hand, the Corporation and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such Persons performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article VIII the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article VIII are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of these bylaws. With respect to any directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director, officer, employee or agent commencing service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
27
Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VIII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the chief executive officer, president (if the Corporation has a president) and secretary, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of vice president or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article VIII.
Article IX Amendments
Subject to the Stockholders Agreement, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders also shall have power to alter, amend, repeal or rescind the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Article X Forum Selection
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the Chancery Court) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have, or declines to accept, jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (v) any action in the right of the Corporation asserting a claim as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article X, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is
28
filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a Foreign Action) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article X. This provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that Person and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article X shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other Persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Article XI Interpretation
If any provision or provisions of these bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision or provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these bylaws shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these bylaws shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
For as long as the Stockholders Agreement remains in effect, in the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of these bylaws and those contained in the Stockholders Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Stockholders Agreement shall govern and control, except as provided otherwise by mandatory provisions of the DGCL.
Article XII Definitions
As used in these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:
29
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and any other Person who would be considered an Affiliate of such specified Person under the definition of Affiliate in the Certificate of Incorporation. For the purpose of this definition, control, when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee (or the power to appoint a trustee), as a personal representative or executor, by contract, credit arrangement or otherwise and controlled and controlling have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
An electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks (including email) or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
Person means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
ORCP means, collectively, Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any other Affiliates of, or investment funds Affiliated with, One Rock Capital Partners, LLC.
Sponsor Stockholders means, collectively, (i) ORCP and (ii) any other Person that (x) becomes a party to the Stockholders Agreement by executing a Joinder Agreement thereto and (y) is designated as a Sponsor Stockholder under the Stockholders Agreement.
Stockholders Agreement means the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024, between the Corporation and Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, as may be amended from time to time.
Trigger Event means the first date on which ORCP ceases to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than 40% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporations Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share. For the purpose of these bylaws, beneficial ownership or the phrase beneficially own shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
30
Exhibit 4.7
Execution Version
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC.
and
the Guarantors from time to time party hereto
6.250% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 31, 2021
Wilmington Trust, National Association
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
1 | |||||
Section 1.01 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Other Definitions | 64 | ||||
Section 1.03 |
Rules of Construction | 65 | ||||
ARTICLE II THE NOTES |
66 | |||||
Section 2.01 |
Form and Dating | 66 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Execution and Authentication | 67 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Registrar and Paying Agent | 68 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 68 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Holder Lists | 69 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Transfer and Exchange | 69 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Replacement Notes | 82 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Outstanding Notes | 82 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Treasury Notes | 83 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Temporary Notes | 83 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Cancellation | 83 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Defaulted Interest | 84 | ||||
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT |
84 | |||||
Section 3.01 |
Notices to Trustee | 84 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased | 84 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Notice to Holders | 85 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Effect of Notice of Redemption | 86 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price | 86 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part | 87 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Optional Redemption | 87 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
[Reserved] | 88 | ||||
Section 3.09 |
Mandatory Redemption; Other Purchases | 88 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds | 88 | ||||
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS |
90 | |||||
Section 4.01 |
Payment of Notes | 90 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency | 91 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Reports | 92 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Compliance Certificate | 95 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
[Reserved] | 96 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 96 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Restricted Payments | 96 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries | 105 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock | 108 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
Asset Sales | 119 |
i
Section 4.11 |
[Reserved] | 123 | ||||
Section 4.12 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 123 | ||||
Section 4.13 |
Liens | 127 | ||||
Section 4.14 |
[Reserved] | 129 | ||||
Section 4.15 |
Corporate Existence | 129 | ||||
Section 4.16 |
Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control | 130 | ||||
Section 4.17 |
Additional Guarantors | 132 | ||||
Section 4.18 |
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries | 132 | ||||
Section 4.19 |
[Reserved] | 133 | ||||
Section 4.20 |
[Reserved] | 133 | ||||
Section 4.21 |
[Reserved] | 133 | ||||
Section 4.22 |
[Reserved] | 133 | ||||
Section 4.23 |
Changes in Covenants when the Notes are Rated Investment Grade | 133 | ||||
Section 4.24 |
Measuring Compliance | 135 | ||||
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS |
138 | |||||
Section 5.01 |
Merger, Consolidation, Amalgamation or Sale of Assets | 138 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Successor Corporation Substituted | 139 | ||||
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
140 | |||||
Section 6.01 |
Events of Default | 140 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Acceleration | 142 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Other Remedies | 142 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 142 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Control by Majority | 143 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Limitation on Suits | 143 | ||||
Section 6.07 |
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 144 | ||||
Section 6.08 |
Collection Suit by Trustee | 144 | ||||
Section 6.09 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 144 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Priorities | 145 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Undertaking for Costs | 145 | ||||
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE. |
145 | |||||
Section 7.01 |
Duties of Trustee | 145 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Rights of Trustee | 146 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
Individual Rights of Trustee | 148 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Trustees Disclaimer | 148 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Notice of Defaults | 148 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Compensation and Indemnity | 149 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Replacement of Trustee | 149 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 150 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
Eligibility; Disqualification | 151 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
151 | |||||
Section 8.01 |
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 151 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 151 | ||||
Section 8.03 |
Covenant Defeasance | 152 |
ii
Section 8.04 |
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 152 | ||||
Section 8.05 |
Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 153 | ||||
Section 8.06 |
Repayment to Issuer | 154 | ||||
Section 8.07 |
Reinstatement | 154 | ||||
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER |
155 | |||||
Section 9.01 |
Without Consent of Holders | 155 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
With Consent of Holders | 156 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Revocation and Effect of Consents | 158 | ||||
Section 9.04 |
Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 158 | ||||
Section 9.05 |
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. | 158 | ||||
ARTICLE X NOTE GUARANTEES |
159 | |||||
Section 10.01 |
Guarantee | 159 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Limitation on Guarantor Liability | 160 | ||||
Section 10.03 |
Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 160 | ||||
Section 10.04 |
Guarantor Releases | 161 | ||||
ARTICLE XI [RESERVED] |
162 | |||||
ARTICLE XII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
162 | |||||
Section 12.01 |
Satisfaction and Discharge | 162 | ||||
Section 12.02 |
Application of Trust Money | 164 | ||||
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS |
164 | |||||
Section 13.01 |
[Reserved] | 164 | ||||
Section 13.02 |
Notices | 164 | ||||
Section 13.03 |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 165 | ||||
Section 13.04 |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 166 | ||||
Section 13.05 |
Rules by Trustee and Agents | 166 | ||||
Section 13.06 |
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders | 166 | ||||
Section 13.07 |
Governing Law | 166 | ||||
Section 13.08 |
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 166 | ||||
Section 13.09 |
Successors | 167 | ||||
Section 13.10 |
Severability | 167 | ||||
Section 13.11 |
Counterpart Originals | 167 | ||||
Section 13.12 |
Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 167 | ||||
Section 13.13 |
Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial | 167 | ||||
Section 13.14 |
[Reserved] | 168 | ||||
Section 13.15 |
Force Majeure | 168 | ||||
Section 13.16 |
U.S.A. PATRIOT Act | 168 |
iii
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | FORM OF NOTE |
Exhibit B | FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER |
Exhibit C | FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE |
Exhibit D | FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR |
Exhibit E | FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP |
Exhibit F | FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY GUARANTORS |
iv
INDENTURE dated as of March 31, 2021, among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), the Guarantors (as defined herein) from time to time party hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (as defined herein).
On the date hereof, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Issuer will directly or indirectly acquire the Acquired Business.
The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029 (the Notes):
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.
ABL Agent means Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.
ABL Credit Agreement means the ABL revolving credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among Holdings, the Issuer, certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer from time to time party thereto as borrowers, certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer from time to time party thereto as guarantors, the ABL Agent and the ABL Lenders, and any other agents, arrangers and lenders party thereto from time to time, including any notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended, extended, increased, renewed, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced (including through the issuance of debt securities), restructured or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original borrower, issuer, agent, lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, and whether provided under the ABL Credit Agreement as of the Issue Date, or one or more other credit or other agreements or indentures, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings, other extensions of credit and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such debt facilities or successor debt facilities, whether by the same or any other borrower, issuer, agent, lender or group of lenders (or institutional investors).
ABL Facility means the senior secured asset-based revolving loan facility and any other facilities made pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement.
ABL Lenders means each financial institution that is a lender under the ABL Credit Agreement from time to time.
Accruals means, on any date, all accrued but unpaid interest, fees, expenses and other charges (including any Post-Petition Interest) owing by the Issuer or any Guarantor to any Credit Facility Secured Party under any of the Credit Facility Documents on such date, including any advances made by any Credit Facility Secured Party to pay such amounts and interest accrued upon any such advances.
Acquired Debt means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) | Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is amalgamated, divided or merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and |
(2) | Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person. |
Acquired Debt shall be deemed to have been incurred on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.
Acquisition means the acquisition of the Acquired Business pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.
Acquisition Agreement means that certain stock and asset purchase agreement, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, dated as of February 16, 2021, between Nestlé S.A. and the Issuer (and any other parties from time to time party thereto), and all side letters and other agreements related thereto, in each case, as may be further amended up to and including the Issue Date.
Additional Refinancing Amount means, in connection with the refinancing of any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, the aggregate principal amount of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred to pay (1) accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness being refinanced; (2) the increased principal amount of any Indebtedness being refinanced resulting from the in-kind payment of interest on such Indebtedness (or in the case of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, additional shares of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock); (3) the aggregate amount of original issue discount on the Indebtedness being refinanced; (4) premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs associated with the redemption, repurchase, retirement, discharge or defeasance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock being refinanced; and (5) all fees and expenses (including underwriting discounts, commitment, ticking and similar fees, expenses and discounts) associated with the repayment of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and preferred stock being refinanced and the incurrence of the Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued in connection with such refinancing.
Additional Notes means Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.
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, as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
2
For purposes of this definition, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with have correlative meanings.
Agent means any Registrar, Co-Registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.
Applicable Premium means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:
(1) | 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; or |
(2) | the excess, if any, of: |
(a) | the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at April 1, 2024 (such redemption price being set forth in Section 3.07(d) hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through April 1, 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 (or in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, as of the deposit date, as applicable) plus 50 basis points; over |
(b) | the principal amount of such Note. |
Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Issuer or on behalf of the Issuer by such Person as the Issuer shall designate. Calculation of the Applicable Premium or the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
Asset Sale means:
(a) | the sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be governed by Sections 4.16 and/or 5.01 hereof and not by Section 4.10 hereof; and |
(b) | the issuance or sale of Equity Interests in any of the Issuers Restricted Subsidiaries (other than directors qualifying shares or nominal shares required by applicable law to be held by foreign nationals). |
Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:
(1) | any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than the greater of (x) $70.0 million and (y) 12.50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer; |
3
(2) | a transfer of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(3) | an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; |
(4) | any issuance of employee stock options or stock awards pursuant to benefit plans of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(5) | any lease, sale or other disposition of equipment, inventory, goods, services, accounts receivable or other property in the ordinary course of business, the discount or forgiveness of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the collection or compromise thereof and the disposition of a business, in respect of which immediately prior to such disposition the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not own the entire line of such business, in the ordinary course of business; |
(6) | any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out, used, surplus, fully depreciated or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business and dispositions of property no longer economically practical to maintain or no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(7) | the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents or securities with an Investment Grade Rating; |
(8) | a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07 hereof or a Permitted Investment; |
(9) | the granting of Liens not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture and any disposition deemed to occur upon the granting of such Lien; |
(10) | sales of assets received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure on a Lien; |
(11) | leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to the non-exclusive licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property and the provision of software under an open source license), in each case, in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; |
(12) | any sale, transfer or other disposition of an Investment in a joint venture to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture and similar agreements; |
4
(13) | the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or incurred in compliance with this Indenture; |
(14) | the lapse or abandonment in the ordinary course of business of any registrations or applications for registration of any patents, trademarks, servicemarks, tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property rights not necessary in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(15) | any disposition of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof, in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings; |
(16) | any direct or indirect sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary; |
(17) | any involuntary condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, confiscation or requisition or use of such property; |
(18) | any involuntary loss, damage or destruction of property; provided that in the event that such loss, damage or destruction results in the receipt of net cash proceeds, such net cash proceeds are deemed to be Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale and are applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof; |
(19) | (i) dispositions of property to the extent that such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased, (ii) dispositions of property to the extent that the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased), and (iii) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Permitted Business; |
(20) | any financing transaction with respect to property constructed, acquired, replaced, repaired or improved (including any reconstruction, refurbishment, renovation and/or development of Real Property) by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, including sale and leaseback transactions and asset securitizations, permitted by this Indenture; |
(21) | any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release, surrender or waiver of contractual, tort, litigation or other claims of any kind; |
5
(22) | sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets (other than royalties or other revenues (except accounts receivable)) or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility; |
(23) | the granting of any option or other right to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire inventory and delinquent accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business; |
(24) | the termination of leases and subleases in the ordinary course of business |
(25) | to the extent constituting a disposition, the creation of any Permitted Lien and any similar dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens; |
(26) | any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and |
(27) | dispositions of any assets held for sale on the Issue Date and pursuant to legally binding obligations in effect on the Issue Date and assets reasonably related or ancillary thereto, it being agreed that no such disposition shall constitute a sale of all or substantially all assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries for any purpose under this Indenture. |
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 IFRS (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases).
Bankruptcy Code means 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and any legislation enacted supplementing or replacing the same.
Bankruptcy Law means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors or any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally, as amended from time to time.
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. The terms Beneficially Owns, Beneficially Owned and Beneficial Ownership have corresponding meanings.
Board of Directors means:
(1) | with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; |
(2) | with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of the general partner of the partnership; |
6
(3) | with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and |
(4) | with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function. |
Borrowing Base means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the following assets belonging to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries formed in the United States: (1) the lesser of (x) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of inventory and (y) 75% of the book value of inventory, plus (2) 90% of the book value of investment grade receivables, plus (3) 85% of the book value of non-investment grade receivables, plus (4) 100% of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents, minus (5) Eligible Reserves, in each case, as of such date. Book value shall be determined in accordance with IFRS and shall be calculated using amounts reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is internally available (it being understood that the receivables and inventories of an acquired business shall be included (i) if such acquisition has been completed on or prior to such date of determination or (ii) as otherwise provided under clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt).
Business Day means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.
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 IFRS (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases).
Capitalized Leases means all capital leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with IFRS as in effect on the Issue Date (but without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases), 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 in accordance with IFRS (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases) as adopted by the Issuer and as in effect on the Issue Date.
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 interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; 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, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock. |
7
Captive Insurance Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) | U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any participating member state of the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business; |
(2) | readily marketable direct obligations of the United States (or any political subdivision thereof), any member of the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mexico or Japan, or any agency or instrumentality thereof or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of such country, and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of at least Aa3 (or the equivalent grade) by Moodys or AA- by S&P; |
(3) | marketable general obligations issued by (a) any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or any instrumentality thereof that are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of such state, (b) Mexico or any agency or instrumentality thereof that are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of Mexico or (c) Canada or any agency or instrumentality thereof that are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of Canada, and in each case, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of at least Aa3 (or the equivalent grade) by Moodys or AA- by S&P; |
(4) | securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by the U.S. government, or by any state or province of the United States, or, in each case, by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof; |
(5) | certificates of deposit, time deposits, money market deposits, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not exceeding 24 months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million in the case of domestic banks or $100.0 million (or the U.S. Dollar Equivalent thereof) in the case of foreign banks; |
(6) | repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 90 days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (4) and (5) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (5) above; |
(7) | commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moodys or S&P and, in each case, maturing within 24 months after the date of acquisition; |
8
(8) | money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (7) of this definition; |
(9) | money market funds that comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and |
(10) | Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of A or higher from S&P or A2 from Moodys with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition. |
Cash Management Services means any of the following: (i) cash management or related services, including, without limitation, treasury, depository (including cash vault and check deposit), return items processing, overdraft, controlled disbursement accounts, zero balance accounts and sweeps, lockboxes and lockbox accounts, merchant store value cards, e-payables, electronic funds transfer, centralized offset or consolidated banking arrangements, interstate depository network, positive pay, automatic clearing house origination and other funds transfer (including the Automated Clearing House processing of electronic funds transfers through the direct Federal Reserve Fedline system), account reconciliation and information reporting, payables outsourcing, payroll processing, trade finance services, investment accounts and securities accounts, (ii) card services, including credit cards (including purchase cards and commercial cards), prepaid cards (including payroll, stored value and gift cards), and debit cards, (iii) credit card processing and merchant services processing, (iv) supply chain finance arrangements, and (v) other cash management or banking products, services, arrangements or agreements, other than letters of credit and bankers acceptances.
CFC means a Foreign Subsidiary which is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) | any person or group (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than one or more Permitted Holders, acquires Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% of the Voting Stock (measured by reference to voting power) of the Issuer (determined on a fully diluted basis); or |
(2) | the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one or more Permitted Holders. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a conversion of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Capital Stock in one form of entity for Capital Stock for another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as immediately following such conversion or exchange the persons (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) who
9
Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of such entity immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity, and in either case no person Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity. Furthermore, (i) the transfer of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not itself constitute a Change of Control and (ii) a Person or group shall not be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership of securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option agreement related thereto) prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.
Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, S.A.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Co-Investor means any of (a) the assignees, if any, of the equity commitments of the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Issue Date in connection with the Transactions and (b) the transferees, if any, that acquire, within 180 days of the Issue Date, any Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) held by the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Issue Date.
Collateral means all the Collateral (or equivalent term) as defined in the Security Documents, any mortgaged properties, any mortgaged spring water collateral and all other property that is subject or purported to be subject to any Lien in favor of the Term Loan Agent on behalf of itself and the lenders under the Term Loan Facility pursuant to the Security Documents, but in any event excluding all Excluded Assets (as defined in the applicable Security Documents as in effect on the Issue Date).
Consolidated EBITDA means, with respect to any specified Person for any Test Period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period:
(a) | increased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis: |
(1) | interest expense, including (A) imputed interest on Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness (which, in each case, will be deemed to accrue at the interest rate reasonably determined by Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligations or Attributable Indebtedness), (B) commissions, discounts and other fees, charges and expenses owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptance financing, surety and performance bonds and receivables financings, (C) amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, debt discounts, commissions, fees, premium and other expenses, as well as expensing of bridge, commitment or financing fees, (D) payments made in respect of Hedging Obligations or other derivative |
10
instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (E) cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than such Person or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary) in connection with Indebtedness incurred by such plan or trust, (F) all interest paid or payable with respect to discontinued operations, (G) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligations, and (H) all interest on any Indebtedness that is (x) Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, but limited to the fair market value of such property, (y) contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness; provided that any such interest expense shall be calculated after giving effect to Hedging Obligations related to interest rates (including associated costs), but excluding unrealized gains and losses with respect to such Hedging Obligations or (z) fees and expenses paid to the Trustee in connection with its services under this Indenture and fees and expenses paid to the administrative agent, the collateral agent, trustee or other similar Persons for the Indebtedness incurred under the Senior Credit Agreements pursuant to Section 4.09; plus |
(2) | taxes based on gross receipts, income, profits or revenue or capital, franchise, excise, property, commercial activity, sales, use, unitary or similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes, including (A) penalties and interest and (B) tax distributions made to any direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests of such Person in respect of any such taxes attributable to such Person and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries or pursuant to a tax sharing arrangement or as a result of a tax distribution or repatriated funds; plus |
(3) | amortization expense (including amortization and similar charges related to goodwill, customer relationships, trade names, databases, technology, software, internal labor costs, deferred financing fees or costs and other intangible assets); plus |
(4) | depreciation expense; plus |
(5) | non-cash items (provided that, if any such non-cash item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (1) the Issuer may determine not to add back such non-cash item in the current Test Period and (2) to the extent the Issuer decides to add back such non-cash expense or charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period will be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period), including the following: (A) expenses in connection with, or resulting from, stock option plans, employee benefit plans or agreements or post-employment benefit plans or agreements, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other similar rights, (B) currency translation losses related to changes in currency exchange rates (including re-measurements of Indebtedness |
11
(including intercompany Indebtedness) and any net loss resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk), (C) losses, expenses, charges or negative adjustments attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of hedge agreements or other derivative instruments, including the effect of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 and International Accounting Standard No. 9 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, (D) charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances, (E) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and Investments in debt and equity securities, (F) charges or losses resulting from any purchase accounting adjustment or any step-ups with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with the Transactions or any Investments either existing or arising after the Issue Date, (G) all losses from Investments recorded using the equity method, (H) the excess of rent expense over actual cash rent paid during such period due to the use of straight line rent for purposes consistent with IFRS and (I) any interest expense; plus |
(6) | unusual, extraordinary, infrequent or non-recurring items, whether or not classified as such under IFRS; plus |
(7) | charges, costs, losses, expenses or reserves related to: (A) restructuring (including restructuring charges or reserves, whether or not classified as such under IFRS), severance, relocation, consolidation, integration or other similar items, (B) strategic and/or business initiatives, business optimization (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives; strategic initiatives; retention; severance; systems establishment costs; systems conversion and integration costs; contract termination costs; recruiting and relocation costs and expenses; costs, expenses and charges incurred in connection with curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefits plans; costs to start-up, ramp-up, pre-opening, opening, closure, transition and/or consolidation of distribution centers, operations, offices and facilities) including in connection with the Transactions and any Permitted Investment, any acquisition or other investment consummated prior to the Issue Date or in connection with the hiring of any broker, and new systems design and implementation, as well as consulting fees and any one-time expense relating to enhanced accounting function, (C) business or facilities (including greenfield facilities) start-up, opening, transition, consolidation, shut-down and closing, (D) recruiting, signing, retention and completion bonuses, (E) severance, relocation or recruiting, (F) public company registration, listing, compliance, reporting and related expenses, (G) charges and expenses incurred in connection with litigation (including threatened litigation), any investigation or proceeding (or any threatened investigation or proceeding) by a regulatory, governmental or law enforcement body (including any attorney general), and (H) expenses incurred in connection with casualty events or asset sales outside the ordinary course of business; plus |
12
(8) | all (A) costs, fees and expenses relating to the Transactions, (B) costs, fees and expenses (including diligence and integration costs) incurred in connection with (x) investments in any Person, acquisitions of the Equity Interests of any Person, acquisitions of all or a material portion of the assets of any Person or constituting a line of business of any Person, and financings related to any of the foregoing or to the capitalization of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary or (y) other transactions that are out of the ordinary course of business of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case of clause (x) and (y), including transactions considered or proposed but not consummated), including Permitted Equity Issuances, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, mergers, option buyouts and the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness (including all consent fees, premium and other amounts payable in connection therewith) and (C) non-operating professional fees, costs and expenses; plus |
(9) | items reducing Consolidated Net Income to the extent (A) covered by a binding indemnification or refunding obligation or insurance, (B) paid or payable (directly or indirectly) by a third party (except to the extent such payment gives rise to reimbursement obligations) or with the proceeds of a contribution to equity capital of such Person or (C) such Person is directly or indirectly, reimbursed for such item by a third party; plus |
(10) | the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid, payable or accrued in such Test Period (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements); plus |
(11) | the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting (including the effects of adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Subsidiaries) and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any such amount; plus |
(12) | expenses, revenue and lost profits of such Person for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, in each case, to the extent covered by insurance and reasonably expected to be received no later than 12 months after the end of such Test Period; plus |
(13) | minority interest expense consisting of income attributable to Equity Interests held by third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; plus |
13
(14) | expenses, charges and losses resulting from the payment or accrual of indemnification or refunding provisions, earn-outs, holdbacks and contingent consideration obligations; bonuses and other compensation paid to employees, directors or consultants; and payments in respect of dissenting shares and purchase price adjustments; in each case, made in connection with a Permitted Investment or other transactions disclosed in the documents referred to in clause (27) below; plus |
(15) | any losses from abandoned, disposed or discontinued operations; plus |
(16) | fees, expenses or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement and any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members; plus |
(17) | (A) any costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Test Period as a result of, in connection with or pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any pension plan (including (1) any post-employment benefit scheme to which the relevant pension trustee has agreed, (2) as a result of curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and (3) without limitation, compensation arrangements with holders of unvested options entered into in connection with a permitted Restricted Payment), any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement, any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members, any employee benefit trust, any employee benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement (including any deferred compensation arrangement), including any payment made to option holders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to, or share repurchase from, a shareholder, which payments are being made to compensate option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution or share repurchase and (B) any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests held by management of Holdings (or any Parent Entity, the Issuer and/or any Restricted Subsidiary); plus |
(18) | the amount of loss or discount on a sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; plus |
(19) | the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles (including the Issuers election pursuant to the definition of IFRS); plus |
14
(20) | to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income for such period, cash actually received (or any netting arrangement resulting in reduced cash expenditures) during such period so long as the non-cash gain relating to the relevant cash receipt or netting arrangement was deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any previous period and not added back; plus |
(21) | the amount of fees, expense reimbursements and indemnities paid to directors and/or members of advisory boards, including directors of Holdings or any other Parent Entity; plus |
(22) | any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature; plus |
(23) | charges, expenses, and lost revenue attributable to the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic and any other pandemic, disaster or similar business disruption that is outside the control of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus |
(24) | the amount of run rate cost savings, operating expense reductions and other cost synergies that are projected by the Issuer in good faith to result from actions taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken no later than 36 months after the end of such Test Period (which amounts will be determined by the Issuer in good faith and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such amounts had been realized on the first day of the Test Period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such Test Period from such actions; provided that, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer such cost savings are reasonably identifiable, reasonably anticipated to be realized, and factually supportable (it being agreed that such determinations need not be made in compliance with Regulation S-X or other applicable securities law); plus |
(25) | the excess (if any) of (i) the aggregate amount of run rate profits pursuant to Recurring Contracts entered into on or after the first date of the relevant Test Period (net of actual profits pursuant to such Recurring Contracts during such Test Period) projected by the Issuer, in good faith, as if such contracted pricing was applicable (at the contracted rate and calculated based on an assumed margin determined by the Issuer to be a reasonable good faith estimate of the actual costs (including increased overhead costs) associated with such Recurring Contracts) during the entire Test Period over (ii) profits associated with Recurring Contracts that were cancelled or otherwise terminated during such Test Period; plus |
15
(26) | payments made pursuant to Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks; plus |
(27) | adjustments of the type reflected in (A) the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA as set forth under Summary Summary Historical Combined and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information and Other Data in the Offering Memorandum or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by any of the Big Four accounting firms, in connection with the Transactions or an acquisition permitted under this Indenture or other Investment consummated after the Issue Date; plus |
(28) | the amount of any contingent payments in connection with the licensing of intellectual property or other assets; plus |
(29) | Public Company Costs; plus |
(30) | charitable contributions, including contributions related to any charitable foundations established by the Issuer in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in any Test Period; and |
(b) | decreased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS (solely to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income for such Test Period and without duplication): |
(1) | any amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been included for any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period, all as determined in accordance with IFRS (provided that if any non-cash income or non-cash gain represents an accrual or deferred income in respect of potential cash items in any future period, such Person may determine not to deduct the relevant non-cash gain or income in the then-current period); plus |
(2) | the amount of any cash payment made during such period in respect of any non-cash accrual, reserve or other non-cash charge that is accounted for in a prior period and that was added to Consolidated Net Income to determine Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such prior period and that does not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income for the current period; plus |
(3) | unusual, extraordinary, infrequent or non-recurring gains; plus |
(4) | any net income from disposed or discontinued operations. |
Consolidated First Lien Debt means, as of any date of determination, Consolidated Total Debt that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to loans under the Term Loan Facility and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral on an equal priority basis with loans under the Term Loan Facility (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
16
Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any specified Person, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated First Lien Debt minus an aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents included in the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which appear (or would be required to appear) as Restricted on such balance sheet (unless such listing is related to a restriction in favor of an administrative agent or collateral agent under any Credit Facility or any lender), to (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person will be calculated in the manner contemplated by, and subject to the adjustments provided in, the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any specified Person for any Test Period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with IFRS; provided that there shall be excluded from such Consolidated Net Income (to the extent otherwise included therein) (without duplication):
(1) | the Net Income for such Test 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; provided that the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiarys equity in the Net Income of such Person shall be included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for such Test Period up to the aggregate amount of dividends or distributions or other payments in respect of such equity that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by such Person to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, in such Test Period, to the extent not already included therein (subject in the case of dividends, distributions or other payments in respect of such equity made to a Restricted Subsidiary to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); |
(2) | solely for the purpose of clause (3)(A) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such Test Period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organizational Documents or any agreement, instrument or requirement of Law applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary during such Test Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash to such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Test Period; |
17
(3) | any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period upon any asset sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person (other than any dispositions in the ordinary course of business) by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(4) | gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects determined in accordance with IFRS for such Test Period; |
(5) | earnings (or losses), including any impairment charge, resulting from any reappraisal, revaluation or write-up (or write-down) of assets during such Test Period; |
(6) | (i) unrealized gains and losses with respect to hedging agreements for such Test Period and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 815 (Derivatives and Hedging) and (ii) any after-tax effect of income (or losses) for such Test Period that result from the early extinguishment of (A) Indebtedness, (B) Hedging Obligations or (C) other derivative instruments; |
(7) | any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gain (or extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual loss), together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), recorded or recognized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period; |
(8) | the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such Test Period; |
(9) | after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations for such Test Period; |
(10) | effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, debt and unfavorable or favorable lease line items in such Persons consolidated financial statements pursuant to IFRS for such Test Period resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated prior to the Issue Date and any acquisition (including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation) or other Investment permitted under this Indenture or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, for such Test Period; |
(11) | any non-cash compensation charge or expense for such Test Period, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights and any cash charges or expenses associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by, or to, management of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions; |
18
(12) | (i) Transaction Expenses incurred during such Test Period and (ii) any fees and expenses incurred during such Test Period, or any amortization thereof for such Test Period, in connection with any acquisition (other than the Transactions), Investment, disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt or equity instrument (in each case, including any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring costs incurred during such Test Period as a result of any such transaction; |
(13) | any expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days); and |
(14) | to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption. |
Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any specified Person, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt, minus an aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents included in the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which appear (or would be required to appear) as Restricted on such balance sheet (unless such listing is related to a restriction in favor of an administrative agent or collateral agent under any Credit Facility or any lender), to (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person will be calculated in the manner contemplated by, and subject to the adjustments provided in, the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means the aggregate amount of assets (including deferred tax assets (without reducing such deferred tax assets by deferred tax liabilities), and less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom all goodwill, indemnification assets in connection with the Transactions, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense, investments, and other like intangibles, all as set forth in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with IFRS, determined on a pro forma basis.
19
Consolidated Secured Debt means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to loans under the Term Loan Facility and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any specified Person, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Secured Debt minus an aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents included in the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents which appear (or would be required to appear) as Restricted on such balance sheet (unless such listing is related to a restriction in favor of an administrative agent or collateral agent under any Credit Facility or any lender), to (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person will be calculated in the manner contemplated by, and subject to the adjustments provided in, the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Consolidated Total Assets means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person, determined in accordance with IFRS, with such pro forma adjustments for transactions consummated on or prior to or simultaneously with the date of the calculation as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of the term Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Consolidated Total Debt means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of third party Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (1) through (5) and (7) (excluding accrued dividends to the extent not increasing liquidation preference) of the definition of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis and as reflected on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with IFRS (but excluding the effects of the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition (including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation) or other Investment permitted under this Indenture), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money; provided, that Consolidated Total Debt will not include Indebtedness in respect of: (i) any Qualified Securitization Financing; (ii) undrawn letters of credit and bank guarantees; (iii) Hedging Obligations; (iv) any right of use leases; and (v) other Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations as reflected on the balance sheet to the extent less than $25,000,000 (and Consolidated Total Debt will be limited to amounts in excess of such threshold).
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.
Contribution Indebtedness means Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at the time of the incurrence thereof not to exceed an amount equal to (a) 200.00% of the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuances during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Issue Date through and including the reference date that are Not Otherwise Applied and (b) any available dollar-based capacity under the relevant clause under Section 4.07 to make Restricted Payments under clauses (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, which for the avoidance of doubt shall reduce such dollar-based capacity under the relevant clause under Section 4.07. Any Permitted Equity Issuance that forms the basis for an incurrence of Contribution Indebtedness will not be considered to be a Qualified Equity Offering for purposes of Section 3.07 hereof.
20
Control has the meaning specified in the definition of Affiliate.
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Issuer.
Credit Facilities means, collectively, the ABL Facility, the Term Loan Facility and any other debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, working capital facilities, term loans, notes, debentures, indentures, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables), supply chain finance, letters of credit or bankers acceptances, or other long-term Indebtedness, including any notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, extended, increased, renewed, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced (including through the issuance of debt securities), restructured or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original borrower, issuer, agent, trustee, lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, and whether provided under the applicable original Credit Facility or one or more other credit or other agreements or indentures, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings, other extensions of credit and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such debt facilities or successor debt facilities, whether by the same or any other borrower, issuer, agent, lender or group of lenders (or institutional investors).
Credit Facility Agents means the ABL Agent, the Term Loan Agent and the administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under any other Credit Facility.
Credit Facility Cash Management Services means any Cash Management Services provided by a Person that is permitted to do so under a Credit Facility to the Issuer or any Guarantor.
Credit Facility Claims means (a) the Obligations under the Credit Facilities, (b) the Credit Facility Cash Management Services and the Credit Facility Hedging Obligations, and (c) all other Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under the documents relating to Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b) above, including, without duplication, Obligations with respect to superpriority claims arising under Section 507(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or similar Bankruptcy Law and Post-Petition Interest.
21
Credit Facility Documents means, collectively, the ABL Credit Agreement, the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents (as defined in any document governing the Credit Facilities or any equivalent term), any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any Credit Facility Claims or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments (including each agreement, document or instrument providing for or evidencing any Credit Facility Hedging Obligation or Credit Facility Cash Management Service) providing for or evidencing any Obligation under any Credit Facility or any other Credit Facility Claim, and any other related document or instrument executed or delivered pursuant to any Credit Facility Document at any time or otherwise evidencing any Credit Facility Claims, in each case as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.
Credit Facility Hedging Obligations means any Hedging Obligations (as defined in any Credit Facility Document) or any equivalent term provided by a Person that is permitted to do so under a Credit Facility to the Issuer or any Guarantor, in each case, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.
Credit Facility Lender means each ABL Lender, Term Loan Lender and each financial institution that is a lender under any other Credit Facility from time to time.
Credit Facility Secured Parties means the Persons holding Credit Facility Claims in such capacity, including the Credit Facility Agents and the Credit Facility Lenders.
Currency Agreement means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement with respect to currency values.
Custodian means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
Default means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
Designated Asset Sale means the disposition (including by a public or private disposition of Equity Interests) of the Home and Office Delivery Business and any and all assets, facilities and lines of business related or ancillary thereto, in each case, as determined by the Issuer in good faith, or otherwise disposed of in connection with such disposition of the Home and Office Delivery Business. For the avoidance of doubt, in no circumstance shall the disposition of the Home and Office Delivery Business constitute substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose under this Indenture, including pursuant to Section 4.16 and Section 5.01.
Designated Asset Sale Proceeds means the aggregate amount of the proceeds and/or in-kind consideration (collectively, the Proceeds) that are received by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries from the Designated Asset Sale; provided such Proceeds shall be Designated Asset Sale Proceeds only to the extent that the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 6.00 to 1.00, with the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio measured after giving pro forma effect to (a) the Designated Asset Sale, (b) any actual or anticipated repayment, prepayments or retirement of Indebtedness with all or a portion of such Proceeds (or the application of all or a portion of such Proceeds to any applicable cash netting provisions) and (c) to the extent reasonably expected by the Issuer to be made within 90 days of the date of the consummation of the Designated Asset
22
Sale, any Restricted Payments made by the Issuer of Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds pursuant to clause (25) of Section 4.07(b); with it being agreed that the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be measured, at the Issuers option, either at (A) the time of the consummation of the Designated Asset Sale or (B) the time of the entry into a definitive agreement in respect of the Designated Asset Sale. For purposes of calculating the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio in accordance with this definition, at the Issuers election, any offer to repurchase Notes made in accordance with this Indenture shall be given pro forma effect as a repayment of Indebtedness assuming the Holders of the Notes fully accept such offer (and for the avoidance of doubt in such case any Designated Asset Sale Proceeds used to make such offer to repurchase shall not constitute Remaining Proceeds for purposes of this Indenture).
Designated Non-Cash Consideration means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers Certificate, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 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 Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
Designated Preferred Stock means preferred stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries 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 Officers Certificate, on or about the issuance date thereof.
Disqualified Stock means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Capital Stock into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the issuer thereof to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the issuer thereof may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock
23
pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof and if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of one or more future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any Parent Entity or by any such plan to one or more future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any Parent Entity, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer, the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of the termination, death or disability of a future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any Subsidiary or any Parent Entity. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.
Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds means an amount equal to (i) 50% of the Designated Asset Sale Proceeds less (ii) 50% of any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and any distributions of the type described in clause (1) or (3) of the definition of Permitted Payments to Parent Entity that are made in respect of the Designated Asset Sale pursuant to clause (15) of Section 4.07(b).
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
DTC means The Depository Trust Company.
Eligible Reserves means amounts that the ABL Agent may in its discretion from time to time establish in accordance with the ABL Credit Agreement, to reflect changes in the ability of the ABL Agent to realize upon the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base with such modifications as are reasonably necessary to reflect the nature of the Issuers business and assets and the results of commercial field examinations and appraisals.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Euroclear means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system. Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excluded Contribution means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from (other than in connection with the Acquisition or the transactions contemplated thereby):
(1) | contributions to its common Capital Stock; and |
24
(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 or any Subsidiary, to the extent such sale to such equity, stock option or other plan is financed by loans from or guaranteed by, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity (which proceeds are contributed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) or cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer, |
provided however, that in the case of each of clauses (1) and (2), the Issuer shall have designated such contribution as an Excluded Contribution pursuant to an Officers Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be; provided that such Restricted Payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any contribution to its common Capital Stock is used to incur Contribution Indebtedness, the Issuer may designate such contributions as Excluded Contributions on or promptly after the date such Contribution Indebtedness is repaid in full (other than with Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) or is no longer an obligation of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Excluded Subsidiary means:
(a) | any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Guarantor; |
(b) | any Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer or of any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary; |
(c) | any FSHCO; |
(d) | any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC or a FSHCO; |
(e) | any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law from providing a Note Guarantee or by a binding contractual obligation existing on the Issue Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition) from providing a Note Guarantee (provided that such contractual obligation is not entered into by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries principally for the purpose of qualifying as an Excluded Subsidiary under this definition) or if such Note Guarantee would require governmental (including regulatory) or third party (other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained; |
25
(f) | any special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity) including any Securitization Subsidiary created pursuant to a transaction permitted under this Indenture; |
(g) | any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization; |
(h) | any Captive Insurance Subsidiary; |
(i) | any other Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith, the cost or other consequences (including any material adverse tax consequences) of providing the Note Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom; |
(j) | any other Subsidiary to the extent the provision of a guarantee by such Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith; |
(k) | any Unrestricted Subsidiary; and |
(l) | any Immaterial Subsidiary; |
provided that the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that qualifies as an Excluded Subsidiary under clauses (a) through (l) above to become a Guarantor in accordance with the definition thereof and thereafter such Subsidiary shall not constitute an Excluded Subsidiary (unless and until the Issuer elects, in its sole discretion, to designate such Persons as an Excluded Subsidiary).
Exempted Indebtedness means, as of any particular time, all then outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and Principal Property Subsidiaries incurred after the Issue Date and secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien other than those permitted by the second paragraph under Section 4.13.
Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks shall mean those earnouts and unfunded holdbacks existing on the Issue Date.
Existing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.
Fair Market Value means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).
Fitch means Fitch Ratings Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
26
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the Calculation Date), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period (other than in the case of any Qualified Securitization Facility, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period).
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
(1) | acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through amalgamations, mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Specified Transaction, and including any related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they (and any increase or decrease in Consolidated EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any such acquisition or Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and will be calculated to give effect to any cost savings and other operating expense reductions, other operating improvements or cost and operating synergies, and additional net income and profit of the nature set forth in clause (24) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and calculated in a similar manner to such clause (24); |
(2) | the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with IFRS, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; |
(3) | the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with IFRS, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date; |
(4) | any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period; |
27
(5) | any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; |
(6) | if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness); |
(7) | 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 on such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with IFRS; and |
(8) | 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. |
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) | cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income, of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under hedging agreements; plus |
(2) | non-cash interest expense resulting solely from the amortization of original issue discount (OID) from the issuance of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Indebtedness borrowed under the Senior Credit Agreements and this Indenture, in each case, in connection with and to finance the Transactions and in each case to the extent not already included in clause (1) above) at less than par; plus |
(3) | pay-in-kind interest expense of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries; |
but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clause (2) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), (ii) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under hedging agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging, (iii) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make whole premium and other fees and
28
charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing), (v) any additional interest owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities, (vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions, (vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (ix) interest expense attributable to a direct or indirect Parent Entity resulting from push-down accounting, (x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, (xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto and with respect to any acquisition or other Investment, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS; and (xii) any payments on right of use leases. For the avoidance of doubt, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of swap contracts relating to interest rate protection.
Fixed IFRS Date means the Issue Date; provided that at any time and from time to time after the Issue Date, the Issuer may by written notice to the Trustee elect to change the Fixed IFRS Date to be the date specified in such notice, and upon such notice, the Fixed IFRS Date shall be such date for all periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice.
Fixed IFRS Terms means (a) the definitions of the terms Capitalized Lease Obligation, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated First Lien Debt, Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Secured Debt, Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Assets, Consolidated Total Debt, Fixed Charges and Indebtedness, (b) all defined terms in this Indenture to the extent used in or relating to any of the foregoing definitions, and all ratios and computations based on any of the foregoing definitions, and (c) any other term or provision of this Indenture or the Notes that, at the Issuers election, may be specified by the Issuer by written notice to the Trustee from time to time; provided that the Issuer may elect to remove any term from constituting a Fixed IFRS Term; provided further that for all purposes under this Indenture, the Issuer hereby elects that Fixed IFRS Terms shall not give effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases.
Foreign Subsidiary means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
FSHCO means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that has no material assets other than Equity Interests (or Equity Interests and Indebtedness) in one or more CFCs or other FSHCOs.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession (but excluding the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC applicable only to public companies).
29
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(2) 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 deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4) or 2.06(d)(2) hereof.
Government Securities means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States of America pledges its full faith and credit.
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, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business or customary, Permitted Liens, and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Issue Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).
Guarantors means each of the Issuers Restricted Subsidiaries that executes this Indenture or a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary guarantees the Notes in accordance with Section 4.17 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that in no event will an Excluded Subsidiary be required to become a Guarantor.
Hedging Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any agreement with respect to (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
30
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.
Holder means each Person in whose name the Notes are registered on the Registrars books, which shall initially be the nominee of DTC.
Holdings means Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the direct parent of the Issuer, and not to any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
Home and Office Delivery Business means those assets and property identified by the Issuer as comprising the Home and Office Delivery business.
IAI means an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under Regulation D.
IAI 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 Regulation D.
IFRS means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as in effect on the Fixed IFRS Date (for purposes of Fixed IFRS Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for all other purposes of this Indenture); provided that the Issuer may at any time elect by written notice to the Trustee to use GAAP in lieu of IFRS for financial reporting purposes and, upon any such notice, references herein to IFRS shall thereafter be construed to mean (a) for periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice, GAAP as in effect on the date specified in such notice (for purposes of the Fixed IFRS Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for all other purposes of this Indenture) and (b) for prior periods, IFRS as defined in the first sentence of this definition without giving effect to the proviso thereto.
Immaterial Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Issuer other than a Material Subsidiary.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) | any indebtedness (including principal or premium) of such Person in respect of borrowed money; |
(2) | any indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments; |
31
(3) | drawn letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); |
(4) | Capitalized Lease Obligations; |
(5) | the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with IFRS; |
(6) | net obligations of such Person under any Hedging Obligations; or |
(7) | all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Stock, |
if and to the extent any of the preceding items would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with IFRS.
In addition, the term Indebtedness, (i) to the extent not otherwise included, includes all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition of others secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any property owned by the specified Person (whether or not such obligations are assumed by the specified Person and whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person); provided that the amount of such Indebtedness for purposes of this clause (i) will be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property at such date of determination and the amount of Indebtedness so secured and (ii) to the extent not otherwise included, includes the Guarantee by the specified Person of the obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition of any other Person (whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business.
The term Indebtedness shall not include (i) any prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices, or obligations under any license, permit or other approval (or guarantees given in respect of such obligations) incurred prior to the Issue Date or in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices, (ii) liabilities associated with any defined pension benefit plans, (iii) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices unless and until such obligations are non-contingent, (iv) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities, (v) any balance that constitutes a trade payable, accrued expense or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, (vi) intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business or that would be eliminated on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries, (vii) prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business, (viii) Cash Management Services, (ix) earn outs, purchase price holdbacks or similar obligations or, in connection with the purchase by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any business, any post-closing payment adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such payment depends on the performance of such business after the closing; provided, however, that, at the time of closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined, the amount is paid in a timely manner, (x) for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations in respect of workers compensation
32
claims, early retirement or termination obligations, deferred compensatory or employee or director equity plans, pension fund obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions or social security or wage taxes; (xi) Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock), (xii) customary purchase money obligations incurred in the ordinary course, (xiii) [reserved], (xiv) loans and advances made by the Issuer or any Guarantor having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll over or extension of terms) (such loans and advances, Short Term Advances) and (xv) Indebtedness of any direct or indirect Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of such Person solely by reason of push down accounting under IFRS. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedging Obligation on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.
Indemnity Amounts means, on any date, the amount required to be paid by the Issuer or any Guarantor to any Credit Facility Secured Party on such date pursuant to any indemnity provisions contained in any of the Credit Facility Documents (excluding any obligation to pay any loans or letters of credit or bankers acceptances thereunder or Accruals).
Indenture means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time. Indenture Documents means, collectively, (i) this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees and (ii) any other related documents or instruments executed and delivered pursuant to any Indenture Document described in clause (i) above evidencing or governing any Obligations thereunder.
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
Initial Notes means the Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.
Initial Purchasers means Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding means (a) any voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor, (b) any other voluntary or involuntary insolvency, arrangement, reorganization or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, arrangement, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding with respect to the Issuer or any Guarantor or with respect to any of their respective assets, (c) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of the Issuer or any Guarantor whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy (other than as permitted by the Credit Facility Documents), or (d) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Issuer or any Guarantor.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moodys or BBB- or better by S&P or Fitch or an equivalent rating by a Substitute Rating Agency.
33
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers or suppliers, earnouts and deposits, commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with IFRS; provided that none of the following shall constitute an Investment: (i) intercompany advances between and among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to their cash management, tax and accounting operations in the ordinary course of business and (ii) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness between and among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries having a term not exceeding 364 days and made in the ordinary course of business.
If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Issuer will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuers Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) hereof. The acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) hereof.
IPO Entity means the Issuer or a Parent Entity that conducts the first public equity offering of its common Capital Stock (or registers, for the first time, its common Capital Stock under the Securities Act pursuant to a direct listing, as the result of the acquisition of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by a special purpose acquisition vehicle or otherwise), in each case following which there is a public market of such securities.
Issue Date means March 31, 2021, the date on which the Notes are first issued under this Indenture.
Issuer has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraphs hereto. Laws means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities and executive orders, 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.
Legal Holiday means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment). If the due date for any payment (including in connection with a redemption) in respect of any Notes is a Legal Holiday, the Holder thereof will not be entitled to payment of the amount due until the next succeeding Business Day, and will not be entitled to any further interest on such payment as a result of any such delay.
34
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement or equivalent under the UCC (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall a right of use lease or an agreement to sell in and of itself be deemed or give rise to a Lien.
Limited Condition Transaction means (i) any acquisition (including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation) or other Investment permitted under this Indenture by the Issuer or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing and (ii) any repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock with respect to which an irrevocable notice of repayment (or similar notice) (which notice may be subject to one or more conditions precedent) has been issued; provided that Consolidated Net Income (and any other financial term derived therefrom), other than for purposes of calculating any ratios in connection with the Limited Condition Transaction, shall not include any Consolidated Net Income of or attributable to the target company or assets associated with any such Limited Condition Transaction unless and until the closing of such Limited Condition Transaction shall have actually occurred.
Management Stockholders means (a) any future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any Subsidiary of the Issuer, Holdings or any Parent Entity who is an investor in Holdings or a Parent Entity, (b) family members of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a), (c) trusts, partnerships or limited liability companies for the benefit of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b), and (d) heirs, executors, estates, successors and legal representatives of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b).
Market Capitalization means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common Capital Stock of the IPO Entity on the date of the declaration of the relevant dividend multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock or common equity interests for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such dividend.
Material Domestic Subsidiary means, as of the Issue Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Issuers Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with IFRS or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with IFRS; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Issue Date, Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in
35
clause (a) or (b) comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re-designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Issuer shall, not later than 60 days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture or on such date of re-designation, as applicable, designate in writing to the Trustee one or more of such Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Domestic Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true.
Material Foreign Subsidiary means, as of the Issue Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Issuers Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with IFRS or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with IFRS; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Issue Date, Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Material Foreign Subsidiaries comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re-designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Issuer shall, not later than 60 days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture or on such date of re-designation, as applicable, designate in writing to the Trustee one or more of such Foreign Subsidiaries as Material Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true.
Material Intellectual Property means Intellectual Property that is owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor and that is material to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (whether owned as of the Issue Date or thereafter acquired).
Material Subsidiary means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Material Foreign Subsidiary.
36
Minority Investment means any Person other than a Subsidiary in which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Equity Interests.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.
Net Income means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with IFRS (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, on an unconsolidated basis) and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) | any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and |
(2) | any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss. |
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:
(1) | the out-of-pocket costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale of any non-cash consideration, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, any relocation expenses and any title and recording taxes incurred as a result of the Asset Sale and restoration costs; |
(2) | taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result of the Asset Sale or distributions made pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof (including taxes imposed on the distribution or repatriation of any such Net Proceeds), and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale; |
(3) | all payments made to repay Indebtedness or any other obligation at the time of such Asset Sale that either (x) is secured by a Permitted Lien on such asset or assets subject to such Asset Sale or (y) is required, by its terms, by applicable law or for any other reason, to be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale; |
(4) | all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale; |
(5) | any portion of the purchase price from such Asset Sale placed in escrow, whether as a reserve for adjustments of the purchase price, for satisfaction of liabilities or indemnities in respect of such Asset Sale or otherwise in connection with that Asset Sale (including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction); provided, however, that upon the termination of that escrow, Net Proceeds will be increased by any portion of funds in the escrow that are released to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; and |
37
(6) | any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with IFRS or any liabilities associated with such asset or assets and retained by the Issuer 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. |
Non-U.S. Person means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
Note Guarantee means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Issuers obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
Not Otherwise Applied means, with reference to the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuance that is proposed to be applied to a particular use or transaction, that such amount was not previously applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Indenture Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of net cash proceeds from Permitted Equity Issuances, any use of such amount to increase amount available under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a) hereof, or to fund an Excluded Contribution or Specified Equity Contribution) where such permissibility was (or may have been) contingent on the receipt or availability of such amount, it being agreed that the incurrence of secured debt shall be deemed one use transaction for purposes of this definition.
Notes has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraphs hereto. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.
Obligations means, with respect to any Indebtedness, all obligations for principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements and other amounts payable pursuant to the documentation governing such Indebtedness, including any Accruals, Indemnity Amounts and Post-Petition Interest.
Offering Memorandum means the Issuers offering memorandum, dated March 17, 2021, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.
Officer means, with respect to any Person, (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Managing Director, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary (a) of such Person or (b) if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, of such entity, or (2) any other individual designated as an Officer for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors of such Person.
38
Officers Certificate means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person that meets the requirements of Section 13.04 hereof.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that meets the requirements of Section 13.04 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or its Subsidiaries.
Organizational 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, 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. |
Parent Entity means any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer.
Pari Passu Indebtedness means: (a) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, its Note Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantors Note Guarantee.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
Permitted Business means any business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from (a) business or activities conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, (b) any business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or (c) any business that in the Issuers good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Permitted Equity Issuance means any:
(a) | public or private sale or issuance of any Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; |
39
(b) | contribution to the equity capital of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than (i) a Specified Equity Contribution or (ii) in exchange for Disqualified Stock); |
(c) | sale or issuance of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that has been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; or |
(d) | interest, returns, profits, dividends, distributions and similar amounts received from any Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture that is not a Subsidiary or on account of an Investment in such Person; |
provided that the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuance will be (i) in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer, a Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution and the fair market value of any other property received in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value and (ii) in the case of clause (c) above, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness so converted or exchanged.
Permitted Holders means any of (1) a Permitted Investor and any Co-Investor, (2) the Management Stockholders, (3) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 13(d)(5) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Permitted Investors and other Beneficial Owners who were members of such group as of the Issue Date, collectively, have Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entities held by such group and (4) any Permitted Parent. Any Person or group, together with its Affiliates, whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which any required Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture (or would have required a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer in the absence of the waiver of such requirement by Holders in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture), will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.
Permitted Investments means:
(1) | any Investment in the Issuer or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; |
(2) | any Investment in cash, Cash Equivalents or securities with an Investment Grade Rating or were Cash Equivalents or securities with an Investment Grade Rating when made; |
(3) | any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a Person, if as a result of such Investment: |
(a) | such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; or |
40
(b) | such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; |
(4) | Investments in existence on the Issue Date or made pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Issue Date and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any of the foregoing; 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 as in existence on the Issue Date (or as subsequently amended or otherwise modified in a manner not disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect, as determined by the Issuer in good faith) (including as a result of the accrual of accretion of interest or original issue discount on the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture; |
(5) | any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof or any disposition of assets or rights not constituting an Asset Sale; |
(6) | Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with, or such Investment was received in exchange for, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, or the proceeds from the issuance thereof, or Excluded Assets (as defined in the applicable Security Documents as in effect on the Issue Date); |
(7) | any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates; |
(8) | any Investment in any Person where such Investment was acquired by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default; |
(9) | Investments represented by Hedging Obligations; |
(10) | loans or advances to future, current or former officers, directors, employees, managers, members, members of management, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes; (ii) in connection with such officers, directors and employees purchase of Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; provided, that, to the extent such loans or advances are made in cash, the |
41
amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Capital Stock shall be contributed to the Issuer in cash; and (iii) for any other purposes; provided that either (A) no cash or Cash Equivalents are advanced in connection with such Investment or (B) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under this clause (iii)(B) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $35.0 million and (y) 6.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer as of the applicable date of determination; |
(11) | advances of payroll, travel, moving or similar payments to future, current or former officers, directors, employees, managers, members, members of management, consultants or independent contractors in the ordinary course of business; |
(12) | repurchases of the Notes; |
(13) | Guarantees issued in accordance with (a) Section 4.09 hereof or (b) Section 4.17 hereof; |
(14) | any Investment in any Subsidiary or joint venture in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owns Equity Interests consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons or in connection with intercompany Cash Management Services or related activities or intercompany cost-plus or transfer pricing transactions in connection with the ongoing business operations of Subsidiaries of the Issuer; |
(15) | Investments in any Person, including any joint venture, primarily engaged in a Permitted Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $210.0 million and (y) 37.75% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer; |
(16) | other Investments having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (16) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $698.0 million and (y) 125% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer; |
(17) | Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit or otherwise made in the ordinary course of business, including Investments consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and trade arrangements with customers, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees; |
(18) | guarantees of leases or of other obligations; |
42
(19) | Investments consisting of (i) the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, collaborations or other similar arrangements with other Persons and/or (ii) minority equity interests in customers received as part of fee arrangements or other commercial arrangements; |
(20) | Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business; |
(21) | to the extent constituting an Investment, escrow deposits to secure indemnification obligations in connection with (i) a disposition that is not an Asset Sale or (ii) an acquisition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary not prohibited by this Indenture; |
(22) | (i) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary or any Investment by a Securitization Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility; provided however, that any such Investment in a Securitization Subsidiary is of Securitization Assets or equity, and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; |
(23) | Investments made pursuant to or to effect the Transactions; |
(24) | the making of unlimited Restricted Investments if, after giving effect to such Restricted Investment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is equal to or less than 6.00 to 1.00; |
(25) | Investments deemed to have been made as a result of the acquisition of a Person (which acquisition constitutes a Permitted Investment), including the Acquisition, that at the time of such acquisition held instruments constituting Investments that were not acquired in contemplation of the acquisition of such Person; |
(26) | Investments acquired after the Issue Date as a result of the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 hereof after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and Investments held by Persons that become Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, including Investments by Unrestricted Subsidiaries made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired), to the extent that such Investments were not made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired) in contemplation of, or in connection with, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such designation as applicable; |
(27) | any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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; |
43
(28) | Investments in joint ventures of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (28) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, at any one time outstanding; |
(29) | any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.12(b) hereof (except transactions described in clauses (3), (6), (11), (13) and (18) of such covenant); |
(30) | Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (30) that are at that time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, at any one time outstanding; |
(31) | loans and advances to any Parent Entity in lieu of, and not in excess of, the amount of any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof; |
(32) | promissory notes and other Investments received in connection with Asset Sales or any other transfer of assets not constituting an Asset Sale; |
(33) | unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that such obligations and/or liabilities, as applicable, are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law; |
(34) | Investments made in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees; |
(35) | Investments in connection with any deferred compensation plan or arrangement or other compensation plan or arrangement, including to a rabbi trust or to any grantor trust claims of creditors |
(36) | (i) Investments in connection with any Permitted Reorganization and the transactions relating thereto or contemplated thereby and (ii) Investments received as Designated Non-Cash Consideration; |
(37) | Investments in Immaterial Subsidiaries; provided that such entity remains an Immaterial Subsidiary after pro forma effect is given to such Investment; |
(38) | Investments made by a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor with the cash or other assets received by it pursuant to a substantially concurrent Investment made in such Subsidiary that was permitted by this Indenture; provided that this clause (38) shall not be used for any Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries; |
44
(39) | [reserved]; and |
(40) | (i) Investments consisting of the acquisition of debt securities issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the conversion to Qualified Capital Stock of any Indebtedness owed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary. |
If any Investment is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the date of such Investment and such Person subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or such Investment could be incurred under clause (24) above, such Investment shall thereupon be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) or clause (24) above, as applicable, and to not have been made pursuant to any other clause set forth above.
For purposes of this definition, in the event that a proposed Investment (or portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Investments described in clauses (1) through (40) above, or is otherwise entitled to be incurred or made pursuant to Section 4.07 hereof, the Issuer will be entitled to divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Investment (or portion thereof) in one or more of such categories set forth above or under Section 4.07 hereof.
The amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value of such Investment, at the Issuers option, net of any return, whether a return of capital, interest, dividend or otherwise, with respect to such Investment. To the extent any Investment in any Person is made in reliance on a category above that is subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction on the making of Investments and, subsequently, such Person returns to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary all or any portion of such Investment (in the form of a dividend, distribution, liquidation or otherwise, but excluding intercompany Indebtedness), such return shall be deemed to be credited to the Dollar-denominated category against which the Investment is then charged. To the extent the category subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction is also subject to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction which, at the date of determination, produces a numerical restriction that is greater than such Dollar equivalent amount, then such Dollar equivalent shall be deemed to be substituted in lieu of the corresponding Dollar equivalent amount in the foregoing sentence for purposes of determining such credit.
For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated (or percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, if greater) restriction on the making of Investments, the Dollar equivalent amount of the Investment denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Investment was made.
Permitted Investors means (a) the Sponsor, (b) each of the Affiliates and investment managers of the Sponsor, (c) any fund or account managed by any of the persons described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition, (d) any employee benefit plan of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and (e) investment vehicles of members of management of Holdings or the Issuer, Holdings, the Issuer, and their respective Subsidiaries.
45
Permitted Liens means:
(1) | Liens securing Permitted Debt that was incurred pursuant to clauses (1), (8), (13), (17), (20), (22), (23) or (27) of the definition thereof; |
(2) | Liens in favor of the Issuer or the Guarantors; |
(3) | (i) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is amalgamated, divided or merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such amalgamation, merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person amalgamated, divided or merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiary (other than (a) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (b) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (c) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens), (ii) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to an Investment and (iii) Liens incurred in connection with escrow arrangements or other agreements relating to any acquisition (including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation) or other Investment permitted under this Indenture; |
(4) | Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition; |
(5) | Liens to secure the performance of tenders, completion guarantees, statutory obligations, judgments, bids, contracts, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit that do not constitute Indebtedness or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including Liens to secure letters of credit issued to assure payment of such obligations); |
(6) | Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the definition of the term Permitted Debt covering only the assets subject to, acquired with, constructed, repaired, replaced, improved or financed by such Indebtedness (including additions and accessions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits); provided that individual financings of property or equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of property or equipment provided by such lender or its affiliates; |
(7) | Liens existing on the Issue Date or incurred pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Issue Date (other than Liens securing the Senior Credit Agreements outstanding on the Issue Date); |
46
(8) | any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Lien described in clauses (3), (4), (7), (49) and (50) of this definition of Permitted Liens; provided that (A) any such extension, renewal or replacement is no more restrictive in any material respect that the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced and does not extend to any additional property or assets and (B) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness described under such clauses (3), (4), (7), (49) or (50) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture; |
(9) | (a) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent by more than 30 days or that are immaterial or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that, for any such Liens being contested in good faith, any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with IFRS (or in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the jurisdiction in which such Restricted Subsidiary is organized) has been made therefor or are not expected to be material and (b) Liens for property taxes on property the Issuer or its Subsidiaries has decided to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment or charge is to such property; |
(10) | Liens imposed by law, such as carriers, warehousemens, landlords, repairmens and mechanics Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business or other customary Liens (other than in respect of Indebtedness) in favor of landlords, so long as, in each case, such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or, if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with IFRS; |
(11) | survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, entitlements, rights-of-way, servitudes, covenants, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar encumbrances or zoning, land use, subdivision and building laws or other restrictions as to the use of real property; provided that any of the foregoing were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person; |
(12) | [reserved]; |
(13) | Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and any Additional Refinancing Amount permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that: |
(a) | the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and |
47
(b) | the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge; |
(14) | bankers Liens, rights of set-off, Liens arising by reason of any judgment, decree or order of any court, attachments or appeal bonds, but not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made to the extent required by IFRS; |
(15) | Liens arising under retention of title or conditional sale arrangements in respect of goods supplied to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; |
(16) | Liens, pledges or deposits under workers compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, social security laws, employee health and disability benefits laws or similar legislation, in each case to secure liabilities incurred or made in the ordinary course of business; |
(17) | 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; |
(18) | Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other assets relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof; |
(19) | Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary securing the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or created for the account of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods; |
(20) | Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off; |
(21) | (i) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto and (ii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers; |
48
(22) | any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessors, sublessors, licensors or sublicensors interest under leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or licenses entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; |
(23) | 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; |
(24) | [reserved]; |
(25) | Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the UCC or similar legislation on the items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes and (c) 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 that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry; |
(26) | 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; |
(27) | deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and such Restricted Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises; |
(28) | ground leases, subleases or similar use or occupancy agreements in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries are located; |
(29) | purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements or similar public filings; |
(30) | title defects or irregularities which are of a minor nature and that do not in the aggregate materially impact the use of the affected properties in the operation of the business of such Person; |
(31) | Liens arising out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; |
(32) | servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements and other agreements with governmental authorities pertaining to the use or development of any of the assets or properties of the Person; provided that the same do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the affected properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person; |
49
(33) | the right reserved to or vested in any governmental authority by any statutory provision or by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit of the Person, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or other payments as a condition to the continuance thereof; |
(34) | Liens on Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; |
(35) | Liens under licensing agreements for use of intellectual property entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, including, without limitation, the licensing of any intellectual property that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary determines to no longer utilize; |
(36) | Liens in favor of a credit card processor arising in the ordinary course of business under any processor agreement; |
(37) | customary Liens granted in favor of a trustee (including the Trustee for the Notes) to secure fees and other amounts owing to such trustee under an indenture or other agreement pursuant to which Indebtedness not prohibited by the Indenture is issued (including this Indenture under which the Notes are issued); |
(38) | Liens on Securitization Assets or otherwise incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility; |
(39) | (a) Liens encumbering assets or Capital Stock of non-Guarantor Subsidiaries securing obligations otherwise permitted under this Indenture and (b) Liens on assets that are excluded as Collateral under the Term Loan Facility; |
(40) | Liens on insurance policies and proceeds thereof, or other deposits, to secure insurance premium financings; |
(41) | Liens arising from, or from the filing of UCC financing statements in connection with, operating leases; |
(42) | Liens on Cash Equivalents or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness; |
(43) | leases and subleases of real property that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(44) | any encumbrances or restrictions (including, without limitation, put and call agreements) with respect to the Capital Stock of any joint venture pursuant to the agreement evidencing such joint venture; |
50
(45) | Liens that may arise on inventory or equipment in the ordinary course of business as a result of such inventory or equipment being located on premises owned by Persons other than the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(46) | Liens on cash proceeds of Indebtedness (and on the related escrow accounts) in connection with the issuance of such Indebtedness into (and pending the release from) a customary escrow arrangement, to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof; |
(47) | Liens securing Cash Management Services; |
(48) | Liens not to exceed the Maximum Incremental Leverage Amount; |
(49) | other Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations which in the aggregate do not to exceed the greater of (x) $698.0 million and (y) 125% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer at any one time outstanding; |
(50) | other Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 if at the time of any incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect thereto (in a manner consistent with the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would not exceed 5.50 to 1.00; |
(51) | Liens on property or assets contributed to the equity capital of the Issuer or any Guarantor or received in exchange for Equity Interests of the Issuer or a Parent Entity or securing obligations not in excess of the Fair Market Value of such property or assets at the time of such contribution; and |
(52) | Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted by Section 4.09 to the extent that the underlying Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is permitted to be secured by a Lien. |
For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, (a) Permitted Liens need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described above but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption (including Section 4.13(a) hereof); (b) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Permitted Liens described above (or of Section 4.13(a) hereof), the Issuer may classify or reclassify such item of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) in a manner that complies with this definition (or with Section 4.13(a) hereof) and the Issuer may divide and classify a Lien in more than one of the types of Permitted Liens in one of the above clauses (or 4.13(a) hereof), or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such item of Permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien in one of the clauses of the definition of Permitted Liens (or Section 4.13(a) hereof) and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only one of such clauses (or Section 4.13(a) hereof); (c) the amount of Obligations secured by a Lien outstanding under any category of Permitted Liens shall be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any
51
Indebtedness to refinance any other Indebtedness including any increased amount of such Indebtedness; (d) any Lien securing Obligations that was permitted to secure such Obligations at the time of the incurrence of such Obligations shall also be permitted to secure any increase in the amount of such Obligations in connection with the accrual of interest and the accretion of accreted value or any other Increased Amount; (e) if any Indebtedness or other Obligation is secured by any Lien outstanding under any category of Permitted Liens measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or a ratio at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or other Obligations, and is refinanced by any Indebtedness or other Obligation secured by any Lien incurred by reference to such category of Permitted Liens, and such refinancing would cause the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or a ratio to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA or a ratio on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or a ratio shall not be deemed to be exceeded (and such refinancing Lien shall be deemed permitted) so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness or other Obligation does not exceed an amount equal to the principal amount of such Indebtedness or other obligation being refinanced, plus the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing; and (f) if any Indebtedness or other Obligation is secured by any Lien outstanding under any category of Permitted Liens measured by reference to a dollar amount, and is refinanced by any Indebtedness or other Obligation secured by any Lien incurred by reference to such category of Permitted Liens, and such refinancing would cause such dollar amount to be exceeded, such dollar amount shall not be deemed to be exceeded (and such refinancing Lien shall be deemed permitted) so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness or other Obligation does not exceed an amount equal to the principal amount of such Indebtedness or other Obligation being refinanced, plus the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing.
Permitted Parent means (a) any Parent Entity so long as a Permitted Holder pursuant to clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) of the definition thereof holds more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such Parent Entity and (b) any Public Company (or wholly owned Subsidiary of such Public Company) to the extent and until such time as any Person or group (other than a Permitted Holder under clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) of the definition thereof) is deemed to be or become a beneficial owner of Voting Stock of such Public Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Public Company.
Permitted Payments to Parent Entity means the declaration and payment of dividends or other payments to, or the making of loans to, any Parent Entity in amounts required for any Parent Entity (and, in the case of clause (3) below, its direct or indirect members), to pay, in each case without duplication:
(1) | general corporate operating and overhead costs and expenses (including, without limitation, expenses related to reporting obligations and any franchise and similar taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain their corporate existence) of any Parent Entity to the extent such costs and expenses are reasonably attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
52
(2) | reasonable fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates of the Issuer) incurred in connection with any unsuccessful debt or equity offering or other financing transaction by such Parent Entity; |
(3) | with respect to any taxable period ending after the Issue Date for which the Issuer and/or any of its Subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined or similar income tax group for U.S. federal and/or applicable state, local or foreign income tax purposes of which a Parent Entity is the common parent or other applicable taxpayer for the group (a Tax Group), the portion of any U.S. federal, state, local, and/or foreign income and similar taxes (including any alternative minimum taxes) of such Tax Group that is attributable to the taxable income of the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries for such purpose, in amounts required to pay any such taxes that are attributable to the taxable income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of such payments with respect to such period (regardless of when paid) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of such taxes that the Issuer and its applicable Restricted Subsidiaries (and, subject to the limitation described above, any applicable Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer) would have been required to pay with respect to such period were such entities stand-alone corporate taxpayers or a stand-alone corporate Tax Group for all applicable periods ending after the Issue Date; |
(4) | fees and expenses owed by the Issuer or any Parent Entity, as the case may be, or the Issuers Restricted Subsidiaries to Affiliates, in each case, to the extent permitted by clause (24) of Section 4.12(b) hereof; |
(5) | customary salary, bonus, severance, indemnification obligations and other benefits payable to officers and employees of such Parent Entity to the extent such salaries, bonuses, severance, indemnification obligations and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(6) | the payment of customary transaction fees and expenses payable in accordance with clause (16) of Section 4.12(b) hereof; and |
(7) | fees and expenses incurred by the Issuer or any Parent Entity related to the performance of its obligations under this Indenture and similar obligations under any Credit Facility. |
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to modify, renew, refund, refinance, replace, extend, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) | the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness modified, renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, extended, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness, OID and upfront fees and the amount of all fees, costs and expenses, including premiums (including reasonable, as determined in good faith by the Issuer, tender premiums) and defeasance costs, incurred in connection therewith); |
53
(2) | other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Debt, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date no earlier 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 earlier of (i) the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged or (ii) the Notes (provided that this clause (2) will not apply to any replacement, refunding, refinancing or defeasance of any Credit Facility or any Secured Indebtedness (including clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Debt)); |
(3) | if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and |
(4) | if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is also incurred by the Issuer or a Guarantor. |
Permitted Reorganization means any transaction (a) undertaken to effect a corporate reorganization (or similar transaction or event) for operational or efficiency purposes, (b) undertaken in connection with and reasonably required for consummating a Qualifying IPO or (c) related to tax planning or tax reorganization, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Issuer and entered into after the Issue Date; provided that, (i) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to such transaction and immediately after giving effect thereto and (ii) the Issuer has determined in good faith that, after giving effect to such transaction, the Note Guarantees, taken as a whole, would not be materially impaired as a result thereof, and such transaction would not otherwise be materially adverse to the Holders.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company (or series thereof) or governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Post-Petition Interest means interest, fees, expenses and other charges that, pursuant to the Credit Facility Documents, continue to accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such interest, fees, expenses and other charges are allowed or allowable under the Bankruptcy Law or in any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.
Principal Property Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that owns, operates or leases one or more Restricted Properties.
54
Private Placement Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
Public Company means any Person with a class or series of Voting Stock that is traded on a stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market.
Public Company Costs means costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to the Issuers status (or any relevant Parent Entitys status) as a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors and officers insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.
QIB means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A.
Qualified Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Stock of such Person; provided, that such Capital Stock shall be deemed not to be Qualified Capital Stock to the extent sold to a Subsidiary of such Person or financed, directly or indirectly, using funds (1) borrowed from such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person or (2) contributed, extended, guaranteed or advanced by such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, Qualified Capital Stock refers to Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer.
Qualified Equity Offering means (a) any issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock by the Issuer or any Parent Entity or (b) cash contributed to the capital of the Issuer in respect of the then outstanding Qualified Capital Stock from the holders of such Qualified Capital Stock; provided, that in the case of an issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock of any Parent Entity, cash proceeds therefrom are contributed to the common equity of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Qualified Equity Offering shall not include:
(1) | any issuance and sale with respect to the Issuers or any Parent Entitys common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8; |
(2) | any issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock to any Subsidiary of the Issuer; or |
(3) | any public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution. |
Qualifying IPO means the sale by Issuer or a Parent Entity of its common Capital Stock in a firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act with aggregate cash proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) to the Issuer or such Parent Entity of at least $75,000,000.
55
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 its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets are made at Fair Market Value and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer).
Rating Agencies means Moodys, S&P and Fitch; provided that if Moodys, S&P or Fitch shall cease to rate the Notes (at such time as such Rating Agency had previously provided a rating) for reasons outside the control of the Issuer, another security rating agency selected by the Issuer that is nationally recognized in the United States may be substituted therefore (a Substitute Rating Agency).
Real Property means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased by the Issuer or any Guarantor, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership lease, or operation thereof.
Recurring Contracts means, as of any date of determination, any commercial contract of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary for the provision of goods or other services that are continuous and not project based.
refinance means, in respect of any indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, defease, amend, increase, modify, supplement, restructure, refund, replace or repay, or to issue other indebtedness or enter alternative financing arrangements, in exchange or replacement for such indebtedness (in whole or in part), including by adding or replacing lenders, creditors, agents, borrowers and/or guarantors, and including in each case, but not limited to, after the original instrument giving rise to such indebtedness has been terminated (whether or not such termination occurs contemporaneously with the new indebtedness being incurred as a refinancing) and including, in each case, through any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement; refinanced and refinancing have correlative meanings.
Regulation D means Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
Regulation S means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
Regulation S-X means Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Global Note means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
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 exchanged therefor upon and after expiration of the Restricted Period.
56
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 of Regulation S.
Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(3) hereof to be placed on all Regulation S Temporary Global Notes.
Responsible Officer means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or assistant trust officer within the corporate trust services group of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Restricted Definitive Note means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Global Note means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Investment means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Period means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Restricted Property means (a) any production facility, or portion thereof, owned or leased by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries and located within the continental United States, which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, is of material importance to the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, but no such production facility, or portion thereof, shall be deemed of material importance if its gross book value (before deducting accumulated depreciation) is less than 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, or (b) any shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary owning any such production facility. As used in this definition, production facility means property, plant and equipment used for actual manufacturing such as quality assurance, engineering, maintenance, staging area for work in process materials, employees eating and comfort facilities and manufacturing administration, and it excludes sales offices, research facilities and facilities used only for warehousing or general administration.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
57
Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 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.
Rule 501 means Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 506 means Rule 506 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 & Poors Ratings Services LLC, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secured Indebtedness means Indebtedness secured by a Lien other than Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Services.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Securitization Assets means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams, other rights to payment (including with respect to rights of payment pursuant to the terms of joint ventures) 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 securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the 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 Securitization Assets 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.
58
Securitization Repurchase Obligation means any obligation of a seller or transferor of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Facility to repurchase such Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a Standard Securitization Undertaking, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.
Securitization Subsidiary means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of, and that solely engages only in one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.
Security Documents means all security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements, collateral assignments, security deeds, deeds to secure debt, deeds of trust, hypothecs, hypothecations, collateral agency agreements, debentures or other instruments or other pledges, grants or transfers for security or agreements related thereto executed and delivered by the Issuer or any Guarantor creating or perfecting (or purporting to create or perfect) a Lien upon Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the UCC) in favor of the Term Loan Agent on behalf of itself and the lenders under the Term Loan Facility to secure the Term Loan Facility, as amended, modified, renewed, restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
Senior Credit Agreements means, collectively, any ABL Credit Agreement and any Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Services Agreements means those certain management services agreements, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Sponsor, certain Co-Investors and certain Management Stockholders, as the same may be amended, modified, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their terms, but only to the extent that any such amendment, modification, replacement, supplement or other modification does not, directly or indirectly, increase the obligation of Holdings, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to make any payments thereunder.
Significant Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w)(1) or (2) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.
Specified Equity Contribution has the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement or equivalent term in any amendment or Permitted Refinancing in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement.
Specified Transaction means any of the following identified by the Issuer: (a) transaction or series of related transactions, including Investments and acquisition transactions permitted under this Indenture, that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any transaction or series of related transactions, including dispositions, that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Issuer, (d) any acquisition or disposition of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person or a facility, (e) any material changes in
59
customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified by the Issuer or new material customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified by the Issuer, including (i) material changes to amounts to be paid or received by the Issuer or any Guarantor and (ii) material changes to contracted or implemented revenue, (f) any restructuring of the business of the Issuer identified by the Issuer, whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise, (g) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes) and any increase or decrease in cash or Cash Equivalents resulting from an acquisition transaction, Investment, Restricted Payment or disposition (and the corresponding effect to leverage ratios after giving effect to any cash netting provisions), (h) any Restricted Payment and (i) transactions, events or occurrences of the type given pro forma effect in (A) the financial model for the Issuer and its Subsidiaries prepared by the Sponsor and delivered to the lead arrangers of the Term Loan Facility in connection with the Transactions or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by a nationally recognized accounting firm in connection with the Transactions or an acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Indenture consummated after the Issue Date.
Sponsor means (a) any funds, limited partnerships or co-investment vehicles managed or advised by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC or any Affiliates of any of the foregoing Person(s) or any direct or indirect Subsidiaries of any of the foregoing Person(s) (or jointly managed by any such Person(s) or over which any such Person(s) exercise governance rights) and (b) any investors (including limited partners) in the Persons identified in clause (a) who are investors in such Persons as of the Issue Date, and from time to time, invest directly or indirectly in the Issuer or any Parent Entity.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Qualified Securitization Facility including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary, it being understood that any Securitization Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or to any of the Note Guarantees, as the case may be. Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Subsidiaries will mean Subsidiaries of the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation of the foregoing, no Person shall be considered a Subsidiary of the Issuer, unless the Issuer has the ability to Control
60
such Person and the Issuer owns of record, either directly or indirectly through a Restricted Subsidiary, Equity Interests issued by such Person (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) that, in the aggregate, have a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Person.
Term Loan Agent means Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.
Term Loan Credit Agreement means the term loan credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among Holdings, the Issuer, certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer from time to time party thereto as guarantors, the Term Loan Agent and the Term Loan Lenders, and any other agents, arrangers and lenders party thereto from time to time, including any notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended, extended, increased, renewed, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced (including through the issuance of debt securities), restructured or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original borrower, issuer, agent, lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, and whether provided under the Term Loan Credit Agreement as of the Issue Date, or one or more other credit or other agreements or indentures, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings, other extensions of credit and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such debt facilities or successor debt facilities, whether by the same or any other borrower, issuer, agent, lender or group of lenders (or institutional investors).
Term Loan Facility means the senior secured term loan facility and any other facilities made pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Term Loan Lenders means each financial institution that is a lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement from time to time.
Test Period in effect at any time means 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 are available (which may be internal financial statements). A Test Period may be designated by reference to the last day thereof (i.e., the December 31st Test Period of a particular year refers to the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Issuer ended on December 31st of such year), and a Test Period shall be deemed to end on the last day thereof.
Transactions means the Acquisition, including the payment of the consideration in connection therewith, the investment by the Sponsor and certain other investors, the issuance of the Notes, the execution of, and borrowings on the Issue Date under, the Senior Credit Agreements, the pledge and security arrangements in connection with the foregoing and other actions in connection with the Transactions described under SummaryThe Transactions in the Offering Memorandum and, in each case, the payment of costs, fees and expenses related thereto.
61
Transaction Expenses means amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, reasonable fees and expenses and expensing of any financing fees, in each case, incurred in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes, the entry into and borrowings under any Credit Facility and any offering of Equity Interests, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, reorganization, recapitalization or Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (whether or not consummated).
Treasury Rate means, as of any redemption date (or, in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, deposit date, as applicable), the yield to maturity as of such redemption date (or, in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, deposit date, as applicable) of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or companion online data resource published by the Federal Reserve System) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date of the notice of redemption (or, in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, deposit date, as applicable) (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 date of the notice of redemption (or, in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, deposit date, as applicable) to April 1, 2024; provided, however, that if the period from the date of the notice of redemption (or, in the case of a satisfaction and discharge, deposit date, as applicable) to April 1, 2024 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
Trustee means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.
Unrestricted Definitive Note means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Global Note means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (a) each Securitization Subsidiary and (b) any Subsidiary of the Issuer or any successor to any of them that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Issuer as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary, but only to the extent that:
(1) | immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; |
62
(2) | the Investment resulting from the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as described above is permitted under Section 4.07; and |
(3) | no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless it is also designated as an unrestricted subsidiary under the Senior Credit Agreements. |
The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Issuer therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value as of such date of the Issuers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment(s) to date therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and a return on any Investment by the Issuer in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value at the date of such designation of the Issuers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. Except as set forth in this definition, no Investment will be deemed to exist or have been made, and no Indebtedness or Liens shall be deemed to have been incurred or exist, by virtue of a Subsidiary becoming an Excluded Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. For all purposes hereunder, the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to constitute a concurrent designation of any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
U.S. Dollar Equivalent means with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street Journal in the Exchange Rates column under the heading Currency Trading on the date two Business Days prior to such determination. Except as described under Section 4.09 hereof, whenever it is necessary to determine whether the Issuer has complied with any covenant in this Indenture or a Default has occurred and an amount is expressed in a currency other than U.S. dollars, such amount will be treated as the U.S. Dollar Equivalent determined as of the date such amount is initially determined in such currency.
U.S. Person means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.
Voting Stock of any specified 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 at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) | 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 of the Indebtedness, 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 |
63
(2) | the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness. |
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
Term |
Defined in Section |
|||
Affiliate Transaction |
4.12 | |||
Alternate Offer |
4.16 | |||
Applicable Premium Deficit |
8.04 | |||
Asset Sale Offer |
3.10 | |||
Authentication Order |
2.02 | |||
Calculation Date |
1.01 | |||
Change of Control Offer |
4.16 | |||
Change of Control Payment |
4.16 | |||
Change of Control Payment Date |
4.16 | |||
consolidated |
1.01 | |||
control |
1.01 | |||
Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Test |
4.09 | |||
Covenant Defeasance |
8.03 | |||
Covenant Suspension Event |
4.23 | |||
elected amount |
4.24 | |||
Election Date |
4.13 | |||
Event of Default |
6.01 | |||
Excess Proceeds |
4.10 | |||
Fixed Amounts |
4.24 | |||
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test |
4.09 | |||
group |
1.01 | |||
incur |
4.09 | |||
Incurrence-Based Amounts |
4.24 | |||
Legal Defeasance |
8.02 | |||
Maximum Incremental Leverage Amount |
4.09 | |||
Master Agreement |
1.01 | |||
Non-Guarantor Debt Cap |
4.09 | |||
Offer Amount |
3.10 | |||
Offer Period |
3.10 | |||
Paying Agent |
2.03 | |||
Payment Default |
6.01 | |||
Permitted Debt |
4.09 | |||
Purchase Date |
3.10 | |||
Qualified Reporting Subsidiary |
4.03 | |||
redemption date |
3.07 | |||
Registrar |
2.03 | |||
Reinstatement Date |
4.23 |
64
Term |
Defined in Section |
|||
Reporting Entity |
4.03 | |||
Restricted Payments |
4.07 | |||
Remaining Proceeds |
4.10 | |||
Specified Indebtedness |
4.17 | |||
Subject Lien |
4.13 | |||
Suspended Covenants |
4.23 | |||
Suspension Period |
4.23 | |||
Tax Group |
1.01 | |||
Transaction Election |
4.24 | |||
Transaction Test Date |
4.24 |
Section 1.03 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(i) | a term has the meaning assigned to it; |
(ii) | an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with IFRS; |
(iii) | or is not exclusive; |
(iv) | words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; |
(v) | will shall be interpreted to express a command; |
(vi) | provisions apply to successive events and transactions; |
(vii) | references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time; |
(viii) | references to items being in existence on the Issue Date shall apply to any such items of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date; and |
(ix) | unless otherwise provided herein or in any related document, the words execute, execution, signed, signature, delivery and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar |
65
state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee. As used herein, Electronic Signature means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or other record. |
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Form and Dating.
(a) General. Notes issued in global form will 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 will 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). The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Guarantors 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.
(b) Global Notes. Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 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 appropriate, 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 will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the written direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. After the expiration of the Restricted Period and upon the receipt by the Trustee of:
66
(1) certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any Beneficial Owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a Rule 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and
(2) an Officers Certificate from the Issuer,
beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with such exchange of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interests as hereinafter provided.
(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking and Customer Handbook of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.
At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, facsimile or other electronic signature. Typographic and other minor defects in any facsimile or electronic signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Note which has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
The Initial Notes shall be signed on behalf of the Issuer on the Issue Date.
A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. Such signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. The Trustee shall authenticate (i) Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount of $770,000,000 and (ii) subject to compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, one or more series of Additional Notes in an unlimited amount, in each case, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer of the Issuer (an Authentication Order), which Authentication Order shall, in the case of any issuance of Additional Notes, certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, and shall include such additional certificates or opinions required by Section
67
13.03 hereof (except that no Opinion of Counsel shall be required pursuant to Section 13.03 hereof for authentication of the Initial Notes). In addition, each Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Initial Notes or Additional Notes to be authenticated, the date on which such Initial Notes or Additional Notes are to be authenticated, and shall further specify the amount of such Initial Notes or Additional Notes to be issued as Global Notes or Definitive Notes. All Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and no series of Notes (including Additional Notes) shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuer pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof. The Trustee shall act as the initial authenticating agent. The Trustee may appoint 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 an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer. The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Notes under this Section 2.02 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Issuer will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (Registrar) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment. The Issuer will appoint a Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note on behalf of the Issuer (the Paying Agent). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term Registrar includes any co-registrar and the term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent. The Issuer may change any Registrar or Paying Agent without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Registrar or Paying Agent.
The Issuer initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Issuer will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer 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 Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
68
Section 2.05 Holder Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes if:
(1) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee written notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
(2) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Trustee of the certificates required pursuant to Section 2.01(c) hereof; or
(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and the Holder so requests.
Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (1), (2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. 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. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.
69
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will 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 will require compliance with either subclause (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subclauses, as applicable:
(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than the Initial Purchasers). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).
(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) | both: |
(i) | a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and |
(ii) | instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or |
(B) | both: |
(i) | a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant 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 |
70
(ii) | 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 subclause (i) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Trustee of the certificates required by Section 2.01(c) hereof. |
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.
(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable.
(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any Holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and 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 a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
71
(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 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 Section 2.06(b)(4), 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 this Section 2.06(b)(4) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(4).
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon 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 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 to the effect set forth in 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 to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
72
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an IAI in accordance with Rule 506, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(d) thereof;
(E) 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 to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in 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(g) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate 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 Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, as applicable, and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(A) and (C) 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 Trustee of the certificates required pursuant to Section 2.01(c) hereof, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(3) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if the Registrar receives the following:
73
(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 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 in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(c)(3), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any Holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes 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 in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
74
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in 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 to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an IAI in accordance with Rule 506, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(d) thereof;
(E) 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 to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the Rule 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:
(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 in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
75
(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 in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in Section 2.06(d)(2), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and 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 this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
(4) If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will 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 Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).
(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
76
(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;
(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, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder 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 in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(e)(2), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(1) Private Placement Legend.
77
(A) Except as permitted by subclause (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 REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO SUCH PURCHASER IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHICH NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS APPLICABLE TO IT IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PURCHASE IS MADE, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEES, OR REGISTRARS, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C), (D) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR REGISTRAR. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE HOLDING PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTED SECURITIES SET FORTH IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
78
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2) or (e)(3) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(2) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will 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 (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. In addition to the Private Placement Legend, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will 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). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
79
(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who 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 will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the written direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrars request.
(2) No service charge will 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 Issuer 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 2.10, 3.06, 3.10, 4.10, 4.16 and 9.04 hereof).
(3) [Reserved].
(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer will be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the delivery of a redemption notice under Section 3.03 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day such notice of redemption is given;
80
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.
(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer shall 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 interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Issuer or the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
(9) Neither the Issuer, the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or Beneficial Owners of interests 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.
(10) Neither the Issuer, Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary, Euroclear, Clearstream or any other depositary or clearing system.
(11) None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, any Depositary Participant or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary or of any Depositary Participant, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any Depositary Participant, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in a Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary, subject to the Applicable Procedures. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon
81
information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Note for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Note (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Note) as the sole holder of such Global Note and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof.
(12) Depositary Participants shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Note for all purposes whatsoever, including but not limited to notices and payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Depositary Participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any notice to be delivered to the Depositary (including, but not limited to, a notice of redemption) may be delivered electronically by the Trustee or the Issuer in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuer and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustees requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note. The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note; provided, that Notes held by the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(a) hereof.
82
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 Article 8 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 Issuer, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay the Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will 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 Issuer or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.
Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.11 Cancellation.
The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) in accordance with the Trustees customary procedures. Certification of the cancellation of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Issuer at the Issuers written request. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
83
Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.
If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will 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 Issuer will 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. The Issuer will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) will send or cause to be sent to Holders, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.
If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers Certificate setting forth:
(i) | the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur; |
(ii) | the redemption date; |
(iii) | the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and |
(iv) | the redemption price. |
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.
If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee, upon prior notice, will select Notes for redemption or purchase based on a method that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection or by lot (or, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary), unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or Depositary requirements.
In the event of partial redemption, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase subject to procedures of the Depositary.
The Trustee will promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased subject to procedures of the Depositary. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; provided that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
84
Section 3.03 Notice to Holders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.16 hereof, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail (or, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary), a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, with a copy to the Trustee, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if (a) the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles VIII or XII hereof or (b) in the case of a redemption that is subject to one or more conditions precedent, the date of redemption is extended as permitted under this Indenture.
The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:
(i) | the CUSIP or ISIN numbers of the Notes; |
(ii) | the redemption date; |
(iii) | the redemption price; |
(iv) | if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed (subject to procedures of the Depositary) and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note; |
(v) | the name and address of the Paying Agent; |
(vi) | that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; |
(vii) | that, on and after the redemption date (and subject to the satisfaction of any conditions specified in the redemption notice) interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption unless the Issuer fails to deliver the redemption amount, in which case interest shall continue to accrue until the payment of the redemption amount; |
(viii) | the paragraph of the Notes or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; |
(ix) | if the redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, each such condition, and if applicable, that, in the Issuers discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed; and |
85
(x) | that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes. |
In addition, the Issuer may provide in such notice that the payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
At the Issuers request and expense, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the name of the Issuer or select Notes for redemption, if applicable; provided, however, that the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee, at least 5 Business Days prior to the date such notice of redemption is to be provided to Holders (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice or select the requisite Notes for redemption, and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraphs.
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price (subject to the satisfaction of any conditions specified in such notice of redemption).
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.
On or prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date (or if the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold such redemption amount in trust). The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date (whether or not a Business Day) (and subject to the satisfaction of any conditions specified in the redemption notice), interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
86
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.
(a) At any time prior to April 1, 2024, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 106.250% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) (the redemption date), with the cash proceeds, less any underwriting spread paid, with respect to one or more Qualified Equity Offerings; provided that:
(1) at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (except to the extent all such Notes are otherwise repurchased or redeemed substantially concurrently in accordance with the terms of this Indenture); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Qualified Equity Offering.
(b) At any time prior to April 1, 2024, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice delivered in accordance with Section 3.03, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
(c) Except pursuant to the preceding clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 3.07 and clause (f) of this Section 3.07, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers option prior to April 1, 2024.
(d) On or after April 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon notice delivered in accordance with Section 3.03, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:
Year |
Percentage | |||
2024 |
103.125 | % | ||
2025 |
101.563 | % | ||
2026 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
87
(e) [Reserved].
(f) At any time, in connection with any tender offer or other offer to purchase any Notes (including pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, an Alternate Offer or an Asset Sale Offer), if 90% or more in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes are purchased by the Issuer, or, in the case of a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer, any third party purchasing or acquiring Notes in lieu of the Issuer, then all of the Holders of Notes will be deemed to have consented to such offer, and the Issuer or such third party will have the right, upon notice as described under Section 3.03 to redeem the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at the price paid to Holders in such purchase (excluding any early tender premium, to the extent paid in connection with a tender offer, or accrued and unpaid interest paid to such Holders), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Notes to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date falling prior to or on the redemption date).
(g) Any redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuers discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. The redemption date of any redemption that is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent may, in the Issuers discretion, be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and any notice with respect to such redemption may be modified or rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed (which may exceed 60 days from the date of the redemption notice in such case). In addition, such notice of redemption may be extended, if such conditions precedent have not been satisfied or waived by the Issuer, by providing notice to the Holders.
(h) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
Section 3.08 [Reserved].
Section 3.09 Mandatory Redemption; Other Purchases.
The Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuer, however, may be required to purchase Notes at the request of Holders upon the occurrence of an Asset Sale, pursuant to Sections 3.10 and 4.10 hereof, or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, pursuant to Section 4.16 hereof. The Issuer and its Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, negotiated transactions or otherwise.
Section 3.10 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Issuer is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an Asset Sale Offer), it will follow the procedures specified below.
88
The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of Pari Passu Indebtedness evidenced or governed by Pari Passu Documents containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to mandatory prepayments and offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the Offer Period). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the Purchase Date), the Issuer will apply all Excess Proceeds (the Offer Amount) to the purchase of Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness on a pro rata basis or, if the aggregate purchase price for the Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer is less than the Offer Amount, all Notes and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer will deliver a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:
(i) | that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open; |
(ii) | the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date; |
(iii) | that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest; |
(iv) | that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date; |
(v) | that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in minimum denominations of $2,000, or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, only; |
(vi) | that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Issuer, a Depositary, if appointed by the Issuer, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date; |
89
(vii) | that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receive, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, 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 purchase price for the Notes and other Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee will select the Notes and the Issuer will select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis or by lot (or, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary); and |
(ix) | that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer). |
On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased in accordance with this Section 3.10 and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.10. The Issuer, the Depositary or the Trustee, as the case may be, will promptly mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuer to the Holder thereof. The Issuer will notify the Trustee of the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.
The Issuer will 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 will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuer, the Issuer will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holders Notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar, except that the Issuer will make payments on Global Notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee by wire transfer (or otherwise in accordance with DTCs procedures) and, subject to the immediately preceding sentence, unless the Issuer elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their address set forth in the register of Holders.
90
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
The Issuer will 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. The Issuer will 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.
If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Issuer will maintain in the contiguous United States, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer will 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 Issuer fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that no office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency for the service of legal process against the Issuer or any Guarantor.
The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the contiguous United States for such purposes. The Issuer will 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 Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.
91
Section 4.03 Reports.
(a) So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will provide the Trustee and, upon request, Holders:
(1) with annual consolidated financial statements of the Issuer audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants within 120 days after the end of the Issuers fiscal year commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (or 150 days after the end of such fiscal year in the case of the first fiscal year ending after the Issue Date) or such longer period as may be permitted by the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements for a non-accelerated filer and unaudited quarterly financial statements of the Issuer (including a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal quarter and the end of the prior fiscal year, statement of operations for the fiscal quarter and year-to-date period then ended and the corresponding fiscal quarter and year-to-date period from the prior year and statement of cash flows for the year-to-date period then ended and the corresponding year-to-date period from the prior year) within 60 days of the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021 (or 75 days after the end of each of the three fiscal quarters commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021 for which delivery hereunder is required) or such longer period as may be permitted by the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements for a non-accelerated filer. Such annual and quarterly financial statements will (i) be prepared in accordance with IFRS and (ii) be accompanied by a management discussion and analysis of the results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the periods presented in a level of detail comparable to the management discussion and analysis of the results of operations contained in the Offering Memorandum. Such quarterly financial statements will be subject to customary year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and
(2) from time to time after the occurrence of an event directly concerning the Issuer or its Subsidiaries that the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment is material to Holders, a report summarizing such event, in each case within 15 Business Days following the occurrence thereof (or such longer period as may be permitted under Form 8-K of the Exchange Act); provided that no such report will be required to be provided in connection with the Transactions. Subject to the preceding sentence, such events shall include (i) the entry into and the consummation or termination of definitive material agreements to which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, (ii) material impairments to the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries assets, (iii) changes in the Issuers independent public accountants, (iv) determinations by any Parent Entitys or the Issuers management that the Issuers previously issued financial statements or related audit reports should no longer be relied upon, (v) the departure of independent members of the Issuers Board of Directors, the election of new independent members of the Issuers Board of Directors and the departure or appointment of the Issuers chief executive officer or chief financial officer and (vi) the creation of direct material financial obligations or material obligations under off balance sheet arrangements by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries. Disclosure of any such events shall be made by posting on the password-protected website and in the manner referred to below; provided, however, that the Issuer may defer or omit any disclosure required by this clause (2) so long as in the Issuers good faith judgment, such deferral or omission of disclosure is necessary or advisable for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity to (a) comply with any securities laws or stock exchange regulations or (b) protect trade secrets and other confidential information, the disclosure of which, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, may cause competitive harm to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
92
(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) of this Section 4.03, (1) the Issuer will not be required to furnish any information, financial statements, certificates or reports required by (i) Section 302, Section 404 or Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or related Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K, (ii) Regulation G or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K promulgated by SEC with respect to any non-IFRS financial measures contained therein, or (iii) Rule 3-05, Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10 or Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X, (2) such reports will not be required to contain any segment reporting, (3) such reports shall not be required to present compensation disclosure required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K or otherwise or beneficial ownership information, (4) the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.03(a) shall not be required to include any exhibits required by Item 15 of Form 10-K, Item 6 of Form 10-Q or Item 9.01 of Form 8-K and (5) if at any time the Issuer or any Parent Entity or a Qualified Reporting Subsidiary (as defined below) has made a good faith determination to file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to an Equity Offering of such entitys Equity Interests, the Issuer will still be required to provide reports pursuant to this Section 4.03 but the content of such reports will not be required to disclose any information that, in the good faith view of the Issuer or a Parent Entity, would violate the securities laws or the SECs gun jumping rules or otherwise have an adverse effect on such Equity Offering; provided further, however, that no such report shall be required to be furnished if the Issuer determines in its good faith judgment that such event is not material to the Holders or the business, assets, operations, financial position or prospects of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) At any time that any of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual reports required by Section 4.03(a) above will include a reasonably detailed presentation (which need not be audited or reviewed by the auditors), either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, or in the managements discussion and analysis or other comparable section, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.
(d) So long as any Notes are outstanding, unless otherwise publicly available (as determined by the Issuer in good faith), the information and reports referred to in Sections 4.03(a)(1) and (2) hereof shall be made available to Holders, bona fide prospective investors in the Notes, broker dealers, bona fide securities analysts and bona fide market makers affiliated with any initial purchaser promptly by posting on a password-protected or otherwise secured website within the time periods provided for such information in Sections 4.03(a)(1) and (2) hereof, subject to the applicable extensions provided for in Section 4.03(a)(1). The Issuer or a Parent Entity will also issue a notification (which can be a notification through Intralinks or another password-protected website or by email to registered Holders, prospective investors in the Notes, broker dealers, securities analysts and market makers) upon the posting of the information required by Section 4.03(a)(1) and (2) hereof. The Issuer will hold a conference call for the Holders, prospective investors in the Notes, broker dealers, securities analysts and market makers to discuss such financial information described Section 4.03(a)(1) hereof no later than 15 Business Days after posting the annual financial information or the quarterly financial information described in Section 4.03(a)(1) hereof. In addition, the Issuer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to hold a conference call for Holders to discuss the performance of the business for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021. The Issuer or a Parent Entity will issue a notification (which can be a notification
93
through Intralinks or another password protected website or by email to registered Holders, prospective investors in the Notes, broker dealers, securities analysts and market makers) of any such conference call prior to the date of the conference call. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, posting, content or timeliness of any report or notification from the Issuer.
(e) Any Person who requests or accesses such financial information required by this Section 4.03 will be required to represent to the Issuer (to the reasonable good faith satisfaction of the Issuer) that:
(1) it is a Holder, a bona fide prospective investor in the Notes or a bona fide market maker in the Notes affiliated with any initial purchaser or a bona fide securities analyst providing an analysis of investment in the Notes;
(2) it will not use the information in violation of applicable securities laws or regulations; and
(3) other than in the case of securities analysts, it will keep such information confidential and will not communicate the information to any Person and (x) it is not a competitor of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and (y) it will not use such information in any manner intended to compete with the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries.
(f) Furthermore, the Issuer agrees that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding and neither the Issuer nor any Parent Entity is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise complies with such reporting requirements, it will furnish to the Holders, Beneficial Owners of the Notes and bona fide prospective investors, upon their request, the information and reports described above and any other information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. Delivery of any reports, information, notifications and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates). The Trustee shall not have any liability or responsibility for the filing, posting, timeliness or content of any such report or information.
(g) The Issuer is permitted to satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.03 with respect to financial information relating to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries by furnishing financial information relating to (i) any predecessor or successor of the Issuer for accounting purposes, (ii) any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Issuer that, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries, constitutes substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries (a Qualified Reporting Subsidiary) or (iii) a Parent Entity; provided that, if such financial information relates to a Parent Entity or a Qualified Reporting Subsidiary, the same is accompanied by consolidating information (which may be posted to the website of the Issuer (or any Parent Entity or any Subsidiary) or on a non-public, password-protected website maintained by the Issuer or a third party) that explains in reasonable detail the differences (if any) between the information relating to such Parent Entity or Qualified Reporting Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand. For the avoidance of doubt, the consolidating information referred to in the proviso in the preceding sentence need not be audited or reviewed by the Issuers independent accountants.
94
(h) So long as any Notes are outstanding, in the event the Issuer or any Parent Entity becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise complies with such reporting requirements (Reporting Entity), in lieu of delivery of the foregoing, the Issuer must provide the Trustee, and upon written request, the Holders, with copies thereof, without cost to each Holder, within 15 Business Days after filing with the SEC, or in the event no such filing is required or made, within 15 Business Days after the end of the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations, the reports required to be filed under the Exchange Act in lieu of reports described in Section 4.03(a) above; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Issuer will make available such information to prospective investors in the Notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders, in each case within 15 Business Days after the time periods the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders if (i) the Issuer or another Reporting Entity has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system or any successor system and such reports are publicly available or (ii) such reports are posted on the Issuers (or a Parent Entitys or Subsidiarys) website.
(j) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, failure by the Issuer to comply with any of its obligations hereunder for purposes of Section 6.01(c) will not constitute an Event of Default hereunder until 120 days after the receipt of the written notice delivered hereunder by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class. To the extent any information is not provided within the time periods specified in this Section 4.03 and such information is subsequently provided, the Issuer will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured.
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with the first full fiscal year following the Issue Date, for which such certificate may be delivered within 120 days after the end of such fiscal year), an Officers Certificate stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Issuer and the Guarantors have complied with each and every covenant contained in the Indenture Documents and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture Documents (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).
95
(b) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, within 30 Business Days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto (unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured or waived within such period). The Trustee will not be deemed to have knowledge of any Defaults or Events of Default unless written notice of an event, which is in fact a Default, has been delivered to the Trustee at its office specified in this Indenture and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states that it is a Notice of Default.
Section 4.05 [Reserved].
Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Issuer and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby (a) agrees that it will 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 (b) expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.
(a) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(i) | declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Issuers or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Issuer or any such other Restricted Subsidiaries and to each Person that owns Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary ratably according to their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests or as otherwise permitted by or required by the applicable Organizational Documents of such non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary)); |
(ii) | purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving the Issuer) any Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer); |
96
(iii) | make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor (excluding any such payment on Indebtedness permitted under clauses (6) or (7) of the definition of Permitted Debt), except a payment of interest thereon when due or a payment of regularly scheduled principal or payment of principal at the Stated Maturity thereof, payments of closing and consent fees related to any Subordinated Indebtedness, indemnity and expense reimbursement payments in connection with any Subordinated Indebtedness, and mandatory prepayments, mandatory redemptions and mandatory purchases, in each case pursuant to the terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness or the purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement for value of any such Subordinated Indebtedness within one year of the Stated Maturity thereof; or |
(iv) | make any Restricted Investment, |
(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as Restricted Payments), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(1) in the case of a Restricted Payment other than a Restricted Investment utilizing the CNI Prong, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) [reserved]; and
(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of Section 4.07(b) hereof, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:
(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the first day of the fiscal quarter during which the Issue Date occurs to the end of the Issuers most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (which amount will be deemed to be no less than zero for each fiscal quarter) (this clause (a), the CNI Prong); plus
(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of any Permitted Equity Issuance or assets or property (other than cash) and marketable securities received by the Issuer since the Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock, Designated Preferred Stock or Excluded Contributions) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer); provided that this clause (B) shall not include capital contributions made in connection with the Acquisition and the transactions contemplated thereby; plus
97
(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made in reliance on this clause (3) after the Issue Date is (i) sold, disposed of or otherwise cancelled, liquidated or repaid, 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the Fair Market Value of the property and marketable securities received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) made in an entity that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Investment of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date such entity becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(D) to the extent not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as such after the Issue Date is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, or is merged or consolidated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or all of the assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary are transferred to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value of the amount of the investment of, or property received by, the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation, merger, consolidation or transfer of assets; plus
(E) to the extent not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the Fair Market Value of any assets or property received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary from the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of any Minority Investment or an Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus
(F) to the extent not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, 100% of any dividends or distributions received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after the Issue Date from any Minority Investment or an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, to the extent that such dividends or distributions were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for such period; plus
(G) to the extent (i) not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment and (ii) not in excess of the Fair Market Value of such Investment at the time it was made, the returns (including repayments of principal and payments of interest), profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Cash Equivalents by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(H) the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) 62.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer.
98
(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend, return of capital or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend, return of capital or other distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend, return of capital, distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale, but within 120 days (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution, but within 120 days, of common equity capital to the Issuer; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (3)(B) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;
(3) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of (a) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, including premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest and related transaction expenses and (b) Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, with the net cash proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the payment of any dividend or return of capital (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Parent Entity held by any current or former officer, director, employee, manager, member, member of management, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity (or from any transferee, assign, spouse, former spouse, family member, executor, administrator, distributee, estate, legatee, heir, successor or legal representative of such Persons, trust, partnership or limited liability company for the benefit of any of foregoing, or any entity controlled by any such foregoing Persons), including pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any similar agreement (including any separation, stock subscription, shareholder or partnership agreement) or otherwise upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such officer, director, employee, manager, member, member of management consultant or independent contractor (or the making of any Restricted Payment by the Issuer to fund the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of a Parent Entity held by any current or former officer, director, employee, manager, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or any transferee, assign, spouse, former spouse, family member, executor, administrator, distributee, estate, legatee, heir, successor or legal representative of such Persons, trust, partnership or limited liability company, or any entity controlled by any such foregoing Persons), including pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any
99
other employee or director benefit plan or any similar agreement (including any separation, stock subscription, shareholder or partnership agreement); provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests (or Restricted Payments made by the Issuer to fund such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests) may not exceed (i) the greater of (x) $70.0 million and (y) 12.50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer in any calendar year or (ii) subsequent to the consummation of any Qualified Equity Offering of common Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, the greater of (x) $112.0 million and (y) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer in any calendar year (in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), with unused amounts in any fiscal year being permitted to be carried forward for succeeding calendar years); provided further that such amount may be increased by an amount not to exceed (so long as such amounts are not already elected to be included in clause (3)(B) of Section 4.07(a) hereof):
(A) the cash proceeds of key-man life insurance policies received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; plus
(B) an increase by the aggregate net cash proceeds from any issuance during such period of Equity Interests by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity (to the extent contributed in cash to the common Equity Interests of the Issuer) to such directors, officers, employees, members, members of management, consultants or independent contractors (or to any transferee, assign, spouse, former spouse, family member, executor, administrator, distributee, estate, legatee, heir, successor or legal of such Persons, representative of such Persons, trust, partnership or limited liability company, or any entity controlled by any such foregoing Persons); provided that the cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former officer, director, employee, members, members of management, consultant or independent contractor of the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity (or from any transferee, assign, spouse, former spouse, family member, executor, administrator, distributee, estate, legatee, heir, successor or legal of such Persons, representative of such Persons, trust, partnership or limited liability company, or any entity controlled by any such foregoing Persons) in connection with the repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture; plus
(C) the amount of any cash bonuses, nonqualified deferred compensation or other compensation otherwise payable to future, present or former employees, officers, directors, managers, members, members of management, consultants or independent contractors of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests, plus
(D) payments made in respect of withholding or other similar taxes payable upon repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of Equity Interests of the Issuer or a Parent Entity or its Subsidiaries or otherwise pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any similar agreement; less
100
(E) the amount of cash proceeds described in subclause (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this clause (5) previously used to make Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (5);
provided that the Issuer may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above in any calendar year; and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from any current or former officer, director, employee, manager, member of management, consultant or independent contractor (or from any transferee, assign, spouse, former spouse, family member, executor, administrator, distributee, estate, legatee, or heir, successor or legal of such Persons, representative of such Persons, trust, partnership or limited liability company, or any entity controlled by any such foregoing Persons) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity, in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity from such Persons will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provisions of this Indenture;
(6) Restricted Payments that occur upon or in connection with the exercise of stock options or similar equity rights if such Restricted Payments represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options or similar equity rights and repurchases of Equity Interests or options to purchase Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of stock options or similar equity rights to the extent necessary to pay applicable withholding or similar taxes;
(7) cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise, conversion, redemption or exchange of any warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity;
(8) after the consummation of a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer with respect to a Change of Control pursuant to Section 4.16 hereof (including the purchase of any Notes tendered), any purchase or redemption of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiaries required pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of the Change of Control, but only if the Issuer shall have first complied with Section 4.16 hereof and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to any offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness;
(9) after the consummation of an Asset Sale Offer with respect to an Asset Sale pursuant to Sections 3.10 and 4.10 hereof (including the purchase of any Notes tendered), any purchase or redemption of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiaries required pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale, but only if the Issuer shall have first complied with Sections 3.10 and 4.10 hereof and purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Subordinated Indebtedness;
101
(10) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;
(11) declaration and payment of dividends or return of capital or other distribution to fund a payment on the common Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent Entity (or a Restricted Payment to any Parent Entity to fund the payment by such Parent Entity of dividends on such entitys common Capital Stock) or purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving the Issuer) of any Equity Interests of the Issuer or a Parent Entity following the first public offering of such common Capital Stock (or a transaction which results in the Issuer or a Parent Entity becoming a Public Company or a subsidiary of a Public Company) after the Issue Date (other than (i) any issuance and sale with respect to the Issuers or any Parent Entitys common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and (ii) any sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution) after the Issue Date of up to the sum of (x) 6.0% per annum of the net proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from such public offering of Capital Stock (or other transaction) and (y) an aggregate amount per annum not to exceed 7.0% of Market Capitalization;
(12) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders of Capital Stock of the Issuer (or a Restricted Payment to any Parent Entity to fund the payment or distributions to dissenting stockholders by such Parent Entity on such entitys common Capital Stock) pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets that complies with the provisions of this Indenture applicable to amalgamations, mergers, consolidations and transfers of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(13) Restricted Payments made with Excluded Contributions;
(14) (i) monitoring and management fees payable pursuant to the Services Agreements, (ii) one time payments of termination fees in the event of a Change of Control or completion of a primary public offering and (iii) without duplication of clauses (i) and (ii) above, transaction fees, closing fees and expenses payable pursuant to the Services Agreements to the extent described in the Offering Memorandum under the heading Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions;
(15) Permitted Payments to Parent Entity;
102
(16) Restricted Payments of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owing from, and/or other securities of or Investments in, any Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiaries the assets of which consist primarily (as determined by the Issuer in good faith) of cash or Cash Equivalents received from an Investment by the Issuer and/or any Restricted Subsidiary into it);
(17) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (a) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; and (b) a Restricted Payment to any Parent Entity, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent Entity issued after the Issue Date; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (b) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; provided, further, however, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) above of this clause (17), 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, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions and treating such Designated Preferred Stock as Indebtedness for borrowed money for such purpose) on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the Issuer would have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to either the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test or the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Test, each as set forth in Section 4.09(a);
(18) so long as no Event of Default described under clauses (a), (b) or (g) of Section 6.01 has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (a) any Restricted Payment pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of the definition thereof if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is less than or equal to 5.75 to 1.00 and (b) any Restricted Payment pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition thereof if after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis is less than or equal to 5.75 to 1.00;
(19) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility and distributions or payments of Securitization Fees or distributions made in lieu of fees and expenses (including by way of a discount);
(20) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed (i) the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) 62.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer at such time, plus (ii) any amount of Restricted Payments constituting Restricted Investments made in reliance on this clause (20) that the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary has sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash (to the extent not included in clause (3)(C) of Section 4.07(a)), in each case, in the case of this clause (ii), in an amount equal to the Net Proceeds thereof;
103
(21) any dividend, distribution, redemption or other Restricted Payment in an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of Remaining Proceeds (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include any Excluded Proceeds);
(22) any Restricted Payments made in connection with the Acquisition or the Transactions;
(23) any payment that is intended to prevent any Indebtedness from being treated as an applicable high yield discount obligation within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code;
(24) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions constituting or otherwise made in connection with or relating to any Permitted Reorganization; provided that if immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such Permitted Reorganization and the transactions to be consummated in connection therewith, any distributed asset ceases to be owned by the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary (or any entity ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary), the applicable portion of such distribution must be otherwise permitted under another provision of this Section 4.07 (and constitute utilization of such other Restricted Payment exception or capacity); and
(25) Restricted Payments not to exceed the Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any Contractual Obligation that is based on, or measured with respect to the value of an Equity Interest, including any such Contractual Obligations constituting compensation arrangements, shall not be considered a Restricted Payment. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. 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 (25) of Section 4.07(b) or the definition of Permitted Investments or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Issuer, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to divide, classify or reclassify or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such division, classification or reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) or Permitted Investment (or portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (25) of Section 4.07(b), the definition of Permitted Investments and Section 4.07(a) in a manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07. In addition, a Restricted Payment may be made in reliance in part on one clause and in part on another clause. If the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes a Restricted Payment that, at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, would be permitted under the requirements of this Indenture, such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustment made in good faith to the Issuers financial statements affecting Consolidated Net Income.
104
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Issuer or any Guarantor be permitted to make Investments constituting Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
(a) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) agreements governing (A) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements (provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole as determined by the Issuer in good faith, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Issue Date) and (B) any Credit Facility and, in each case, any related documentation and related Hedging Obligations;
(2) the Indenture Documents and any documents relating to the Indenture Documents;
(3) agreements governing Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (7) of this Section 4.08(b)) incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained therein, taken as a whole as determined by the Issuer in good faith, either (i) are not materially more restrictive than those contained in agreements governing Indebtedness in effect on the Issue Date or (ii) are not materially more disadvantageous to Holders than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Issuer in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) and, in the case of subclause (ii), either (x) the Issuer determines (in good faith) that such encumbrance or restriction will not affect the Issuers ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes or (y) such encumbrances or restrictions apply only during the continuance of a default in respect of payment or a financial maintenance covenant relating to such Indebtedness;
105
(4) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
(5) any license, permit or other accreditation with a regulatory authority entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(6) restrictions which prohibit the payment or making of dividends or other distributions other than on a pro rata basis;
(7) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;
(8) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, including leases, sub-leases, licenses and other similar agreements, entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(9) customary provisions restricting the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease governing a leasehold interest, license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license (including without limitation, licenses of intellectual property) or similar contract;
(10) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of this Section 4.08(a);
(11) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;
(12) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole as determined by the Issuer in good faith, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(13) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.13 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;
106
(14) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets, property or Capital Stock in joint venture agreements, sale agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements limiting transfer of such assets, property or Capital Stock, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements;
(15) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, including such restrictions imposed by insurance, surety or bonding companies;
(16) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;
(17) arrangements, arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, that, in the good faith determination of the Issuer, do not impair the Issuers ability to service debt and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of property or assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries in any manner material to the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(18) 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;
(19) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.07 hereof and any Permitted Investment;
(20) [reserved];
(21) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to or by reason of an agreement that the Unrestricted Subsidiary is a party to or entered into before the date on which such Unrestricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such agreement was not entered into in anticipation of the Unrestricted Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and any such encumbrance or restriction does not extend to any assets or property of the Issuer of any Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(22) provisions with respect to the receipt of a rebate on an operating lease until all obligations due to a lessor on other operating leases are satisfied or other customary restrictions in respect of assets or contract rights acquired by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in connection with a sale and leaseback transaction; and
(23) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by extensions, amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancing of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (22) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such extensions, amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancing are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole as determined by the Issuer in good faith, than such encumbrances and restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
107
(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08, (i) the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common shares shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.
Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.
(a) The Issuer will not, and will 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), with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Issuer will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit (a) any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or (b) any non- Guarantor Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock and any non-Guarantor Subsidiary of the Issuer may issue shares of preferred stock if (1) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuers most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test) or (2) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated as of the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued or the date of determination, as the case may be, would have been less than or equal to 6.75 to 1.00 (the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Test), in each case, 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 the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period or on such date, as applicable; provided further that Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue shares of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock pursuant to this Section 4.09(a) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors outstanding at the time of such incurrence or issuance, when taken together with amounts incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors under clauses (1)(D)(iii) and (12)(x) of Section 4.09(b) hereof and clause (5) of Section 4.09(b) hereof to the extent such amounts represent the refinancing of amounts initially incurred pursuant to this proviso or clauses (1)(D)(iii) or (12)(x) of Section 4.09(b) hereof, would exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) 62.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer (the Non-Guarantor Debt Cap).
108
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, Permitted Debt):
(1) the incurrence of Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities by the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance of drawn letters of credit and bankers acceptances thereunder up to an aggregate principal amount (with drawn letters of credit and bankers acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Accruals and any Indemnity Amounts) not to exceed the sum of:
(A) $2,550.0 million;
(B) the greater of (x) $536.0 million and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter period for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date of determination, calculated on a pro forma basis;
(C) 120% of the greater of (x) $350.0 million, plus the amount of any incremental facility under the ABL Credit Facility permitted to be incurred under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Issue Date) and (y) the Borrowing Base (with respect to this clause (y) measured as of the date commitments in respect of Indebtedness are first provided);
(D) an unlimited amount of Indebtedness (and, in the case of clause (iii) below, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock) so long as, after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence or issuance thereof (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom),
(i) | if incurred on a pari passu secured basis with Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loan Facility (or at the election of the Issuer, secured on a junior basis with Liens on the Collateral to the Term Loan Facility, unsecured or not secured by a Lien on any Collateral), the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 5.00 to 1.00 or the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness secured on a junior basis with Liens on the Collateral to the Term Loan Facility, unsecured or not secured by a Lien on any Collateral being incurred or issued by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this subclause (i) shall be treated as Indebtedness under clause (ii) of the definition of Consolidated First Lien Debt for the purposes of such calculation), |
109
(ii) | if incurred on a junior secured basis with Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loan Facility (or at the election of the Issuer, unsecured or not secured by a Lien on any Collateral), either (x) the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 or the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness that is unsecured or not secured by a Lien on any Collateral being incurred or issued by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this subclause (ii)(x) shall be treated as Indebtedness under clause (ii) of the definition of Consolidated Secured Debt for the purposes of such calculation) or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test is satisfied or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is not less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such incurrence, and |
(iii) | if incurred on an unsecured basis or not secured by a Lien on any Collateral, either (x) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed 6.75 to 1.00 or the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer does not exceed the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such incurrence or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test is satisfied or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer is not less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to such incurrence; provided that amounts incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors pursuant to this clause (1)(D)(iii), when taken together with amounts incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors under the first paragraph of this covenant, clause (12)(x) of this paragraph and clause (5) of this paragraph to the extent such amounts represent the refinancing of amounts initially incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant or clause (12)(x) of this paragraph, shall not exceed the Non- Guarantor Debt Cap (such amount in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this clause (D), in the aggregate, the Maximum Incremental Leverage Amount); and |
110
(iv) | the General Debt Basket; |
plus, in the case of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1), any Additional Refinancing Amount; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio under this clause (1), any Disqualified Stock and preferred stock issued under this clause (1) shall be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt;
(2) the incurrence by the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness or Indebtedness existing on any Reinstatement Date (excluding, in each case, Indebtedness described in clause (1) or (3) of this Section 4.09(b) that is incurred or existing (or deemed to be incurred or existing) on the Issue Date or any Reinstatement Date), including any intercompany indebtedness of Holdings, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Issue Date;
(3) the incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees, in each case, issued on the Issue Date;
(4) (i)(A) Attributable Indebtedness relating to any transaction, (B) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Capitalized Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, purchase money obligations or other Indebtedness, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing (whether prior to or within 270 days after) all or any part of the purchase price or cost of use, design, construction, repair, installation, replacement or improvement of property, plant or equipment or fixed, real or capital assets, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets and (C) Indebtedness arising from the conversion of obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any synthetic lease transactions to Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate amount under subclauses (i)(A), (i)(B) and (i)(C) not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (x) $210.0 million and (y) 37.75% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, (ii) Attributable Indebtedness incurred in connection with a sale and leaseback transaction otherwise permitted under this Indenture and (iii) all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any Additional Refinancing Amount; provided that for the purposes of determining compliance with this clause (4), any lease that is not treated under IFRS (with giving effect to any right of use leases) as a capital lease at the time such lease is executed but is subsequently treated under IFRS as a capitalized lease as the result of a change in IFRS (or interpretations thereof) after the Issue Date shall not be treated as Indebtedness;
(5) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, plus any Additional Refinancing Amount, in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof, this clause (5) or clauses (2), (3), (4), (12), (13), (20), (22), (23), (24) or (25) of this Section 4.09(b); provided that, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Secured Indebtedness, subclause (2) of the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not apply;
111
(6) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(7) the issuance by any of the Issuers Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to the Issuer or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:
(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; and
(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);
(8) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of (A) Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes and (B) Indebtedness in respect of Cash Management Services and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and other cash management and similar arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices;
(9) the guarantee by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed; provided further that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness may not be guaranteed pursuant to this clause (9) by the Issuer or a Guarantor unless such guarantee is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes;
(10) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers compensation claims, unemployment, health, disability or other employee benefits, property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims, performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or that is consistent with past practices, and letters of credit that are cash collateralized;
112
(11) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and other cash management and similar arrangements;
(12) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of (x) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition; provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation and the incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such preferred stock either, (i)(A) the Issuer would have been entitled to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test or (B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than or equal to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation or (ii)(A) the Issuer would have been entitled to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Test or (B) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would be less than or equal to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer calculated immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation; provided further that amounts incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors pursuant to this clause (12)(x), when taken together with amounts incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that are not Guarantors under Section 4.09(a) hereof, clause (1)(D)(iii) of this Section 4.09(b) and clause (5) of this Section 4.09(b) to the extent such amounts represent the refinancing of amounts initially incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof or this clause (12)(x), shall not exceed the Non- Guarantor Debt Cap, or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, that any such Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued by such Person was not incurred or issued in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation;
(13) Contribution Indebtedness;
(14) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn outs, seller notes or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the Transactions or the disposition or acquisition of any business, assets or Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or any Investment;
113
(15) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or other similar arrangements to employees of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries incurred in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition or Investment or in the ordinary course of business;
(16) Indebtedness consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(17) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to a Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee;
(18) Indebtedness arising from customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers;
(19) Indebtedness in respect of (A) taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies and (B) claims for labor, materials and supplies incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(20) (i) the incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors in an aggregate amount (together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors incurred in respect thereof pursuant to clause (5) of this Section 4.09(b)) not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (x) $175.00 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Refinancing Amounts and (ii) Indebtedness that is recourse only to Excluded Assets (as defined in the applicable Security Documents as in effect on the Issue Date) or other assets that are not subject to a Lien in favor of the Term Loan Agent to the extent the Term Loan Facility is outstanding;
(21) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the net proceeds thereof are promptly (a) used to redeem all outstanding Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof or (b) deposited and used to defease or satisfy and discharge all of the Notes pursuant to Article VIII or Article XII hereof;
(22) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of additional Indebtedness, preferred stock or Disqualified Stock in an aggregate amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness, preferred stock or Disqualified Stock incurred in respect thereof pursuant to clause (5) of this Section 4.09(b), not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (x) $698.0 million and (y) 125% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer less, in each case, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred in reliance upon clause (1)(e) above, plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Refinancing Amounts (the General Debt Basket);
114
(23) the incurrence by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of additional Indebtedness, preferred stock or Disqualified Stock issued on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued by, joint ventures; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued or guaranteed pursuant to this clause (23) (together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof pursuant to clause (5) of this Section 4.09(b)) does not exceed the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Refinancing Amounts;
(24) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred to finance an acquisition in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that does not exceed the greater of (x) $100.0 million and (y) 18% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Refinancing Amounts;
(25) the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness (i) in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the aggregate face amount of such letters of credit does not exceed the greater of (x) $70.0 million and (y) 12.50% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer determined at the time of issuance of such letter of credit, plus, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Refinancing Amounts, and (ii) arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit (including customary Cash Management Services) in the ordinary course of business;
(26) [reserved];
(27) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to future, current or former employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants and independent contractors thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, or their respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses or permitted transferees, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent Entity to the extent permitted under Section 4.07 hereof;
(28) (i) guarantees incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations to suppliers, customers, franchisees, lessors, licensees, sub-licensees and distribution partners and (ii) Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of leases entered into by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity in the ordinary course of business;
(29) any Indebtedness incurred in a Qualified Securitization Facility that is not recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Issuer or any Guarantor; and
115
(30) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in Section 4.09(a) and clauses (1) through (29) of Section 4.09(b).
(c) The Issuer will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a junior Lien basis.
(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (30) 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, will be permitted to classify, divide or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock on the date of its incurrence, or later classify, divide or reclassify (as if incurred at such time) all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09; provided that Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Agreements outstanding or available on or prior to the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred under clauses (1)(A) and (1)(C) of Section 4.09(b) hereof (or, with respect to Credit Facility Cash Management Services and Credit Facility Hedging Obligations, under clause (8) of Section 4.09(b) hereof) and may not later be reclassified. The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this Section 4.09. For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock denominated in a foreign currency shall in each case be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving or delayed draw Indebtedness, or first issued, in the case of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, or, in each case, at the option of the borrower or issuer of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, the date on which the rate of interest and other pricing terms of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock are determined or the date of determination; provided that if such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued to refinance other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock denominated in a foreign currency (or in a different currency from such Indebtedness so being incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being issued), and such refinancing would cause the applicable clauses of the definition of Permitted Debt (or categories of Permitted Liens) measured by a dollar amount or by reference to
116
a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such clauses of the definition of Permitted Debt (or categories of Permitted Liens) measured by a dollar amount or by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness or liquidation preference of such refinancing Disqualified Stock or preferred stock does not exceed (i) the outstanding or, in the case of revolving Indebtedness, committed, principal amount of such Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of Additional Refinancing Amounts incurred in connection with such refinancing. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.
(e) The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness;
(3) in the case where the Indebtedness of a Person arises by reason of such Person having Guaranteed Indebtedness of another Person and the amount of such Guarantee is limited to an amount less than the principal amount of the Indebtedness so Guaranteed, such amount as so limited; and
(4) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:
(A) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and
(B) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person;
provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that Indebtedness will not include any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes.
(f) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar denominated (or percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, if greater) restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness where the Indebtedness incurred is denominated in a different currency, (i) if such Indebtedness denominated in a different currency is (i) subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to U.S. dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in U.S. dollars will, at the Issuers option, be as provided in such Currency Agreement or (ii) not subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to U.S. dollars covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on such 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
117
was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated (or percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, if greater) restriction to be exceeded if calculated as provided in such Currency Agreement or at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar- denominated (or percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, if greater) restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced (plus any Additional Refinancing Amounts).
(g) For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this Section 4.09, Guarantees, Liens or Obligations with respect to letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such particular amount will not be included.
(h) For purposes of calculating any ratio-based basket, with respect to any revolving Indebtedness, delayed draw facility or other committed debt financing incurred under such ratio-based basket, the Issuer may elect, at any time, to either (x) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness, in which case such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed or re-borrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with any ratio-based component of any provision of this Indenture, or (y) give pro forma effect to the incurrence of the actual amount drawn under such revolving Indebtedness, delayed draw facility or other committed debt financing, in which case, the ability to incur the amounts committed to under such Indebtedness will be subject to such ratio-based basket (to the extent being incurred pursuant to such ratio) at the time of each such incurrence. If (i) any Indebtedness is incurred to refinance Indebtedness (or unutilized commitments in respect of Indebtedness) that was incurred in reliance on any clause or clauses of the first paragraph of this covenant or the definition of Permitted Debt measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, the Borrowing Base or a ratio-based basket at the time of incurrence or (ii) any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued to refinance Disqualified Stock or preferred stock that was initially issued in reliance on any clause or clauses of the first paragraph of this covenant or of the definition of Permitted Debt measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or a ratio-based basket at the time of incurrence or issuance, and in each case, such refinancing would cause such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA or the Borrowing Base, as applicable, to be exceeded or ratio to be unmet if calculated on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, Borrowing Base or ratio shall not be deemed to be exceeded or unmet (and such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock shall be deemed permitted) so long as the principal amount or the liquidation preference, as applicable, of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock does not exceed an amount equal to the principal amount or liquidation preference, as applicable, of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, plus Additional Refinancing Amounts in connection with such refinancing.
118
(i) The accrual of interest and the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness or and the payment of additional Disqualified Stock or preferred stock as interest or dividends shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Indenture. With respect to any Indebtedness and any related Liens that were permitted to be incurred under this Indenture on the date of such incurrence, any Increased Amount with respect to such Indebtedness after the date of such incurrence shall also be permitted under this Indenture and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Section 4.10 Asset Sales.
(a) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Issuer (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets (including Equity Interests) issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and
(2) in the case of any Asset Sale that involves assets having a Fair Market Value in excess of the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:
(A) any liabilities of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee), as shown on the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent consolidated balance sheet (or notes thereto) for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date (or, if incurred or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been reflected on the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys balance sheet (or in the notes thereto) if such incurrence or accrual had taken place on or prior to the date of such balance sheet in the good faith determination of the Issuer) that (i) are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to an agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from or indemnifies against further liability or (ii) are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction (other than any intercompany liabilities owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary);
(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days after such Asset Sale, converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;
119
(C) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale; provided that at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all 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), less the amount of Net Proceeds previously realized in cash or Cash Equivalents from the sale of previously received Designated Non-Cash Consideration, is less than the greater of (i) $245.0 million and (ii) 43.75% of Consolidated EBITDA; and
(D) accounts receivable of a business retained by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, following the sale of such business; provided that such accounts receivable (1) are not past due more than 90 days and (2) do not have a payment date greater than 120 days from the date of the invoices creating such accounts receivable.
Notwithstanding clause (2) of this Section 4.10(a), all or a portion of the consideration received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for any Asset Sale may consist of assets of a Permitted Business or Capital Stock of a person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business.
(b) Within 540 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds (other than any Designated Asset Sale Proceeds, which shall not be subject to this Section 4.10(b)) from an Asset Sale, the Issuer (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:
(1) (i) to repay Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor secured by a Lien (including Obligations under the Senior Credit Agreements) and, if such Secured Indebtedness being repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto or (ii) to repay any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Guarantor (other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary);
(2) to make (a) an Investment in one or more businesses, (b) capital expenditures or (c) other investments in any assets that are not classified as current assets under IFRS, in each case (i) used or useful in a Permitted Business or (ii) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;
(3) to fund all or a portion of an optional redemption of the Notes as described under Section 3.07 hereof or purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, negotiated transactions or otherwise at a purchase price not less than 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase;
(4) to repay other Pari Passu Indebtedness (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (3), even if such Indebtedness may also constitute Pari Passu Indebtedness); provided that the Issuer shall also equally and ratably reduce Indebtedness under the Notes in any manner as set forth in clause (3) of this Section 4.10(b) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer with Excess Proceeds) to all Holders to purchase, on a pro rata basis, the principal amount of Notes, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase; or
120
(5) to undertake any combination of the foregoing;
provided that the Issuer (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) will be deemed to have complied with the provisions set forth in clause (b)(2) of this Section 4.10 if (i) a commitment pursuant to a definitive binding agreement is executed within such 540-day period, so long as such acquisition or expenditure is consummated within 180 days of the end of such 540-day period or (ii) in the event such binding agreement described in the preceding clause (i) is cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, the Issuer (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) enters into another such binding commitment within 180 days of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided further that if any second binding commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied within 180 days of the second binding commitment, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds. To the extent any offer to repurchase Indebtedness pursuant to clause (1) of this paragraph remains outstanding, the Issuer shall not be required to make an Asset Sale Offer until such offer to repurchase has expired and, if accepted, such Indebtedness has been repaid.
(c) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiary that consummated the applicable Asset Sale may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility or otherwise use the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
(d) Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 4.10 (but excluding for the avoidance of doubt (i) any Designated Asset Sale Proceeds and (ii) any such proceeds not required to be applied or invested as a result of paragraph (g) of this Section 4.10) will constitute Excess Proceeds; provided that (i) any amount of Net Proceeds offered to Holders in accordance with clauses (3) or (4) of this Section 4.10(b) or pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer made at any time after the Asset Sale shall be deemed to have been applied as required and shall not be deemed to be Excess Proceeds without regard to the extent to which such offer is accepted by the Holders and (ii) if the Holder or lender of any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary or the Issuer declines the repayment of such Indebtedness required to be paid (or offered to be paid) to it from such Net Proceeds, such amount will be deemed repaid to the extent of the declined Net Proceeds; provided, further that (i) if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 4.25 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect to such Asset Sale, the amount of any such Net Proceeds (prior to any application or investment of Net Proceeds as provided above) from an Asset Sale shall be reduced by 50% and (ii) if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than 3.75 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect to such Asset Sale, the amount of any such Net Proceeds (prior to any application or investment of Net Proceeds as provided above) from an Asset Sale shall be reduced by 100%. Any proceeds determined not to be Excess Proceeds as a result of the foregoing two provisos shall constitute Excluded Proceeds.
121
(e) Within 20 Business Days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, the Issuer will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders and all holders of Pari Passu Indebtedness evidenced or governed by agreements containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to mandatory prepayments and offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased with the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, and will be payable in cash.
(f) To the extent that the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture (such remaining Excess Proceeds, together with the Excluded Proceeds, the Remaining Proceeds). If the aggregate purchase price for the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, as advised to the Trustee in an Officers Certificate, the Trustee will select the Notes and the Issuer will select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis or by lot (or, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. Nothing in this paragraph (f) shall preclude the Issuer from making an offer to purchase using Excess Proceeds even if the amount of Excess Proceeds not previously subject to an offer to purchase pursuant to this Section 4.10 totals less than the greater of (x) $175.0 million and (y) 31.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a distribution of any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sales by a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary (or that is a Subsidiary of a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary) to the Issuer (including through any intermediate entity) (i) is (x) prohibited or delayed by applicable local law, (y) restricted by applicable organizational documents or any agreement or (z) subject to other organizational or administrative impediments from being repatriated to the United States or (ii) would have a material adverse tax consequence taking into account any foreign tax credit or other net benefit actually realized in connection with such distribution, as reasonably determined by the Issuer, the portion of such Net Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with this Section 4.10; provided that if at any time within one year following the date on which such affected Net Proceeds would otherwise have been required to be applied pursuant to this Section 4.10, distribution of any of such affected Net Proceeds is no longer prohibited or delayed by applicable local law, restricted by any applicable organizational document or agreement or subject to other organizational or administrative impediments from being repatriated to the United States, and would not result in a material adverse tax consequence, then an amount equal to such amount of Net Proceeds no longer so affected will be promptly applied (net of any taxes, costs or expenses that would be payable or reserved against if such amounts were actually repatriated, whether or not they are repatriated) in compliance with this Section 4.10. To the extent such Net Proceeds are not applied within such one-year period, such Net Proceeds will be deemed to have been applied and may be utilized in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture. The non-application of any Net Proceeds as a consequence of the foregoing provisions will not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.
122
(h) The Issuer is obligated to comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.10 hereof or this Section 4.10, the Issuer is obligated to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.10 hereof or this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.
(i) The Issuers obligation to make an Asset Sale Offer may be waived or modified or terminated with the written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes) prior to the date by which the Issuer is required to make such Asset Sale Offer.
(j) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Issuer or any Guarantor be permitted to dispose of any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 4.11 [Reserved].
Section 4.12 Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) 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, an Affiliate Transaction), involving aggregate consideration in excess of the greater of (x) $141.0 million and (y) 25.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, unless:
(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the 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 or, if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view (when such transaction is taken in its entirety); and
(2) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of the greater of (x) $349.0 million and (y) 62.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer, the Issuer or any Parent Entity delivers to the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or such Parent Entity set forth in an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 4.12 and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the members of such Board of Directors.
123
(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.12(a) hereof:
(1) any employment, stock option, stock repurchase, employee benefit, business expense advances or reimbursement, severance, termination, officer or director indemnification or any other similar agreement, arrangement or plan entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and advances, reimbursements, payments and issuances of securities pursuant thereto;
(2) transactions between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction);
(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) that is an Affiliate of the Issuer solely because the Issuer owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;
(4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees paid to and indemnity provided on behalf of, directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity, including in connection with the Transactions;
(5) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to Affiliates of the Issuer and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith and any other contributions to the capital of the Issuer;
(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 4.07 hereof and Permitted Investments;
(7) payment of fees and expenses and indemnification obligations and any other actions or arrangements pursuant to the Services Agreements;
(8) any payments or other transactions pursuant to any tax-sharing or cost sharing agreement between any Parent Entity, the Issuer, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any other Person with which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary files a consolidated tax return or is part of a consolidated group for tax purposes, in each case, to the extent permitted under the provisions of Section 4.07 hereof;
(9) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, as these agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time, so long as any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension, renewal or replacement is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the members of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer or any Parent Entity when taken as a whole than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date or disclosed in the Offering Memorandum;
124
(10) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, customers, clients, suppliers, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of the business or consistent with past practice of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer, such transactions are on terms that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the 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;
(11) payments to or from, and transactions with, joint ventures;
(12) investments by one or more Permitted Holders and their respective Affiliates in securities of the Issuer (other than any security that ranks senior to or pari passu with the Notes) or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(13) transactions in which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of Section 4.12(a) hereof;
(14) payment to any Permitted Holder of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Permitted Holder in connection with its direct or indirect investment in the Issuer and its Subsidiaries;
(15) any merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Issuer (otherwise permitted by this Indenture) with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of (x) reorganizing to facilitate an initial public offering of securities of the Issuer or any Parent Entity, (y) forming or collapsing a holding company structure or (z) reincorporating the Issuer in a new jurisdiction, in each case, so long as any such merger, consolidation or reorganization has been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith;
(16) payments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Parent Entity or any Permitted Holder (whether directly or indirectly, including through any Parent Entity) made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) made pursuant to the respective agreements with the Parent Entity described in the Offering Memorandum or (y) approved in the good faith judgment of the members of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries of their respective obligations
125
under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (16) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous (as determined in good faith by the senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity) to the Holders in any material respect than the original agreement;
(17) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Article V hereof;
(18) transactions between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;
(19) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;
(20) transactions with a Person who is not an Affiliate immediately before the consummation of such transaction that becomes an Affiliate as a result of such transaction;
(21) any contribution to the capital of the Issuer;
(22) if such Affiliate Transaction is with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock or Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or as a party to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith) where such Person is treated no more favorably than the other holders of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, preferred stock or Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;
(23) transactions with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid is Qualified Capital Stock of the Issuer;
(24) the Transactions and the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto or to fund amounts owed to Affiliates in connection therewith (including dividends, payments or loans made to any Parent Entity to fund payment of any such fees or expenses);
(25) any lease entered into between the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Affiliate of the Issuer, on the other hand; provided that in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or senior management of the Issuer, such transactions are on terms that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the 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;
126
(26) intellectual property licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(27) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and
(28) transactions with Holdings in its capacity as a party to the ABL Credit Agreement and Term Loan Credit Agreement, or in its capacity as a guarantor or other obligor under any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to (A) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith) or (B) any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any acquisition (whether or not consummated).
Section 4.13 Liens.
(a) Prior to a Covenant Suspension Event or following any Reinstatement Date, and during any Suspension Period when there is no election by the Issuer pursuant to paragraph (b) below, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens (each such Lien, other than Permitted Liens, a Subject Lien), unless the Notes (or the related Note Guarantee in the case of Subject Liens on assets or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with (or, at the Issuers option or if such Subject Lien secures Subordinated Indebtedness, on a senior basis to) the Obligations secured by such Subject Lien.
(b) Following a Covenant Suspension Event, the Issuer may elect by written notice to the Trustee to be subject to an alternative covenant with respect to the limitation on Liens in lieu of the preceding paragraph (a) (such date, the Election Date). Under this alternative covenant, the Issuer will not and will not permit any of the Issuers Principal Property Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind upon any (1) Restricted Property or (2) shares of Capital Stock or evidence of Indebtedness for borrowed money issued by any Principal Property Subsidiary, whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, without making effective provision, and the Issuer in such case will make or cause to be made effective provision, whereby the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantees shall be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness or obligations thereby secured, so long as such Indebtedness or obligations shall be so secured; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) | Liens that exist on the date of the Covenant Suspension Event (other than Liens incurred on or prior to the Election Date in reliance on clause (49) or (50) of the definition of Permitted Liens, or refinancings thereof incurred on or prior to the Election Date under clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Liens); |
127
(2) | Liens on property, shares of Capital Stock or evidence of Indebtedness of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Guarantor; |
(3) | Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor; |
(4) | Liens in favor of governmental bodies to secure progress, advance or other payments pursuant to contract or statute or Indebtedness incurred to finance all or a part of construction of or improvements to property subject to such Liens; |
(5) | Liens (i) on property, shares of Capital Stock or evidences of Indebtedness for borrowed money existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger, amalgamation or consolidation), and construction and improvement Liens that are entered into within one year from the date of such construction or improvement; provided that in the case of construction or improvement the Lien shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor except substantially unimproved real property on which the property so constructed or the improvement is located and (ii) for the acquisition of any real property, which Liens are created within 180 days after the completion of such acquisition to secure or provide for the payment of the purchase price of the real property acquired; provided that with respect to subclauses (i) and (ii), any such Liens do not extend to any other property of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (whether such property is then owned or thereafter acquired); |
(6) | mechanics, landlords and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations not due or being contested in good faith; |
(7) | Liens for taxes, assessments, or governmental charges or levies that are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith; |
(8) | Liens arising from any legal proceedings that are being contested in good faith; |
(9) | any Liens that (i) are incidental to the ordinary conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties and assets, including Liens incurred in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders, statutory obligations, leases and contracts, (ii) were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property of the Issuer or any Guarantor or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and |
128
(10) | Liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing (or unsuccessfully extending, renewing or replacing) in whole or in part any of the foregoing. |
Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, the Issuer or any Subsidiary may, during any Suspension Period if the Election Date has occurred, without equally and ratably securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, create or assume Liens which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions if at the time of such creation or assumption, and after giving effect thereto, Exempted Indebtedness does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets.
(c) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 4.13 shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (i) the release and discharge of the Subject Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes or (ii) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Issuer of the property or assets secured by the Subject Lien or of all of the Capital Stock held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in, or all or substantially all of the assets of, any Restricted Subsidiary creating such Subject Lien, in each case if the sale, exchange or transfer does not violate the provisions set forth under Section 4.10 hereof. In addition, in the event that a Subject Lien is or becomes a Permitted Lien, the Issuer may, at its option and without consent from any Holder, elect to release and discharge any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 4.13 in respect of such Subject Lien.
Section 4.14 [Reserved].
Section 4.15 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, limited liability company, 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 (it being understood that legal name changes may be made at the reasonable discretion of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries); and
(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve the corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any such right, license or franchise if the Issuers Board of Directors 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, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders; provided further that this Section 4.15 shall not prohibit any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 4.10 or Article V.
129
Section 4.16 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control after the Issue Date, the Issuer will make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holders Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased (or such higher amount as the Issuer may determine (such offer at a higher amount, an Alternate Offer)) plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (such payment, a Change of Control Payment). Prior to or within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent the Issuer has delivered notice to the Trustee of its intention to redeem Notes as described above under Section 3.07 hereof, the Issuer will deliver (or, in the case of Global Notes, transmit in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary) a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute, or are expected to constitute, the Change of Control and stating:
(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.16 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date (the Change of Control Payment Date), which shall be no earlier than 10 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered (unless such notice is delivered in advance of the occurrence of such Change of Control, in which case it may be longer than 60 days);
(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after 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 the Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent 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 election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased;
(7) if the Change of Control Offer is conditional pursuant to Section 4.16(d) hereof, that, in the Issuers discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the notice is mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as the Change of Control shall have occurred, or such repurchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that 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
130
(8) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date (subject to the satisfaction of any condition specified pursuant to Section 4.16(d) hereof), the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or the Alternate Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.
(c) The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder who properly tendered the Notes the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that any such new Notes will be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing of the results of the Change of Control Offer or the Alternate Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.16, a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control or Alternate Offer, conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for such Change of Control at the time such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is made, and such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer is otherwise made in compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.16.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.16, the Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes a Change of Control Offer or an Alternate Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.16 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer or (2) notice of redemption for all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.
131
(f) The Issuer is obligated to comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.16 hereof, the Issuer is obligated to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.16 by virtue of such compliance.
(g) The Issuers obligation to make a Change of Control Offer may be waived or modified or terminated at any time (including after a Change of Control) with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes).
Section 4.17 Additional Guarantors.
(a) On the Issue Date, the Issuer shall cause all of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any entities that become Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of the Transactions) that guarantee the Term Loan Credit Agreement to become Guarantors of the Notes.
(b) If, after the Issue Date, (1) any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly formed, newly acquired or newly re-designated Restricted Subsidiary, but excluding any Excluded Subsidiary) that is not then a Guarantor guarantees or incurs (i) any indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Agreement or (ii) any other capital markets Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $100.0 million (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the Specified Indebtedness), or (2) the Issuer otherwise elects to have any Restricted Subsidiary become a Guarantor, then, in each such case, the Issuer shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor under this Indenture providing for a Note Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in this Indenture and applicable to the other Guarantors; provided that, in the case of clause (1), such supplemental indenture shall be executed and delivered to the Trustee within 90 days of the date that such Specified Indebtedness has been guaranteed or incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary.
Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity may designate any Restricted Subsidiary (including the designation of any new Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Restricted Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of the term Permitted Investments, as determined by the Issuer. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
132
(b) The Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer if that redesignation would not cause a Default; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period and (2) no Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.
(c) Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Issuer as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by delivering to the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or a Parent Entity giving effect to such designation and an Officers Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions.
Section 4.19 [Reserved].
Section 4.20 [Reserved].
Section 4.21 [Reserved].
Section 4.22 [Reserved].
Section 4.23 Changes in Covenants when the Notes are Rated Investment Grade
If on any date following the Issue Date, (1) the Notes are assigned an Investment Grade Rating from two of the three Rating Agencies (including in connection with a Change of Control) and (2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (clauses (1) and (2), collectively, a Covenant Suspension Event), then, subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, (i) the Note Guarantees will be automatically and unconditionally released and (ii) the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 3.10, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13(a) (upon the making of the election described under Section 4.13(c)), 4.16, 4.17(b) and clause (4) of 5.01(a) of this Indenture (the Suspended Covenants).
If the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date the Notes are no longer rated by two of the three Rating Agencies or are no longer assigned Investment Grade Ratings by two of the three Rating Agencies, then the Suspended Covenants will be reinstated (the Reinstatement Date) and the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be subject to the Suspended Covenants on and after such date unless and until the Notes subsequently are assigned an Investment Grade Rating from two of the three Rating Agencies and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The period of time between the Covenant Suspension Event and the Reinstatement Date is referred to as the Suspension Period. No Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary during the Suspension Period unless such designation would have complied with Section 4.07 hereof as if such covenant were in effect during such Suspension Period. Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated on or after the Reinstatement Date, (1) no Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind will be deemed to exist or have occurred under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or this Indenture with respect to the Suspended Covenants, and none of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall bear any liability for any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant
133
to any contractual obligation entered into or arising during any Suspension Period, in each case, as a result of a failure to comply with the Suspended Covenants during the Suspension Period (or, upon termination of the Suspension Period or after that time, as a result of any action taken or event that occurred during the Suspension Period), and (2) on or following a Reinstatement Date, the Issuer and each Restricted Subsidiary will be permitted, without causing a Default or Event of Default, to honor, comply with or otherwise perform any contractual commitments or obligations arising during any Suspension Period and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.
After any such reinstatement, (1) calculations under Section 4.07 hereof shall be made as if Section 4.07 hereof had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period (including with respect to a Limited Condition Transaction entered into during the Suspension Period), (2) any 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)(2), (3) any Affiliate Transaction entered into pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to clause (9) of Section 4.12(b) hereof, (4) 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 clause (1) of Section 4.08(b) hereof, (5) no Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be required to comply with Section 4.17 on or after the Reinstatement Date with respect to any guarantee entered into by such Subsidiary during the Suspension Period, (6) all Liens created, incurred or assumed during the Suspension Period (or deemed created, incurred or assumed in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction entered into during the Suspension Period) in compliance with this Indenture will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that they are classified as permitted under clause (7) of the definition of Permitted Liens and (7) all Investments made during the Suspension Period (or deemed made in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction entered into during the Suspension Period) will be classified to have been made under clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Investments. In addition, any Change of Control during such Suspension Period shall not require a Change of Control Offer during or after the Suspension Period, and any Person who acquires ownership during such period that would otherwise constitute a Change of Control shall be deemed a Permitted Holder.
For purposes of Sections 3.10 and 4.10 hereof, on the Reinstatement Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.
During the Suspension Period, any reference in the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary or Permitted Liens to Section 4.09 hereof or any provisions thereof shall be interpreted as though such covenant remained in effect during the Suspension Period.
The Issuer will provide the Trustee with written notice of the commencement of any Suspension Period or Reinstatement Date. The Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor the ratings of the Notes, independently determine or verify if such events have occurred or notify Holders of any Suspension Period or Reinstatement Date.
134
Section 4.24 Measuring Compliance.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, when (i) calculating the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture, (ii) determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action, or (iii) determining compliance with any other condition precedent to any action or transaction, in each case of clauses (i) through (iii) in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such basket or ratio, whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, or the satisfaction of any other condition precedent shall, at the option of the Issuer (the Issuers election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, a Transaction Election), be deemed to be the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction (or with respect to a Limited Condition Transaction involving the repayment, repurchase or refinancing of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, the date notice is given to the holders of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock (which notice may be subject to one or more conditions precedent)) (any such date, the Transaction Test Date) and such baskets or ratios, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions shall be calculated with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio after giving effect to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the applicable period for purposes of determining the ability to consummate any such Limited Condition Transaction (and not for purposes of any subsequent availability of any basket or ratio), and, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such baskets or ratios, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent or other provisions are exceeded, breached or otherwise failed as a result of fluctuations in such basket or ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Total Assets or Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer or the target company, a change in facts and circumstances or other provisions) subsequent to such date of determination and at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such baskets or ratios, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded, breached or otherwise failed as a result of such fluctuations or changed circumstances for purposes of determining whether such Limited Condition Transaction and related transactions are permitted under this Indenture and (y) such baskets or ratios, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related transactions solely for purposes of determining whether such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted under this Indenture; provided, however, that if the Issuer has made a Transaction Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Limited Condition Transaction or otherwise on or following the relevant Transaction Test Date and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, unless and until such Limited Condition Transaction has been abandoned (or revoked) or such definitive agreement has expired or been terminated prior to consummation thereof, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated. For purposes of any calculation pursuant to this paragraph of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Fixed Charges may be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment
135
documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Issuer in good faith. With respect to any such calculations of the availability under any basket or ratio under this Indenture with respect to a Limited Condition Transaction, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee promptly following the date the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into an Officers Certificate stating that such definitive agreement has been executed and that the Issuer has made any applicable ratio or basket calculations in accordance with this Section 4.24 and in compliance with the terms of this Indenture.
(b) If the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Issuer may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with the Indenture Documents on the date commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date (such amount, the elected amount), in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility, which Indebtedness may be drawn and re-drawn and which Liens may be incurred and re-incurred, in each case, without subsequent testing), and for purposes of determining compliance of subsequent debt facilities (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with the Indenture Documents; provided that, in each case, any future calculation of any such basket shall only include amounts borrowed and outstanding as of such date of determination.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Indenture that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio test and/or any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, including any such amounts that are based off Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated EBITDA, the Fixed Amounts) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) under the same covenant in reliance on a provision in such covenant that requires compliance with a financial ratio or test, any Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio test and/or any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test (any such amounts, the Incurrence-Based Amounts), it is understood and agreed that (i) the Fixed Amounts shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts and (ii) unless otherwise noted in this Indenture, to the extent a transaction is incurred or issued as a Fixed Amount by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, such transaction shall cease to be deemed incurred, issued or outstanding as a Fixed Amount but shall be deemed incurred, issued or outstanding as an Incurrence-Based Amount from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such transaction as an Incurrence-Based Amount. The Issuer may rely on more than one basket or exception hereunder (including both Incurrence-Based Amount and Fixed Amount baskets and exceptions, and including partial reliance on different baskets that, collectively, permit the entire proposed transaction) at the time of any proposed transaction, and the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner
136
that complies with the available baskets and exceptions hereunder at such later time. Unless the Issuer elects otherwise, each incurrence shall be deemed incurred first under an Incurrence-Based Amount to the extent permitted (and calculated prior to giving effect to any substantially simultaneous incurrence based on a basket or exception that is not based on a financial ratio or test), with any balance incurred under a Fixed Amount.
(d) For purposes of the calculation of any financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, any Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, any Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio test and/or any Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio test), in no event shall any cash proceeds of any new Indebtedness being incurred in connection with the calculation of such ratio or test definition be netted from the numerator in such ratio or test for purposes of determining whether such Indebtedness can be incurred but pro forma effect shall otherwise be given to the use of such proceeds (for the avoidance of doubt, any proceeds used in the good faith judgment of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Parent Entity to fund cash to the balance sheet may be used for purposes of netting).
(e) For purposes of this Indenture, where the permissibility of a transaction or determinations of required actions or circumstances depend upon compliance with, or are determined by reference to, amounts stated in U.S. Dollars, any requisite currency translation shall be based on the relevant currency exchange (as quoted by a known dealer in such currency) in effect on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such transaction or determination and shall not be affected by subsequent fluctuations in exchange rates and will, in the case of Indebtedness, reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with IFRS, of Currency Agreements permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the U.S. Dollar amount of such Indebtedness.
(f) For purposes of determining the maturity date of any Indebtedness, bridge loans that are subject to customary conditions (as determined by the Issuer in good faith, including conditions requiring no payment or bankruptcy event of default) that would either automatically be extended as, converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing shall be deemed to have the maturity date as so extended, converted or exchanged.
(g) For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount or liquidation preference, as applicable, of any particular Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock issued pursuant to and in compliance with, Section 4.09, if any commitments in respect of revolving or deferred draw Indebtedness are established in reliance on any clause of the definition of Permitted Debt measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA, at the Issuers option, on the date of the initial borrowing of such Indebtedness or entry into the definitive agreement providing the commitment to fund such Indebtedness after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence of the entire committed amount of such Indebtedness (such committed amount, a Grower Tested Committed Amount) may thereafter be borrowed and re-borrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, irrespective of whether or not such incurrence would cause such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA to be exceeded and such Grower Tested Committed Amount shall be deemed outstanding pursuant to such basket so long as such commitments are in effect.
137
(h) With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The Increased Amount of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness.
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, Amalgamation or Sale of Assets.
(a) The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly: (i) consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into another Person; or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:
(1) either:
(A) the Issuer is the surviving entity; or
(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;
(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture;
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(4) the Issuer or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, or at the beginning of the period, as applicable, either (A) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to either the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Test or the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio Test, (B) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is no less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction or (C) have a Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer that is no greater than the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Issuer immediately prior to giving effect to such transaction.
138
(b) In addition, the Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.
(c) Clauses (3) and (4) of Section 5.01(a) will not apply to:
(1) any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Issuer with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in another jurisdiction that is a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia;
(2) any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) the conversion of the Issuer into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia; or
(4) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary changing its name.
(d) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, neither the Transactions nor any transactions contemplated thereby shall be subject to this Article V. Any provision in this Indenture applicable to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term (including, without limitation, the provisions set forth in the covenants described above under Section 4.16 hereof and this Article V), shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (or any analogous action taken pursuant to applicable law), or an allocation of assets arising out of or relating to any such division, as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable.
Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of such Issuers assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
139
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;
(b) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;
(c) failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture Documents; provided that, in the case of a failure to comply with Section 4.03, such period of continuance of such default or breach shall be 120 days after written notice described in this clause (c) has been given;
(d) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a 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 of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)), other than with respect to any intercompany Indebtedness or Guarantee, whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default:
(1) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Indebtedness when due after giving effect to any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a Payment Default); or
(2) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity;
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to at least the greater of (x) $141.0 million and (y) 25.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer;
140
(e) failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final, non-appealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of the greater of (x) $141.0 million and (y) 25.25% of Consolidated EBITDA of the Issuer (other than any judgments covered by indemnities or insurance policies), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days after the applicable judgment becomes final and non-appealable;
(f) any Note Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary or group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer ceases to be in full force and effect (except (A) as otherwise permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Indenture Documents, (B) upon the payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture and the Note Guarantees that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, are paid, (C) upon the release of such Guarantor as provided for under the Indenture Documents or in accordance with its terms or (D) resulting from acts or omissions of the Trustee or the application of applicable law) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee and such event continues uncured for 10 days;
(g) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(1) commences a voluntary case,
(2) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(3) consents to the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian or similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; and
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(1) is for relief against the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(2) appoints a trustee, receiver, custodian or similar official of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
141
(3) orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
Section 6.02 Acceleration.
In the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Issuer, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Issuer specifying the Event of Default (with a copy to the Trustee, if given by the Holders). Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders, rescind an acceleration and its consequences, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
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 of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes; provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. 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 thereon.
142
In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting Payment Default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if, within 60 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officers Certificate to the Trustee stating that: (a) the Indebtedness or Guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (b) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.
Any Default or Event of Default resulting from the failure to deliver a notice, report or certificate under this Indenture shall cease to exist and be cured in all respects if the underlying Default or Event of Default giving rise to such notice, report or certificate requirement shall have ceased to exist and/or been cured.
Section 6.05 Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders not joining in the giving of such direction or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability (it being understood that the Trustee has no duty to determine whether any action is prejudicial to any Holder).
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.
A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:
(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2) Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a request in writing to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees and costs);
(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) during such 60-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a written direction inconsistent with such request.
143
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the contractual right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), 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; provided that a Holder shall not have the right to institute any such suit for the enforcement of payment if and to the extent that the institution or prosecution thereof or the entry of judgment therein would, under applicable law, result in the surrender, impairment, waiver or loss of the Lien of this Indenture upon any property subject to such Lien.
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) 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 Issuer 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 and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06.
Section 6.09 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 or its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any trustee, receiver, custodian or similar official 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 7.06 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 7.06 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.
144
Section 6.10 Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder or in connection herewith) and its agents and counsel for amounts due under Section 7.06 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Issuer (or to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor) or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate 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 will 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 persons own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the duties of the Trustee will 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
145
(2) in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions (including Officers Certificates and Opinions of Counsel) furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the Officers Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematic calculations or other facts, statements, opinions, or conclusions stated therein and shall have no responsibility to perform any calculations hereunder, nor shall it have any liability or responsibility for any such calculations or for any information used in connection with such calculations.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of clause (b) or (e) of this Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel).
(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee 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, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in reliance of, 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.
146
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will 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 will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.
(f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the losses, liabilities and expenses (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction satisfactory to it.
(g) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each of the Agents, any other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture (i.e. an incumbency certificate).
147
(k) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(l) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(m) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent, each in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939) 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 7.09 hereof.
Section 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee will 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 Issuer or upon the Issuers direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will 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 or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after obtaining such knowledge. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
148
Section 7.06 Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Issuer will pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder or in connection herewith) from time to time compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as agreed to in writing with the Issuer. The Trustees compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors will indemnify, jointly and severally, the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder or in connection herewith) and its agents, employees, officers and directors for and against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of their duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense results from its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee will notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer will not relieve any of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Issuer or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee or its agents, employees, officers or directors may have separate counsel and the Issuer will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) The obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Section 7.06 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, as well as the removal or resignation of the Trustee.
(d) To secure the Issuers and the Guarantors payment obligations in this Section 7.06, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) 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.
Section 7.07 Replacement of Trustee.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.07. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for any action or inaction of any successor Trustee.
149
(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee, not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of any such removal, by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing. The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.
(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the expense of the Issuer), the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.06 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.07, the Issuers obligations under Section 7.06 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.08 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
150
Section 7.09 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
ARTICLE VIII
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Issuer may at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, 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 Indenture Documents on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be outstanding only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;
(b) the Issuers obligations with respect to such Notes under Article II and Section 4.02 hereof;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers and the Guarantors obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) this Article VIII.
Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
151
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.10, 4.03, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.23 and 4.24 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will 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 will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(f) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:
(a) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment 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 equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit on the date of redemption (any such amount, the Applicable Premium Deficit) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officers 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) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that:
(1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
152
(2) since the Issue Date, 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, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States confirming that the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case, the granting of Liens securing such borrowing);
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture Documents) to which the Issuer or any of the Guarantors is a party or by which the Issuer or any of the Guarantors is bound;
(f) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders over the other creditors of the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or others; and
(g) the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
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 non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
153
The Issuer will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04 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 Issuer.
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.
Section 8.07 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers and the Guarantors obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
154
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture Documents (or, if applicable, enter into any new Indenture Documents or intercreditor agreement) without the consent of any Holder:
(a) to cure any error, ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for certificated Notes in addition to or in place of uncertificated Notes;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Issuers or a Guarantors obligations to Holders and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Issuer or such Guarantor pursuant to Article V or Article X hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any such Holder in any material respect;
(e) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable;
(f) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary;
(g) to conform the text of any Indenture Document to any provision of the Description of Notes section of the Offering Memorandum, to the extent that such provision in that Description of Notes section was intended to be a verbatim or substantially verbatim recitation of a provision thereof as provided to the Trustee in an Officers Certificate;
(h) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the Issue Date;
(i) to provide security for the Notes;
(j) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes or to release a Guarantor from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(k) to add additional Guarantees with respect to the Notes;
(l) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the Notes; provided, however, that (x) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in any Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws and (y) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes; or
155
(m) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof.
Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 7.02 and 9.05 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer 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 will 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, no amendment or supplement to the provisions of any Indenture Document that imposes any obligation upon, or adversely affects the rights of, the Trustee will become effective without the consent of the Trustee.
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture Documents (including, without limitation, Sections 3.10, 4.10 and 4.16 hereof) with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes); provided that (i) if any such amendment or waiver will only affect one series of Notes (or less than all series of Notes) then outstanding under this Indenture, then only the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) shall be required and (ii) if any such amendment or waiver by its terms will affect a series of Notes in a manner different and materially adverse relative to the manner such amendment or waiver affects other series of Notes, then the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) shall be required. For the avoidance of doubt, only one series of the Notes will be outstanding on the Issue Date.
However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions relating to the dates on which the Notes may be redeemed or the redemption price thereof with respect to the redemption of the Notes;
156
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the Notes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not prohibit amendments to or waivers from Section 3.10, 4.10 or 4.16 hereof at any time prior to the occurrence of the relevant Change of Control or Asset Sale);
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not prohibit amendments to or waivers from Section 3.10, 4.10 or 4.16 hereof at any time prior to the occurrence of the relevant Change of Control or Asset Sale);
(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(i) modify the ranking of the Notes in a manner that would adversely affect the Holders of the Notes; or
(j) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.
Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by resolutions of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the delivery to the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Sections 7.02 and 9.05 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
No Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement entered into in connection with adding or releasing a Guarantor; provided, that the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on an Officers Certificate in executing such amendment or supplement or delivering such release.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer will mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.
157
Section 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note 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.
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 shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and any other items required hereunder, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee will sign any amendment or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuer may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Issuer approves it. In executing any amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.03 hereof, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that such amendment or supplemental indenture constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any supplemental indenture will be required for the Trustee to execute any supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit F adding a Guarantor under this Indenture.
158
ARTICLE X
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 10.01 Guarantee.
(a) Subject to this Article X, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:
(1) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will 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 Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and
(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are 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, consent or amendment 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. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
(c) If any Holder 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 Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.
(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will 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, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) 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) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will 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 Note Guarantee.
159
(e) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its execution and delivery of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F hereto executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer thereof in accordance with Section 4.17 hereof shall evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in this Article X without the need for any further notation on the Notes. Each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates any Notes, the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
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 Note 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, state or foreign law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that 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 Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 10.03 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
(a) No Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with, amalgamate with, divide into or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Issuer or another Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
160
(2) either:
(A) the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture and its Note Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F hereto; or
(B) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
(c) Except as set forth in Articles IV and V hereof, this Section 10.03 will not apply to (i) any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor or (ii) any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor.
Section 10.04 Guarantor Releases.
(a) The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged:
(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger, consolidation or amalgamation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Sections 3.10 or 4.10 hereof;
(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Sections 3.10 or 4.10 hereof and results in such Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary;
(3) if the Issuer designates that Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;
(4) upon the liquidation or dissolution of that Guarantor;
(5) upon Legal Defeasance or discharge of this Indenture (including through a redemption of all of the Notes or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture) as provided in Section 8.02 and Article XII hereof;
161
(6) upon the release or discharge of the guarantee by, or direct obligation of, such Guarantor of the Obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (except the discharge or release by or as a result of payment in connection with the enforcement of remedies under such guarantee or direct obligation), unless at the time of such release or discharge, such Guarantor is then a guarantor or an obligor in respect of any other Indebtedness that would require it to provide a Note Guarantee as set forth under Section 4.17 hereof;
(7) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that, after the Issue Date, is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.17 hereof, (x) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary (or the co-issuer or co-borrower obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary) of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or (y) the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, that resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes (except if a release, discharge or repayment is by or as a result of payment in connection with the enforcement of remedies under such other guarantee of Indebtedness) unless, in each case of clauses (x) and (y), at the time of such release, discharge or repayment, such Guarantor is then a guarantor or an obligor in respect of any other Indebtedness that would require it to provide a Note Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.17 hereof;
(8) upon such Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary or ceasing to be a Subsidiary; and
(9) as described under Article IX hereof.
(b) At the written request and expense of the Issuer, and upon receipt of the documents required by Section 13.03, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
(c) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.04 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article X.
ARTICLE XI
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE XII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.
(a) This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes (except for certain surviving rights of the Trustee and the Issuers obligations with respect thereto), when:
162
(1) either:
(A) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuer, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or otherwise, (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, 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, and the Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee 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 equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption or date of deposit, as applicable, with any deficit on the date of redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officers 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) the Issuer or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by them under this Indenture or any other Indenture Documents; and
(3) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.
(b) In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
(c) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01(a)(1)(B) hereof, the provisions of Sections 7.06, 8.06 and 12.02 hereof will survive. Thereafter, the Issuers obligations in Section 7.06 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
163
Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 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 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 Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 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 Issuers and any Guarantors obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01 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 Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 [Reserved].
Section 13.02 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others address:
If to the Issuer or any Guarantor:
c/o Triton Water Holdings, Inc.
900 Long Ridge Road
Building 2
Stamford, CT 06902-1138
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
555 Eleventh Street, NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Attention: Rachel Sheridan
Jason Licht
164
If to the Trustee:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Triton Water Holdings, Inc. Notes Administrator
Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
The Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee, 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) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. When the Notes are in global form, all notices to Holders will be sent pursuant to Applicable Procedures, and when done so, such notices will be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of this Indenture.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Issuer mails or delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail or deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 13.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee upon request:
(i) | an Officers Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.04 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 |
(ii) | an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied; |
165
provided, however, that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be furnished in connection with the authentication of Notes issued on the Issue Date.
Section 13.04 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(i) | a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; |
(ii) | 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; |
(iii) | a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
(iv) | a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied, provided, that an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers Certificate or certificates of public officials with respect to matters of fact. |
Section 13.05 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 13.06 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Indenture Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 13.07 Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.
Section 13.08 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
166
Section 13.09 Successors.
All agreements of the Issuer in the Indenture Documents will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in the Indenture Documents will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in the Indenture Documents will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.04 hereof.
Section 13.10 Severability.
In case any provision in the Indenture Documents is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 13.11 Counterpart Originals.
The parties may execute and deliver in counterparts any number of copies of this Indenture, including by facsimile transmission, PDF or other electronic means. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Indenture by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Indenture.
Section 13.12 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 will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 13.13 Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTORS, THE HOLDERS, AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. Each party hereby (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of the other has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the other would not, in the event of a proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it has been induced to enter into this Indenture by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this paragraph.
Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Notes or the transactions contemplated by this Indenture may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York, in each case located in the City of New York (collectively, the Specified Courts), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such partys address set forth in Section 13.02 will be effective service of process for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court. Each of the Issuer, the Trustee and each Holder (by its acceptance of any Note) irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
167
Section 13.14 [Reserved].
Section 13.15 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 13.16 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
[Signatures on following page]
168
SIGNATURES
Dated as of March 31, 2021
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC., as the Issuer | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
SIGNATURES
Dated as of March 31, 2021
GUARANTORS: | ||
NESTLE WATERS NORTH AMERICA HOLDINGS INC. | ||
NESTLE WATERS NORTH AMERICA INC.
NWNA SERVICES, INC. | ||
PINES HOLDING CO. | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Hallie E. Field | |
Name: Hallie E. Field | ||
Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Indenture
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
[Insert the Global Legend, if applicable pursuant to the Indenture]
[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the Indenture]
[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the Indenture]
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC.
6.250% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
CUSIP: [89680E AA7] [U8968L AA1] | No.___________ |
ISIN: [US89680EAA73] [USU8968LAA18]
Triton Water Holdings, Inc. (such entity, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture, hereinafter referred to as the Issuer), promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or its registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars ($ ) or such other amount as is indicated on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note on the other side of this Note on April 1, 2029 and to pay interest thereon as provided on the other side of this Note.
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1, beginning October 1, 2021.
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15.
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-2
FORM OF TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture for the 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029.
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
Dated:
A-3
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC.
6.250% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
1. | PRINCIPAL |
The Issuer shall pay the principal of this Note on April 1, 2029.
2. | INTEREST |
The Issuer shall pay interest on this Note semiannually in arrears on April 1 and October 1, each an interest payment date, of each year, commencing on October 1, 2021, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note. Interest shall accrue from and including March 31, 2021, or else the most recent interest payment date to which interest had been paid or duly provided for to but excluding the date on which such interest is paid. Interest on this Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on this Note to the extent lawful.
The interest so payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date will be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 preceding such interest payment date (each, a Record Date), except as provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal, interest, premium, if any, on this Note will be made 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 and as otherwise provided in the Indenture.
3. | METHOD OF PAYMENT |
The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, this Note on the dates and in the manner provided in this Note and the Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. If the Holder of this Note has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuer, the Issuer will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on this Note in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar, except that the Issuer will make payments on Global Notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee by wire transfer (or otherwise in accordance with DTCs procedures) and, unless the Issuer elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their address set forth in the register of Holders.
A-4
4. | INDENTURE; LIMITATIONS |
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Issuer designated as its 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029 (the Notes), issued under an Indenture dated as of March 31, 2021 (together with any supplemental indentures thereto, the Indenture), among the Issuer, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of this Note include those stated in the Indenture. This Note is subject to all such terms, and the Holder of this Note is referred to the Indenture for a statement of all such terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.
The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture and subject to compliance with the other provisions thereof, including Section 4.09 thereof.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Issuer. The Notes are guaranteed as set forth in the Indenture.
5. | OPTIONAL REDEMPTION; MANDATORY REDEMPTION |
(a) Optional Redemption. On or after April 1, 2024, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon notice delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of each of the years indicated below:
Year |
Percentage | |||
2024 |
103.125 | % | ||
2025 |
101.563 | % | ||
2026 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
At any time prior to April 1, 2024, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) under the Indenture at a redemption price of 106.250% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with the cash proceeds, less any underwriting spread paid, with respect to one or more Qualified Equity Offerings; provided that (i) at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (except to the extent all such Notes are otherwise repurchased or redeemed substantially concurrently in accordance with the terms of the Indenture); and (ii) the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Qualified Equity Offering.
A-5
At any time prior to April 1, 2024, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
Except pursuant to the two preceding paragraphs and Section 3.07(f) of the Indenture, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers option prior to April 1, 2024.
Any redemption of the Notes may, at the Issuers discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. The redemption date of any redemption that is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent may, in the Issuers discretion, be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and any notice with respect to such redemption may be modified or rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed (which may exceed 60 days from the date of the redemption notice in such case). In addition, such notice of redemption may be extended, if such conditions precedent have not been satisfied or waived by the Issuer, by providing notice to the Holders.
Unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
Any redemption pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.07 of the Indenture.
(b) No Mandatory Redemption; Other Purchases. The Issuer is not required to make a mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuer, however, may be required to purchase Notes at the request of Holders upon the occurrence of an Asset Sale, pursuant to Sections 3.10 and 4.10 of the Indenture or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, pursuant to Section 4.16 of the Indenture. The Issuer and its Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market, by tender offer, negotiated transactions or otherwise.
6. | [RESERVED] |
7. | PURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDER |
(a) Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control after the Issue Date, the Issuer will be required to make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.16 of the Indenture.
(b) Asset Sales. Following the occurrence of certain Asset Sales, the Issuer will be required to make an Asset Sale Offer in accordance with Sections 3.10 and 4.10 of the Indenture.
8. | DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, CANCELLATION |
The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation thereto by law or permitted by the Indenture.
A-6
All Notes surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion will, if surrendered to the Issuer or any of its other Agents with respect to the Notes, be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee will promptly cancel all Notes delivered to it. No Notes will be authenticated in exchange for any Notes canceled, except as provided in the Indenture.
9. | PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS |
The Holder will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes.
10. | UNCLAIMED MONEY |
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.
11. | AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER |
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 of the Indenture, an existing default or Event of Default and its consequence or compliance with any provision of the Indenture Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. However, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or make any other change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder.
A-7
12. | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
In the case of an Event of Default that occurs as a result of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, by written notice to the Issuer (with a copy to the Trustee, if given by the Holders), declare all Notes to be due and payable immediately, all as and to the extent provided in the Indenture. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, by written notice to the Trustee, direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal, interest or premium, if any) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interests. The Issuer is required to file periodic reports with the Trustee as to the absence of default.
13. | TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH THE ISSUER |
Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer as if it were not the Trustee.
14. | NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS |
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Indenture Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
15. | AUTHENTICATION |
This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.
16. | ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of the Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and UGMA (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
17. | INDENTURE TO CONTROL; GOVERNING LAW |
In the case of any conflict between the provisions of this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
A-8
18. | GUARANTEES |
The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes, is unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors to the extent set forth in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture.
The Issuer will furnish to any Holder, upon written request and without charge, a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: Triton Water Holdings, Inc., 900 Long Ridge Road, Building 2, Stamford, CT 06902-1138, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to: Latham & Watkins LLP, 555 Eleventh Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004, Attention: Rachel Sheridan, Esq., Jason Licht, Esq.
A-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
(Insert assignees Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number)
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint
as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Your Signature: | ||||
Date:_______________________ |
| |||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note) | ||||
*Signature guaranteed by: | ||||
By:_______________________ |
* | The signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature guaranty programs: (i) the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP); (iii) the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guaranty program acceptable to the Trustee. |
A-10
OPTION TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
☐ Section 4.10 ☐ Section 4.16
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$_________________________
Date:_______________________
Your Signature: |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side 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 following exchanges, repurchases or conversions of a part of this Global Note have been made:
PRINCIPAL | ||||||||
AMOUNT OF | ||||||||
THIS GLOBAL | AMOUNT OF | |||||||
NOTE | DECREASE IN | AMOUNT OF | ||||||
FOLLOWING | AUTHORIZED | PRINCIPAL | INCREASE IN | |||||
SUCH | SIGNATORY | AMOUNT OF | PRINCIPAL | |||||
DECREASE | OF | THIS | AMOUNT OF | |||||
DATE OF | (OR | SECURITIES | GLOBAL | THIS GLOBAL | ||||
EXCHANGE |
INCREASE) |
CUSTODIAN |
NOTE |
NOTE | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
A-12
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Triton Water Holdings, Inc.
900 Long Ridge Road
Building 2
Stamford, CT 06902-1138
Attention: General Counsel
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Triton Water Holdings, Inc., Notes Administrator
Fax No.: (612) 217-5651
Re: The Issuers 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2021 (the Indenture), among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as 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 Rule 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States of America. 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 Private Placement Legend printed on the Rule 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
B-1
2. ☐ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, Regulation S Permanent Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States of America and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States of America or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States of America 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 of America, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an initial purchaser of the Notes).
3. ☐ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and any applicable foreign securities laws, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) ☐ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to 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;
or
(d) ☐ such Transfer is being effected to an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D (Regulation D) under the Securities Act (an IAI) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form
B-2
of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in 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 be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
4. ☐ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or in 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 of America 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) ☐ 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 of America 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 Regulation D. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 506 under Regulation D of 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 of America 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.
(d) ☐ 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, Rule 904 or Rule 506 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 of America 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 Issuer.
| ||
[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) ☐ | Rule 144A Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(ii) ☐ | Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(iii) ☐ | IAI Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(b) ☐ | a Restricted Definitive Note. |
2. | After the Transfer the Transferee will hold: |
[CHECK ONE]
(a) ☐ | a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) ☐ | Rule 144A Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(ii) ☐ | Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(iii) ☐ | IAI Global Note (CUSIP _______), or |
(iv) ☐ | Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _______); 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
Triton Water Holdings, Inc.
900 Long Ridge Road
Building 2
Stamford, CT 06902-1138
Attention: General Counsel
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Triton Water Holdings, Inc., Notes Administrator
Fax No.: (612) 217-5651
Re: The Issuers 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2021 (the Indenture), among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as 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 Owners 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 Owners 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 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 of America.
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 Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners 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 Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States of America.
(c) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owners 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 Owners 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 of America.
(d) ☐ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owners 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 Owners 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 of America.
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 Owners 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 Owners 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 Owners Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ☐ Rule 144A Global Note, ☐ Regulation S Global Note, ☐ IAI Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Definitive
C-2
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 of America. 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 Issuer.
[Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
C-3
Exhibit D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Triton Water Holdings, Inc.
900 Long Ridge Road
Building 2
Stamford, CT 06902-1138
Attention: General Counsel
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Triton Water Holdings, Inc., Notes Administrator
Fax No.: (612) 217-5651
Re: The Issuers 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2021 (the Indenture), among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $ aggregate principal amount of:
(a) ☐ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) ☐ a Definitive Note, we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
D-1
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should offer, sell or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Issuer or any subsidiary thereof, (B) for so long as the Notes are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to a person we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to which notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (C) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. purchasers that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act and in accordance with the laws applicable to it in the jurisdiction in which such purchase is made, (D) to an institutional accredited investor (as defined below) that is acquiring the Notes for its own account, or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to a registration statement which has been declared effective under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (D) or (F) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuer such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Issuer may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional accredited investor) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.
You and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
[Insert Name of Institutional Accredited Investor] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
D-2
EXHIBIT E
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP]
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Triton Water Holdings, Inc., Notes Administrator
Fax No.: (612) 217-5651
Re: The Issuers 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2021 (the Indenture), among Triton Water Holdings, Inc. (the Issuer), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
This is to certify that based solely on certifications we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from institutions appearing in our records as persons being entitled to a portion of the principal amount of Notes represented by a Regulation S Temporary Global Note issued under the Indenture, that as of the date hereof, $ principal amount of Notes represented by the Regulation S Temporary Global Note being submitted herewith for exchange is beneficially owned by persons that are either (i) non-U.S. persons (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or (ii) U.S. persons that purchased the Notes in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We further certify that (i) we are not submitting herewith for exchange any portion of such Regulation S Temporary Global Note excepted in such certifications and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any institution to the effect that the statements made by such institution with respect to any portion of such Regulation S Temporary Global Note submitted herewith for exchange are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.
You and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
E-1
Yours faithfully, | ||
[Name of DTC Participant] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: |
Dated:
E-2
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY GUARANTORS
[ ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of , 20_, among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), , (the Guarantor), a subsidiary of the Issuer, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of March 31, 2021 (as amended and supplemented, the Indenture), providing for the issuance of 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029 (the Notes);
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and therein (the Note Guarantee); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of Holders.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor and the Trustee 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 Guarantor hereby agrees, on a joint and several basis, to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, and to undertake and perform all of the obligations of the Guarantors set forth therein as though the Guarantor had entered into the Indenture on the Issue Date and been named as Guarantor therein. The Guarantor agrees that such obligations include, without limitation, the obligation to provide such Guarantee pursuant to Article X of the Indenture and all of the obligations of the Guarantors to perform and comply with all of the agreements thereof contained in the Indenture.
3. Ratification of the Indenture; Supplemental Indenture part of the Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
F-1
4. GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.
5. Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial. The Guarantor will submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Federal or state court located in the City of New York.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO 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 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTE GUARANTEE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. Each party hereby (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of the other has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the other would not, in the event of a proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it has been induced to enter into this Indenture by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this paragraph.
6. Multiple Counterparts. The parties may execute and deliver in counterparts any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture, including by facsimile transmission, PDF or other electronic means. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Supplemental Indenture by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions 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 solely by the Issuer and the Guarantor.
F-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
[GUARANTOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[ISSUER] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
F-3
Exhibit 4.9
GUARANTEE
OF
3.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028
BY
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION
For value received, Primo Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Guarantor) hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder (as defined in the Indenture (as defined below)) the due and punctual payment, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the Issuer (as defined below) when payable by the Issuer, any payments due by the Issuer pursuant to the terms of those certain 450.0 million of 3.875% senior notes due 2028 (the Notes) issued by Primo Water Holdings Inc. (the Issuer) (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer) (collectively, the Guarantee Payments) when and as the same shall become due and payable to the extent provided for in that certain Indenture dated October 20, 2020 among Issuer and the guarantors named therein, and BNY Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian Trustee, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as U.S. Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar, Transfer Agent and Authenticating Agent and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as London Paying Agent.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under this Guarantee shall be as if it were a principal obligor and not merely a surety and shall be full and unconditional. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer and that the Guarantor shall be liable as a principal obligor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms hereof.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not merely of collection. This Guarantee will not be discharged except (i) by payment of all amounts due with respect to the Notes, the Redemption Price or the amounts due at Maturity, if and as applicable, in full by the Issuer, or (ii) by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) by the Guarantor.
This Guarantors obligations under this Guarantee are (i) limited to the maximum amount that can be guaranteed without constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable insolvency laws and (ii) enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
This Guarantee shall constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by the Guarantor to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee.
The Guarantor shall be released if a parent entity of the Guarantor provides a guarantee of the obligations under the Notes.
This Guarantee may be amended with consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and issued under the Indenture, including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes. The Company may amend this Guarantee without the consent of any Holder or any other person or entity (1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect, error or inconsistency, (2) to provide for the assumption by a successor of the obligations of the Guarantor, (3) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect, and (4) to make any other change consistent with the terms of the Indenture.
The Guarantor will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless: (1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the Successor Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The Successor Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor hereunder and the Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder.
THE GUARANTOR SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE A PARTY TO THE INDENTURE AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF AND THIS GUARANTEE AND THE TERMS HEREOF SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE A PART OF THE INDENTURE.
THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREUNDER, THAT WOULD APPLY THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
Primo Brands Corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Hih Song Kim | |
Name: Hih Song Kim | ||
Title: Chief Administrative Officer |
Exhibit 4.10
GUARANTEE
OF
4.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
BY
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION
For value received, Primo Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Guarantor) hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder (as defined in the Indenture (as defined below)) the due and punctual payment, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the Issuer (as defined below) when payable by the Issuer, any payments due by the Issuer pursuant to the terms of those certain $750 million of 4.375% Senior Notes due 2029 (the Notes) issued by Primo Water Holdings Inc. (the Issuer) (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer) (collectively, the Guarantee Payments) when and as the same shall become due and payable to the extent provided for in that certain Indenture dated April 30, 2021 among Issuer and the guarantors named therein, BNY Canada, as Canadian trustee, and BNY US, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent, and authenticating agent.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under this Guarantee shall be as if it were a principal obligor and not merely a surety and shall be full and unconditional. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer and that the Guarantor shall be liable as a principal obligor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms hereof.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not merely of collection. This Guarantee will not be discharged except (i) by payment of all amounts due with respect to the Notes, the Redemption Price or the amounts due at Maturity, if and as applicable, in full by the Issuer, or (ii) by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) by the Guarantor.
This Guarantors obligations under this Guarantee are (i) limited to the maximum amount that can be guaranteed without constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable insolvency laws and (ii) enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
This Guarantee shall constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid by the Guarantor to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee.
The Guarantor shall be released if a parent entity of the Guarantor provides a guarantee of the obligations under the Notes.
This Guarantee may be amended with consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and issued under the Indenture, including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes. The Company may amend this Guarantee without the consent of any Holder or any other person or entity (1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect, error or inconsistency, (2) to provide for the assumption by a successor of the obligations of the Guarantor, (3) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect, and (4) to make any other change consistent with the terms of the Indenture.
The Guarantor will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless: (1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the Successor Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder. The Successor Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor hereunder and the Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder.
THE GUARANTOR SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE A PARTY TO THE INDENTURE AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF AND THIS GUARANTEE AND THE TERMS HEREOF SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE A PART OF THE INDENTURE.
THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREUNDER, THAT WOULD APPLY THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.
Primo Brands Corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Hih Song Kim | |
Name: | Hih Song Kim | |
Title: | Chief Administrative Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION
AND
THE INITIAL ORCP STOCKHOLDER
November 7, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||
1.1 Drafting Conventions; No Construction Against Drafter |
2 | |||
1.2 Defined Terms |
2 | |||
SECTION II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS |
7 | |||
2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Initial ORCP Stockholder |
7 | |||
2.2 Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Company |
7 | |||
SECTION III. REGISTRATION RIGHTS |
7 | |||
3.1 Demand and Piggyback Rights |
7 | |||
3.2 Notices, Cutbacks and Other Matters |
11 | |||
3.3 Facilitating Registrations and Offerings |
15 | |||
3.4 Indemnification |
21 | |||
3.5 Transfer Restrictions |
24 | |||
3.6 Rule 144 |
26 | |||
SECTION IV. PURCHASE AND NOTICE RIGHTS |
26 | |||
4.1 Purchase and Notice Rights |
26 | |||
SECTION V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS |
29 | |||
5.1 Board of Directors |
29 | |||
5.2 Initial Board Matters |
31 | |||
5.3 Other Governance Matters |
32 | |||
SECTION VI. MATTERS REQUIRING CONSENT |
32 | |||
6.1 Matters Requiring Consent |
32 | |||
SECTION VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
34 | |||
7.1 Information and Access Rights |
34 | |||
7.2 Confidentiality |
37 | |||
7.3 Reliance |
37 | |||
7.4 Access to Agreement; Amendment and Waiver; Actions of the Board of Directors |
37 | |||
7.5 Notices |
38 | |||
7.6 Counterparts |
39 | |||
7.7 Remedies; Severability |
39 | |||
7.8 Entire Agreement; Termination of Prior Agreements |
39 | |||
7.9 Termination |
39 | |||
7.10 Governing Law |
39 | |||
7.11 Successors and Assigns; Beneficiaries |
39 | |||
7.12 Consent to Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
40 | |||
7.13 Further Assurances; Company Logo |
41 | |||
7.14 Regulatory Matters |
41 | |||
7.15 No Inconsistent Agreements; Most Favored Nations |
41 | |||
7.16 In-Kind Distributions |
41 | |||
7.17 Recapitalization Transactions |
42 |
EXHIBIT
Exhibit A: Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit B: Role of Initial Chairperson
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This Stockholders Agreement (this Agreement) is made as of November 7, 2024 by and among Primo Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Initial ORCP Stockholder) and any Permitted Transferee who from time to time becomes party to this Agreement by execution of a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A (a Joinder Agreement).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, Triton Water Parent, Inc., Triton Merger Sub 1, Inc., 1000922661 Ontario Inc. and Primo Water Corporation are parties to an Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024 (as amended from time to time, the Merger Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Initial ORCP Stockholder and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement effective upon and following the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the Effective Time), and from and after the Effective Time, this Agreement shall be in full force and effect, with such changes hereto, if any, as agreed among the Initial ORCP Stockholder and the Company, subject to Section 7.4 of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board of Directors) has approved this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to agree upon the respective rights and obligations after the Effective Time with respect to the securities of the Company now or hereafter issued and outstanding and held by the parties to this Agreement and certain matters with respect to their investment in the Company.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the mutual agreements and covenants contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Drafting Conventions; No Construction Against Drafter.
(a) The headings in this Agreement are provided for convenience and do not affect its meaning. Except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires: (i) the words include, includes and including are to be read as if they were followed by the phrase without limitation; (ii) any reference to an agreement means that agreement as amended or supplemented, subject to any restrictions on amendment contained in such agreement; (iii) any reference to a statute or regulation means that statute or regulation as amended or supplemented from time to time and any corresponding provisions of successor statutes or regulations; (iv) the words party and parties refer only to a party named in this Agreement or one who joins this Agreement as a party pursuant to the terms hereof; (v) the phrase to the extent means the degree to which a subject or other matter extends, and not simply if; and (vi) the word or is not intended be exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise. If any date specified in this Agreement as a date for taking action falls on a day that is not a business day, then that action may be taken on the next business day.
(b) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement is to be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and there is to be no presumption or burden of proof or rule of strict construction favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
1.2 Defined Terms. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth below.
Adverse Disclosure means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of the Company (after consultation with external legal counsel): (i) would be required to be made in any registration statement or report filed with the SEC by the Company so that such registration statement would not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such registration statement; and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.
Affiliate means with respect to any specified Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person, including any partner, officer, director or member of the specified Person and, if the specified Person is a private equity fund, any investment fund now or hereafter existing that is managed by, or which is controlled by or is under common control with, one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, the specified Person or any investment fund, managed account vehicle, collective investment scheme or comparable investment vehicle, other than any such vehicle formed for a single investor (Fund) now or hereafter existing that shares the same management company or registered investment advisor with such specified Person or any Fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by, under common control with, managed or advised by the same management company or registered investment
2
advisor that controls, is under common control with, manages or advises the Fund that controls such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control (including, with its correlative meanings, the terms controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise.
Beneficial Ownership by a Person of any securities includes ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; provided, that, for purposes of Section 5.1, Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock shall not include any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Class B Common Stock prior to the actual conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock thereof. The terms Beneficially Own and Beneficial Owner shall have a correlative meaning.
Certificate of Incorporation means the Companys certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
Class A Common Stock means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
Class B Common Stock means the Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
Common Stock means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, collectively.
Company shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall include any successor thereto.
Competing Director means any Sponsor Nominee who serves as an officer, director, partner, member, or employee for any business that competes in any material respect with the Company or its Subsidiaries, if a majority of the independent Directors determines in good faith that such Sponsor Nominees service on the Board of Directors would constitute a violation of the Companys bona fide conflict-of-interest policies, as applied consistently with respect to all actual or potential Directors; provided, however, that One Rock Capital Partners, LLC and its Affiliated Funds and other Affiliates (excluding any portfolio companies controlled by Funds advised by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC that so compete) will not be considered businesses that compete with the Company or its Subsidiaries.
DGCL means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Director means a member of the Board of Directors.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
3
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect in the United States of America from time to time.
Initial ORCP Stockholder has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement; provided, however, that following the date hereof, the Initial ORCP Stockholder may designate any other ORCP Stockholder (as defined below) as an additional (or a replacement) Initial ORCP Stockholder hereunder and if, as a result of such designation, there is more than one Initial ORCP Stockholder, the Initial ORCP Stockholders shall designate one of them to serve as the designated representative of the Initial ORCP Stockholder for purposes of taking any actions pursuant to this Agreement.
Material Subsidiary means each Significant Subsidiary of the Company, as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.
Mutually Agreed Director means the one Director mutually agreed by the Unaffiliated Directors and the ORCP Stockholders to serve on the Board of Directors.
NYSE means The New York Stock Exchange.
Other Sponsor Stockholders means, collectively, any Sponsor Stockholders which are not ORCP Stockholders.
ORCP Stockholders means, collectively, (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder (including any additional Initial ORCP Stockholder designated as such pursuant to the definition of Initial ORCP Stockholder) and (ii) any Sponsor Stockholder Transferees that are Affiliates of the Initial ORCP Stockholder that are directly or indirectly controlled by the Person or Persons or their respective Affiliates who control the Initial ORCP Stockholder. Unless the Company is otherwise notified in writing by the Initial ORCP Stockholder, the Initial ORCP Stockholder shall at all times serve as the designated representative to act on behalf of the ORCP Stockholders for purposes of this Agreement and shall have the sole power and authority to bind the ORCP Stockholders with respect to all provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Initial ORCP Stockholder elects in its sole discretion to cease to serve as the designated representative of the ORCP Stockholders, then the Initial ORCP Stockholder or, in the absence of the Initial ORCP Stockholder doing so, a majority in interest of the members of the ORCP Stockholders at such time shall designate and appoint one member of the ORCP Stockholders to serve as the designated representative of the ORCP Stockholders for purposes of this Agreement, which designee (and any successor thereafter designated and appointed) shall have the sole power and authority to bind the ORCP Stockholders with respect to all provisions of this Agreement. The Company and the Sponsor Stockholders shall be entitled to rely on all actions taken by the Initial ORCP Stockholder or such designee on behalf of the ORCP Stockholders.
Permitted Transferee means, with respect to any Sponsor Stockholder, (i) any Affiliate of such Sponsor Stockholder, (ii) any director, officer or employee of any Affiliate of such Sponsor Stockholder, (iii) any direct or indirect member or general or limited partner of such Sponsor Stockholder that is the Transferee of Shares pursuant to a pro rata distribution of Shares by such Sponsor Stockholder to its partners or members, as applicable (or any subsequent transfer of such Shares by the transferee to another Permitted Transferee), or (iv) any other Transferee designated as a Permitted Transferee by the ORCP Stockholders.
4
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, government (or agency or political subdivision thereof) or any other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
Primo Indentures means, collectively, (i) the Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified), by and among Primo Water Holdings Inc., as issuer, and the guarantors party thereto, BNY Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent and authenticating agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as London paying agent, governing Primo Water Holding Inc.s 3.875% Senior Notes due 2028, and (ii) the Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2021 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified), by and among Primo Water Holdings Inc., as issuer, and the guarantors party thereto, BNY Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian trustee, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as U.S. trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent and authenticating agent, governing Primo Water Holding Inc.s 4.375% Senior Notes due 2029.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933.
Shares means, at any time, (i) shares of Common Stock and (ii) any other equity securities, in each case, now or hereafter issued by the Company, together with any options, warrants or other rights thereon and any other shares or other equity securities issued or issuable with respect thereto (whether by way of a share dividend, share split or in exchange for or in replacement or upon conversion of such shares or otherwise in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization).
Sponsor Board Representation Number means, at any time of determination, the total number of Directors that the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right to nominate for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.
Sponsor Stockholders means, collectively, (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder and (ii) any Sponsor Stockholder Transferees.
Sponsor Stockholder Transferee means a Permitted Transferee (other than pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Transferee) of (i) the Initial ORCP Stockholder or (ii) an Affiliate of the Initial ORCP Stockholder, in each case, (x) to which is Transferred any shares of Common Stock by the Initial ORCP Stockholder or a Permitted Transferee of the Initial ORCP Stockholder and (y) which becomes a party hereto by executing a Joinder Agreement; provided that any Person that is a Sponsor Stockholder Transferee that is a Permitted Transferee pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Permitted Transferee, shall only be considered a Sponsor Stockholder Transferee for purposes of Section V hereof if such Permitted Transferee is either (x) a Permitted Sell-Down Transferee that is not a Specified Mutual Fund (each as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (y) approved by the Unaffiliated Directors (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
5
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of 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 owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the limited liability company, partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.
Transfer means any direct or indirect transfer, donation, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, grant of a security interest in or other disposal or attempted disposal of all or any portion of a security, any interest or rights in a security, or any rights under this Agreement.
Transferee means the recipient of a Transfer.
Triton Credit Agreements means, collectively, (i) the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021 (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified), by and among Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., Triton Water Holdings, Inc., the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the agents, arrangers and lenders party thereto from time to time, and (ii) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021 (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified), by and among Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., Triton Water Holdings, Inc., the guarantors party thereto, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time.
Unaffiliated Directors means a committee of the members of the Board of Directors who are not the Mutually Agreed Director or a Sponsor Nominee, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority vote of the total members of the committee; provided, however, for purposes of Section 5.2(e), Unaffiliated Director means a director who is not a Mutually Agreed Director or a Sponsor Nominee; provided further, that any matter requiring action of, or approval by, the Unaffiliated Directors herein may be taken either by (i) such a committee comprised of Unaffiliated Directors or (i) either of the Nominating and Governance Committee or Audit Committee, so long as any member of such committee that is not an Unaffiliated Director shall have recused themselves from the taking of, or voting on, such action or approval (with such action or approval to require approval by a majority of the remaining members of any such committee).
WKSI means a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.
6
SECTION II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Initial ORCP Stockholder. The Initial ORCP Stockholder hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company as follows: (a) the Initial ORCP Stockholder has full limited partnership power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Initial ORCP Stockholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Initial ORCP Stockholder of this Agreement: (i) does not and will not violate any laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any state or other jurisdiction applicable to the Initial ORCP Stockholder, or require the Initial ORCP Stockholder to obtain any approval, consent or waiver of, or to make any filing with, any Person that has not been obtained or made; and (ii) does not constitute a breach of or default under any material agreement to which the Initial ORCP Stockholder is a party.
2.2 Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Sponsor Stockholders as follows: (a) the Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement: (i) does not and will not violate any laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any state or other jurisdiction applicable to the Company, or require the Company to obtain any approval, consent or waiver of, or to make any filing with, any Person that has not been obtained or made; and (ii) does not and will not result in a breach of, constitute a default under, accelerate any obligation under or give rise to a right of termination of any indenture or loan or credit agreement or any other material agreement, contract, instrument, mortgage, lien, lease, permit, authorization, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or arbitration award to which the Company is a party or by which the property of the Company is bound or affected, or result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance on any of the assets or properties of the Company.
SECTION III. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
3.1 Demand and Piggyback Rights.
(a) Right to Demand a Non-Shelf Registered Offering. Upon the demand of any ORCP Stockholder at any time and from time to time after (or in advance of, but subject to) the expiration or waiver of the Restricted Period described in Section 3.5 of this Agreement, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a non-shelf registered offering of the Shares requested by the demanding ORCP Stockholders to be included in such offering. A demand by the ORCP Stockholders for a non-shelf registered offering that will result in the imposition of a lockup on the Company and the Sponsor Stockholders may not be made unless the Shares requested to be sold by the demanding ORCP Stockholders in such offering have an aggregate market value (based on the most recent closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the demand) of at least $50 million (or such lesser amount if all Shares held by the demanding ORCP Stockholders are requested to be sold). Subject to Section 3.2 below, any demanded registered offering will also include Shares to be sold by Other Sponsor Stockholders that exercise their related piggyback rights on a timely basis.
7
(b) Right to Piggyback on a Non-Shelf Registered Offering. In connection with any registered offering of shares of Common Stock covered by a non-shelf registration statement (whether (i) pursuant to the exercise of demand rights by the ORCP Stockholders or any other stockholder of the Company or (ii) at the initiative of the Company), subject to Section 3.2 below, (1) the ORCP Stockholders and (2) any Other Sponsor Stockholder that Beneficially Owns greater than or equal to 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock Shares may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such offering Shares held by them. The Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement any such non-shelf registered offering.
(c) Initial Registration Statement.
(i) The Company shall, in the matter described in this Agreement, submit or file as promptly as practicable, but in any event within 15 business days after the Effective Time, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective after the filing thereof, a shelf registration statement on Form S-1 or a successor form (or Form S-3 or a successor form to the extent permissible) (the Shelf Registration) registering the sale by the Sponsor Stockholders of their respective Shares in a secondary offering on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act; provided, that such date of effectiveness shall be no earlier than 90 days after the Effective Time. Unless otherwise requested by the ORCP Stockholders, such Shelf Registration filed by the Company covering Shares will cover all (unless a lesser amount is requested by the applicable Sponsor Stockholder) Shares held by each of the Sponsor Stockholders at such time. If at the time of such submission or filing the Company is a WKSI, such Shelf Registration would, at the request of any Sponsor Stockholder, cover an unspecified number of Shares to be sold by the Company and/or the Sponsor Stockholders.
(ii) Upon effectiveness of the Shelf Registration, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration effective with the SEC at all times and, if applicable, to re-file such Shelf Registration upon its expiration or, to the extent permissible, convert such Shelf Registration from Form S-1 or a successor form to Form S-3 or a successor form, and to cooperate in any shelf take-down, whether or not underwritten, by amending or supplementing the prospectus related to such Shelf Registration as may be reasonably requested by the Sponsor Stockholders or as otherwise required, until such time as all Shares that could be sold in such Shelf Registration have been sold or are no longer outstanding.
(d) Demand and Piggyback Rights for Shelf Takedowns. Upon the demand of one or more ORCP Stockholders made at any time and from time to time, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a takedown of Shares off of an effective shelf registration statement. In connection with any underwritten shelf takedown (whether (i) pursuant to the exercise of demand rights by the ORCP Stockholders or any other stockholder of the Company or (ii) at the initiative of the Company), subject to Section 3.2 below, (1) the ORCP Stockholders and (2) any Other Sponsor Stockholder that Beneficially Owns greater than or equal to 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such takedown Shares held by them that are registered on such shelf.
(e) Right to Reload a Shelf. Upon the written request of the ORCP Stockholders, the Company will file and seek the effectiveness of a post-effective amendment to an existing resale shelf in order to register up to the number of Shares of the ORCP Stockholders previously taken down off of such shelf and not yet reloaded onto such shelf.
8
(f) Other Sponsor Stockholder Demand Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, any Other Sponsor Stockholder (for so long as it Beneficially Owns at least 10% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock) may provide notice (each, an Other Sponsor Demand) at any time requesting that the Company effect the registration (an Other Sponsor Demand Registration) under the Securities Act of any or all of the Shares held by such Other Sponsor Stockholder (provided, however, that the Shares requested to be sold in such offering have an aggregate market value (based on the most recent closing price of the Common Stock at the time of the demand) of at least $50 million), which Other Sponsor Demand shall specify the number of such Shares to be registered and the intended method or methods of disposition of such Shares; provided, however, that the ORCP Stockholders shall have expressly consented to such Other Sponsor Demand Registration unless, following the date that is 540 days after the Effective Date, such Other Sponsor Stockholder has not effected or been offered to effect any Sale of its Shares pursuant to the exercise of its piggyback rights under this Section 3.1, in which case such express consent of the ORCP Stockholders shall not be required. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of such Shares under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, and to keep such registration effective for so long as is necessary to permit the disposition of such Shares, in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition stated in such Other Sponsor Demand. Any Other Sponsor Stockholder shall be limited to, and shall have the right to request not more than, (i) if such Other Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns at least 10% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, one Other Sponsor Demand (ii) if such Other Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns at least 20% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, two Other Sponsor Demands; provided, however, that (1) no revoked or withdrawn Other Sponsor Demand shall be counted for determining the number of Other Sponsor Demands requested if (x) such Other Sponsor Stockholder reimburses the Company for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any such revoked or withdrawn Other Sponsor Demand incurred through the date of such revocation or withdrawal and (y) such revocation or withdrawal shall have been made prior to the commencement of any significant marketing efforts or road shows by the Company or the underwriters in connection with such Other Sponsor Demand and (2) no Other Sponsor Demand to which the ORCP Stockholders did not consent (to the extent such consent was required pursuant to this Section 3.1(f)) shall be counted for determining the number of Other Sponsor Demands requested. Upon receipt of an Other Sponsor Demand, the Company shall promptly give written notice of such Other Sponsor Demand to each other Sponsor Stockholder who shall have piggyback registration rights with respect to such Other Sponsor Demand (including the ORCP Stockholders) in accordance with Section 3.1 but subject to Section 3.2(e), and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws of the Shares which the Company has been so requested to register by the Other Sponsor Stockholders (and the ORCP Stockholders, if applicable), subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3.1(f).
9
(g) Limitations on Demand and Piggyback Rights.
(i) Any demand for the filing of a registration statement or for a registered offering or takedown will be subject to the constraints of any applicable lockup arrangements, and such demand must be deferred until such lockup arrangements no longer apply. If a demand has been made for a non-shelf registered offering or for an underwritten takedown, no further demands may be made so long as the related offering is still being pursued. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the Sponsor Stockholders will have piggyback or other registration rights with respect to registered primary offerings by the Company (1) covered by a Form S-8 registration statement or a successor form applicable to employee benefit-related offers and sales, (2) where the Shares are not being sold for cash or (3) where the offering is a bona fide offering of securities other than Shares, even if such securities are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares.
(ii) The Company may postpone the filing (but not the preparation) of a demanded registration statement or suspend the effectiveness of any shelf registration statement for a reasonable blackout period not in excess of 90 days if the Board of Directors determines (after consultation with external legal counsel) that such registration or offering (1) could materially interfere with any material proposed acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries then under consideration or (2) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure; provided, that the Company shall promptly notify each Sponsor Stockholder in writing of any such determination; provided further, that the Company shall not postpone the filing of a demanded registration statement or suspend the effectiveness of any shelf registration statement pursuant to this Section 3.1(g)(ii) more than once in any 360-day period. The blackout period will end upon the earlier to occur of the date (1) that is 90 days from the date such deferral commenced and (2) upon which such information is otherwise disclosed.
(h) Other Registration Rights. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company will not grant to any Person(s) the right to request the Company or any Subsidiary to register any equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the ORCP Stockholders.
(i) Initial Liquidity Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the first registered sale of Shares by the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to this Section III shall be in the form of either (i) an underwritten non-shelf registered offering subject to Section 3.1(a) or (ii) an underwritten shelf takedown subject to Section 3.1(d); provided, however, that there shall be no such requirement for an underwritten offering if, in the good faith judgment of the ORCP Stockholders, conducting an underwritten offering would adversely impact the price or liquidity of such sale compared to other liquidity alternatives being considered by the ORCP Stockholders.
(j) Expiration of Registration Rights.
(i) The rights of the ORCP Stockholders under Section 3.1(a) shall expire when the ORCP Stockholders, collectively, Beneficially Own less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and the other rights of the ORCP Stockholders under this Section 3.1 shall expire on a holder-by-holder basis when a given ORCP Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 1% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock; provided, that, in each case, such ORCP Stockholder is able to sell the Shares Beneficially Held as of the Effective Time under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without volume or manner of sale restrictions, at such time.
10
(ii) The rights of the Other Sponsor Stockholders under Sections 3.1(b) and 3.1(d) shall expire on a holder-by-holder basis when a given Other Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock.
3.2 Notices, Cutbacks and Other Matters.
(a) Notifications Regarding Registration Statements. In order for one or more ORCP Stockholders to exercise their right to demand that a registration statement be filed, they must so notify the Company in writing indicating the number of Shares sought to be registered and the proposed plan of distribution. The Company will keep the Sponsor Stockholders contemporaneously apprised of all pertinent aspects of its pursuit of any registration, whether pursuant to an ORCP Stockholder demand or otherwise, with respect to which a piggyback opportunity is available (and in any event, at least five days before a filing of a registration statement). Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties will maintain the confidentiality of these discussions.
(b) Notifications Regarding Registration Piggyback Rights. Any Sponsor Stockholder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to a non-shelf registration statement must notify the Company and the ORCP Stockholders of the number of Shares it seeks to have included in such registration statement. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the second trading day prior to (i) if applicable, the date on which the preliminary prospectus intended to be used in connection with pre-effective marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized and (ii) in any case, the date on which the pricing of the relevant offering is expected to occur. No such notice is required in connection with a shelf registration statement, as all Shares held by the Sponsor Stockholders will be included (unless otherwise requested by the ORCP Stockholders).
(c) Notifications Regarding Demanded Underwritten Takedowns.
(i) The Company will keep the Sponsor Stockholders contemporaneously apprised of all pertinent aspects of any underwritten shelf takedown in order that they may have a reasonable opportunity to exercise their related piggyback rights (and in any event, at least two trading days before the filing of a prospectus supplement). Without limiting the Companys obligation as described in the preceding sentence, having a reasonable opportunity requires that the Sponsor Stockholders be notified by the Company of an anticipated underwritten takedown (whether pursuant to a demand made by the ORCP Stockholders or made at the Companys own initiative) no later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the second trading day prior to (1) if applicable, the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with pre-pricing marketing efforts for such takedown is finalized and (2) in all cases, the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs.
11
(ii) Any Sponsor Stockholder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to an underwritten shelf takedown must notify the Company and the ORCP Stockholders of the number of Shares it seeks to have included in such takedown. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the trading day prior to (1) if applicable, the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized and (2) in all cases, the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs. Any Sponsor Stockholder may elect to include in such notification to the Company and the ORCP Stockholders a minimum price at which they are willing to sell their Shares in such underwritten shelf takedown and, to the extent a minimum price is included, such Sponsor Stockholders Shares will not be included in the underwritten shelf takedown to the extent such minimum price is not met without its express consent.
(iii) Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties will maintain appropriate confidentiality of their discussions regarding a prospective underwritten takedown.
(d) Plan of Distribution, Underwriters and Counsel. If (i) a majority of the Shares proposed to be sold in an underwritten offering through a non-shelf registration statement or through a shelf takedown are being sold by the Company for its own account and (ii) such offering was initiated by the Company and not by the ORCP Stockholders, the Company will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters for such offering. If such offering was initiated pursuant to the exercise of demand rights by the ORCP Stockholders, the ORCP Stockholders will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters, and the ORCP Stockholders will also be entitled to select counsel for the selling Sponsor Stockholders (which may be the same as counsel for the Company) and determine the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the offering. Otherwise, the Sponsor Stockholders holding a majority of the Shares requested to be included in such offering will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters, and such majority will also be entitled to select counsel for the selling Sponsor Stockholders (which may be the same as counsel for the Company) and determine the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the offering. In the case of a shelf registration statement, the plan of distribution will provide as much flexibility as is reasonably possible, including with respect to resales by transferee Sponsor Stockholders.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Sponsor Stockholder may participate in any offering hereunder unless such Sponsor Stockholder (i) agrees to sell such Sponsor Stockholders Shares on the same terms and conditions provided in any customary underwriting arrangements reasonably approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangement pursuant to this Section 3.2(d) and (ii) completes and executes in a timely manner all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, custody agreements, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, that all Persons participating in such registration are required to complete and execute, on the same terms and conditions, such questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, custody agreements, underwriting agreements and other documents.
12
(e) Cutbacks. If the managing underwriters advise the Company and the selling Sponsor Stockholders that, in their opinion, the number of Shares requested to be included in an underwritten offering exceeds the amount that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the distribution of the Shares being offered, such offering will include only the number of Shares that the underwriters advise can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the distribution of the Shares being offered.
(i) In the case of a registered offering upon (a) the demand of one or more ORCP Stockholders or (b) an Other Sponsor Demand (as defined herein), the selling Sponsor Stockholders (including those Sponsor Stockholders exercising piggyback rights pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) collectively will have first priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the proportion of all outstanding Shares that are held by each such selling Sponsor Stockholder at that time (up to the number of Shares initially requested by them to be included in such offering). To the extent of any remaining capacity, all other stockholders having similar registration rights will have second priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the proportion of all outstanding Shares that are held by the respective holders thereof requesting to participate in such offering. To the extent of any remaining capacity, the Company will have third priority. Except as contemplated by the immediately preceding three sentences, if the Sponsor Stockholders are subject to a cutback, other selling stockholders (other than transferees to whom a Sponsor Stockholder has assigned its rights under this Agreement) will be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of the Sponsor Stockholders holding a majority of the Shares being sold in such offering.
(ii) In the case of a registered offering upon the demand of any other stockholders having similar registration rights not party to this Agreement, such other stockholders collectively will have first priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the relative number of Shares owned by the respective holders thereof requesting to participate in such offering. To the extent of any remaining capacity, the Sponsor Stockholders will have second priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the relative number of Shares owned by the respective holders thereof requesting to participate in such offering. To the extent of any remaining capacity, the Company will have third priority.
(iii) In the case of a registered offering upon the initiative of the Company, the Company will have first priority. To the extent of any remaining capacity, the selling Sponsor Stockholders collectively will have second priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the proportion of all outstanding Shares that are held by each such selling Sponsor Stockholder at that time (up to the number of Shares initially requested by them to be included in such offering). To the extent of any remaining capacity, all other stockholders having similar registration rights will have third priority and will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the proportion of all outstanding Shares that are held by the respective holders thereof requesting to participate in such offering. Except as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, if the Sponsor Stockholders are subject to a cutback, other stockholders (other than transferees to whom a Sponsor Stockholder has assigned its rights under this Agreement) will be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of the ORCP Stockholders.
13
(f) Withdrawals. Even if Shares held by a Sponsor Stockholder have been part of a registered underwritten offering, such Sponsor Stockholder may, no later than the time at which the public offering price and underwriters discount are determined with the managing underwriter, decline to sell all or any portion of the Shares being offered for its account.
(g) Lockups.
(i) In connection with any underwritten offering of Shares following the Effective Time, each participating Sponsor Stockholder hereby agrees with the Company (and only with the Company) to be bound by the underwriting agreements lockup restrictions (which must apply, and continue to apply, in like manner to all of them) that are agreed to by (a) the Company, if a majority of the Shares being sold in such offering are being sold for its account or (b) the ORCP Stockholders, if any of the Shares being sold in such offering are being sold by the ORCP Stockholders, as applicable; provided, however, that in no event shall such lockup restrictions last more than 90 days.
(ii) In connection with any underwritten offering of Shares following the Effective Time, the Company hereby agrees with each Sponsor Stockholder, individually and not jointly, to be bound by the underwriting agreements lockup restrictions (which must apply, and continue to apply, in like manner to the Company and each Sponsor Stockholder) that are agreed to by the ORCP Stockholders, if a majority of the Shares being sold in such offering are being sold by the ORCP Stockholders; provided, however, that in no event shall such lockup restrictions last more than 90 days.
(h) Expenses. All expenses incurred in connection with any registration statement or registered offering covering Shares held by the Sponsor Stockholders, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses with respect to filings required to be made with the SEC and the NYSE), printing expenses (including, without limitation, printing certificates for the Shares in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and printing preliminary, supplemental and final prospectuses), word processing, duplicating, telephone and facsimile expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, transfer taxes, expenses incurred in connection with promotional efforts or roadshows, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of one outside counsel for the Sponsor Stockholders (which may be the same as counsel for the Company) and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the underwriters with respect to blue sky qualification of such Shares and their determination for eligibility for investment under the laws of the various jurisdictions and in connection with any filing with, and clearance of any offering by, FINRA (up to the cap on such fees, if any, included in any applicable underwriting agreement)) and of the independent certified public accountants of the Company (including, without limitation, with respect to the preparation of customary financial statements required to be included in any offering document, the provision of any customary comfort letters and the conduct of any special audits required by, or incidental to, such registration), and the expense of qualifying such Shares under state blue sky and non-U.S. securities laws (reasonably requested by the ORCP Stockholders), will be borne by the Company. However, transfer taxes and underwriters, brokers and dealers discounts and commissions applicable to Shares sold for the account of a Sponsor Stockholder will be borne by and paid for by such Sponsor Stockholder. In addition, the Company shall pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
14
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on the NYSE or such other national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company).
3.3 Facilitating Registrations and Offerings.
(a) General. If the Company becomes obligated under this Agreement to facilitate a registration and offering of Shares on behalf of the Sponsor Stockholders, the Company will do so with the same degree of care and dispatch as would reasonably be expected in the case of a registration and offering by the Company of Shares for its own account. Without limiting this general obligation, the Company will fulfill its specific obligations as described in this Section 3.3.
(b) Registration Statements. In connection with each registration statement that is demanded by any Sponsor Stockholder or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, the Company will:
(i) subject to Section 3.1, (1) prepare and file (or confidentially submit) with the SEC a registration statement covering the applicable Shares, (2) prepare and file (or confidentially submit) such amendments or supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the Shares covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten public offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with the sale of Shares by an underwriter or dealer), (3) seek the effectiveness thereof, and (4) file with the SEC prospectuses and prospectus supplements as may be required, all in consultation with the ORCP Stockholders or Other Sponsor Stockholders, as applicable, and as reasonably necessary in order to permit the offer and sale of the such Shares in accordance with the applicable plan of distribution;
(ii) (1) within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any registration statement, any prospectus, any amendment to a registration statement, amendment or supplement to a prospectus or any free writing prospectus, provide copies of such documents to the selling Sponsor Stockholders and to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering, if applicable, and to their respective counsel; fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the Sponsor Stockholders or the underwriter or the underwriters may request; and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Sponsor Stockholders or any underwriter available for discussion of such documents; and (2) within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a registration statement or a prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Sponsor Stockholders and underwriters; fairly consider such reasonable changes in such document prior to the filing thereof as counsel for such Sponsor Stockholders or such underwriter shall request; and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by such counsel available for discussion of such document;
15
(iii) cause each registration statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of such registration statement, amendment or supplement and during the distribution of the registered Shares (1) to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC and (2) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(iv) notify each Sponsor Stockholder promptly, and, if requested by such Sponsor Stockholder, confirm such advice in writing, (1) when a registration statement has been filed or become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto have been filed or become effective if such registration statement or post-effective amendment is not automatically effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, (2) of the issuance by the SEC or any state or non-U.S. securities authority of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (3) if, between the effective date of a registration statement and the closing of any sale of securities covered thereby pursuant to any agreement to which the Company is a party, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in such agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, and (4) of the happening of any event during the period a registration statement is effective as a result of which such registration statement or the related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, if required by applicable law, prepare and file a supplement or amendment to such registration statement or prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Shares registered thereby, such registration statement or prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(v) furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for the selling Sponsor Stockholders copies of any correspondence with the SEC or any state securities authority relating to the registration statement or prospectus;
(vi) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including making available to its security holders an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar provision then in force); and
(vii) use all reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest possible time;
(c) Non-Shelf Registered Offerings and Shelf Takedowns. In connection with any non-shelf registered offering or shelf takedown that is demanded by the ORCP Stockholders or Other Sponsor Stockholders, as applicable, or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, the Company will:
16
(i) cooperate with the selling Sponsor Stockholders and the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Shares, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Shares, if any, to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Shares to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the governing documents thereof) and registered in such names as the selling Sponsor Stockholders or the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Shares, if any, may reasonably request;
(ii) furnish to each selling Sponsor Stockholder and to each underwriter, if any, participating in the relevant offering, without charge, as many copies of the applicable prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such selling Sponsor Stockholder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Shares; the Company hereby consents to the use of the prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement, by each such selling Sponsor Stockholder and underwriter in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares covered by the prospectus, the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement;
(iii) (1) use all reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Shares being offered and sold, no later than the time the applicable registration statement becomes effective, under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each underwriter, if any, or any selling Sponsor Stockholder holding Shares covered by a registration statement, shall reasonably request; (2) use all reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective; (3) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in the registration statement; and (4) do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such underwriter, if any, and selling Sponsor Stockholder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Shares owned by such selling Sponsor Stockholder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to consent to be subject to general service of process (other than service of process in connection with such registration or qualification or any sale of Shares in connection therewith) in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph (iii) or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction;
(iv) (1) use all reasonable efforts to cause all Shares being sold to be qualified for inclusion in or listed on the NYSE or any other U.S. securities exchange on which Shares issued by the Company are then so qualified or listed, (2) use all reasonable efforts to comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements, (3) use its best efforts to cause Shares covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Shares, and (4) use best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Shares to be sold by the selling Sponsor Stockholders not later than the effective date of such registration statement (and in connection therewith, if reasonably required by the Companys transfer agent, the Company will cause an opinion of counsel as to the
17
effectiveness of the registration statement to be delivered to such transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions reasonably required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Shares without any legend upon sale by the selling Sponsor Stockholders or the underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Shares, if any, of such Shares under the registration statement);
(v) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter in an underwritten offering;
(vi) use all reasonable efforts to facilitate the distribution and sale of any Shares to be offered pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation by making road show presentations, holding meetings with and making calls to potential investors and taking such other actions as shall be requested by the selling Sponsor Stockholders or the lead managing underwriter of an underwritten offering;
(vii) enter into customary agreements (including, in the case of an underwritten offering, underwriting agreements in customary form, and including provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution in customary form and consistent with the provisions relating to indemnification and contribution contained herein) and take all other customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Shares in connection therewith, including:
(1) make such representations and warranties to the selling Sponsor Stockholders and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings;
(2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company in all relevant jurisdictions and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the lead managing underwriter, if any) addressed to each selling Sponsor Stockholder and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters and jurisdictions customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Sponsor Stockholders and underwriters;
(3) obtain cold comfort letters and updates thereof from the Companys independent certified public accountants (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any Subsidiary of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Primo Water Corporation and Triton Water Intermediate, Inc.) or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the registration statement) addressed to the selling Sponsor Stockholders, if permissible, and the underwriters, if any, which letters shall be customary in form and shall cover matters of the type customarily covered in cold comfort letters to underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings;
(4) to the extent requested by the selling Sponsor Stockholders, cause the Companys Directors and executive officers to enter into lockup agreements in customary form; and
18
(5) to the extent requested and customary for the relevant transaction, enter into a securities sales agreement with the selling Sponsor Stockholders providing for, among other things, the appointment of such representative as agent for the selling Sponsor Stockholders for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Shares, which agreement shall be customary in form, substance and scope and shall contain customary representations, warranties and covenants.
The above shall be done at such times as customarily occur in similar registered offerings or shelf takedowns.
(viii) take all actions to ensure that any free writing prospectus utilized in connection with any registration or offering hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act in relation to the circulation of a prospectus, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ix) permit any selling Sponsor Stockholder that, in its sole exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and to allow such selling Sponsor Stockholder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such selling Sponsor Stockholder and its counsel should be included;
(x) use reasonable best efforts to (1) make Form S-1 or a successor form (or Form S-3 or a successor form to the extent permissible) available for the sale of Shares and (2) prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Shares included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction, and in the event any such order is issued, use best efforts to obtain promptly the withdrawal of such order;
(xi) if requested by any managing underwriter and reasonably available, include in any prospectus or prospectus supplement updated financial or business information for the Companys most recent period or current quarterly period (including estimated results or ranges of results) if required for purposes of marketing the offering in the view of the managing underwriter;
(xii) take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act;
(xiii) cooperate with each selling Sponsor Stockholder covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Shares and their respective counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of applications, notices, registrations and responses to requests for additional information with FINRA, the NYSE or any other national securities exchange on which the Shares are or are to be listed, and to the extent required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, retain a Qualified Independent Underwriter acceptable to the managing underwriter;
19
(xiv) if the Company files an automatic shelf registration statement covering any Shares, use its best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such automatic shelf registration statement is required to remain effective;
(xv) if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Shares at the time an automatic shelf registration statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Shares are to be sold;
(xvi) if the automatic shelf registration statement has been outstanding for at least three years, at the end of the third year, refile a new automatic shelf registration statement covering the Shares, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its best efforts to refile the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 or a successor form and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 or a successor form and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective;
(xvii) if the Company plans to file any automatic shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the ORCP Stockholders, and the ORCP Stockholders do not request that their Shares be included in such shelf registration statement, the Company agrees that, at the request of the ORCP Stockholders, it will include in such automatic shelf registration statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act in order to ensure that the ORCP Stockholders may be added to such shelf registration statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment (and if the Company has filed any automatic shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the ORCP Stockholders, the Company shall, at the request of the ORCP Stockholders, file any post-effective amendments necessary to include therein all disclosure and language necessary to ensure that the ORCP Stockholders may be added to such Shelf Registration Statement); and
(xviii) with respect to any shelf takedown that is demanded by the ORCP Stockholders or any Other Sponsor Stockholder, use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions necessary to facilitate such shelf takedown by the ORCP Stockholders or such Other Sponsor Stockholder as soon as possible, and in any event within 72 hours of receipt of notice of any such shelf takedown (but in no event less than two business days after the receipt of such notice) (the Preparation Period); provided, that the Company agrees that after such Preparation Period, it shall be prepared to cooperate to use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such shelf takedown on any trading day during the following 15 business days without requiring an additional Preparation Period; provided, further, that the ORCP Stockholders or the Other Sponsor Stockholders shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Company with at least five business days advanced notice of any intention to submit a notice of request for registration.
(d) Due Diligence. In connection with each registration and offering of Shares to be sold by the Sponsor Stockholders, the Company will, in accordance with customary practice, make available for inspection by representatives of the Sponsor Stockholders participating in such offering and underwriters and any counsel or accountant retained by such Sponsor Stockholders or underwriters all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause appropriate officers, managers and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with their due diligence exercise.
20
(e) Information from Stockholders. Each Sponsor Stockholder that holds Shares covered by any registration statement will timely furnish to the Company such information regarding itself as is required to be included in the registration statement, the ownership of Shares by such Sponsor Stockholder and the proposed distribution by such Sponsor Stockholder of such Shares as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
3.4 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. In the event of any registration under the Securities Act by any registration statement of Shares held by the Sponsor Stockholders pursuant to the rights granted in this Agreement, the Company will hold harmless the Sponsor Stockholders, any such Sponsor Stockholders officers, directors, employees, agents, fiduciaries, stockholders, managers, partners, members, affiliates, direct and indirect equityholders, consultants and representatives, and any successors and assigns thereof, and each underwriter of such securities and each other person, if any, who controls any ORCP Stockholder or such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively, the Indemnified Parties), against any losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) (collectively, Losses), joint or several, to which the Sponsor Stockholders or such underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (1) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or free writing prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (2) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 3.4, collectively called an application) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the blue sky or securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance; and will reimburse any such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Losses; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such Indemnified Party in any such case to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon and in conformity with information specifically regarding such Indemnified Party furnished to the Company through a written instrument duly executed by such Indemnified Party specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
21
(b) Indemnification by the Sponsor Stockholders. Each Sponsor Stockholder will indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 3.4(a)) the Company, its officers, Directors, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act), with respect to Losses (as determined by a final and unappealable judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) arising from (i) any statement or omission from such registration statement, or any amendment or supplement to it, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information specifically regarding such Sponsor Stockholder furnished to the Company through a written instrument duly executed by such Sponsor Stockholder for use in the preparation of such registration statement or amendment or supplement and (ii) compliance by such Sponsor Stockholder with applicable law in effecting the sale or other disposition of the securities covered by such registration statement; provided, that in each case, such obligation shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Sponsor Stockholder from the sale of Shares pursuant to such registration statement.
(c) Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party (which shall include any Indemnified Party) of notice of the commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in Section 3.4(a) and Section 3.4(b), the indemnified party will, if a resulting claim is to be made or may be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of the action. The failure of any indemnified party to give notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations in this Section 3.4, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by the failure to give notice. If any such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to assume defense of the action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses incurred by the latter in connection with the actions defense. An indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any action or proceeding and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such indemnified partys expense unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, which authorization shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) the indemnifying party has not assumed the defense and employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within 30 days after notice of any such action or proceeding, or (iii) the named parties to any such action or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party), it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to all local counsel which is necessary, in the good faith opinion of both counsel for the indemnifying party and counsel for the indemnified party in order to adequately represent the indemnified parties) for the indemnified party and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred upon written request and presentation of invoices. Whether or not a defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject
22
to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). No indemnifying party will consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement without the consent of the indemnified party which (x) does not include as an unconditional term the giving by the claimant or plaintiff, to the indemnified party, of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation or (y) involves the imposition of equitable remedies or the imposition of any non-financial obligations on the indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification required by this Section 3.4 from the indemnifying party is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any indemnifiable Losses, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefit of the indemnifying and indemnified parties and (ii) if the allocation in clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefit referred to in clause (i) and also the relative fault of the indemnified and indemnifying parties, in connection with the actions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or parties, and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The Company and the Sponsor Stockholders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the prior provisions of this Section 3.4(d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.4(d), no Sponsor Stockholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the securities by such Sponsor Stockholder exceeds the amount of any damages which the indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of an untrue statement or omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such a fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) Non-Exclusive Remedy. The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract (and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be considered the indemnitors of first resort in all such circumstances to which this SectionSECTION III applies) and will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of Shares and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
23
3.5 Transfer Restrictions.
(a) Except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement, including Section 3.5(a), until the expiration of the lock-up period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the three-month anniversary of the Effective Time (such period, the Restricted Period), the Sponsor Stockholders will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise directly transfer or dispose of any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (collectively with the Common Stock, the Lock-Up Securities), whether any such transaction described in this clause (i) is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or any other Lock-Up Securities in cash or otherwise or (ii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities (other than in connection with the exercise of registration rights under this Agreement), or publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Sponsor Stockholder may:
(i) Transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, such Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Securities:
(1) to any Permitted Transferees;
(2) as a bona fide gift or gifts, including, without limitation, to a charitable organization or educational institution, or for bona fide estate planning purposes;
(3) by will, other testamentary document or intestacy;
(4) to any member of such Sponsor Stockholders immediate family or to any trust or other legal entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust (for purposes of this Agreement, immediate family shall mean any relationship by blood, current or former marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin);
(5) (A) to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests; (B) to a corporation, member, partner, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act) of the undersigned; or (C) to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including where the undersigned is a partnership, to a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership);
(6) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (1) through (4) above;
(7) if such Sponsor Stockholder is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, as part of a distribution to or exchange with members, stockholders, partners or equityholders of the Sponsor Stockholder or its Affiliates (including a fund managed by the same manager or managing member or general partner or management company or by an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such manager or managing member or general partner or management company as such Sponsor Stockholder or who shares a common investment advisor with such Sponsor Stockholder);
24
(8) by operation of law, pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement or pursuant to a final order of a court or regulatory agency;
(9) in connection with a sale of such Sponsor Stockholders shares of Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the Effective Time;
(10) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) and made to all holders of the Companys capital stock involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (for purposes hereof, Change of Control shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), of shares of capital stock if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity)); provided, that, in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed, such Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this Agreement;
(11) pursuant to any succession or similar arrangements entered into with the Company and affiliated professional corporations under which the Company may direct the transfer of Lock-Up Securities held by such Sponsor Stockholder to a transferee designated by the Company;
(12) Transfers to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that have been approved in writing by the Unaffiliated Directors; or
(13) in connection with any reclassification or conversion of the Common Stock; provided, that any Common Stock received upon such conversion or reclassification will be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement;
provided, that (A) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (i)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (11) or (12), each donee, devisee, transferee or distributee must agree in writing prior to such Transfer or distribution for the express benefit of the Company (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and with a copy thereof to be furnished to the Company) (x) to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and (y) that the transferee shall Transfer the Common Stock so Transferred back to the transferor at or before such time as the transferee ceases to be a Permitted Transferee of the transferor; and
(ii) enter into or establish a trading plan that complies with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities, if then permitted by the Company; provided, that such plans do not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period.
25
(c) Any attempted Transfer or other distribution of Common Stock in violation of this Section 3.5 shall be null and void ab initio.
3.6 Rule 144.
If the Company is subject to the requirements of Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company covenants that it will file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (or, if the Company is subject to the requirements of Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act but is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Sponsor Stockholder, make publicly available such information) and it will take such further action as any ORCP Stockholder may reasonably request, so as to enable such Sponsor Stockholder to sell Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Sponsor Stockholder, the Company will deliver to such Sponsor Stockholder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specific requirements with which it did not so comply. Furthermore, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate any sale by a Sponsor Stockholder under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, including delivery of any legal opinions and instruction letters required by the Companys transfer agent and such other documentation as may be reasonably requested by such Sponsor Stockholder or its broker in connection with such sales.
SECTION IV. PURCHASE AND NOTICE RIGHTS
4.1 Purchase and Notice Rights.
(a) From and after the Effective Time and so long as the ORCP Stockholders Beneficially Own at least 15% of the outstanding Common Stock, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes any public or non-public offering of any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or equity-linked securities of, the Company or its Subsidiaries or any securities that are convertible or exchangeable into (or exercisable for) capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or equity-linked securities of, the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively Equity Securities)), including, for the purposes of this Section 4.1, warrants, options or other such rights (any such security, a New Security) (other than (i) issuances of Equity Securities to Directors, officers, employees, consultants or other agents of the Company, (ii) issuances of Equity Securities pursuant to an employee stock option plan, management incentive plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan or stock ownership plan or similar benefit plan, program or agreement, (iii) issuances made as consideration for any acquisition (by sale, merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, or otherwise) by the Company of equity in, or assets of, another Person, business unit, division or business, (iv) issuances of any securities issued as a result of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or reorganization or similar event, (v) the issuances of shares of equity securities in connection with a bona fide strategic partnership or commercial arrangement with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than (1) any such strategic partnership or commercial arrangement with a private equity firm or similar financial institution or (2) an issuance the primary purpose of which is the provision of financing), (vi) securities issued pursuant to the conversion, exercise or exchange of Class B Common Stock issued to the ORCP Stockholders, and (vii) shares of a Subsidiary of the Company issued to the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), each ORCP Stockholder shall be afforded the opportunity to acquire from the Company such ORCP Stockholders Purchase Rights Portion (as defined below) of such New Securities for the same price as that offered to the other purchasers of such New Securities.
26
(b) Subject to the foregoing proviso in Section 4.1(a), the amount of New Securities that each ORCP Stockholder shall be entitled to purchase in the aggregate shall be determined by multiplying (i) the total number of such offered shares of New Securities by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock (in the aggregate and on an as converted basis) held by such ORCP Stockholder, as of such date, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock held by all stockholders of the Company (on an as converted basis) outstanding as of such date (the Purchase Rights Portion).
(c) If the Company proposes to offer New Securities, it shall give the ORCP Stockholders written notice of its intention, describing the anticipated price (or range of anticipated prices), anticipated amount of New Securities and other material terms and timing upon which the Company proposes to offer the same (including, in the case of a registered public offering and to the extent available, a copy of the prospectus included in the registration statement filed with respect to such offering) at least seven business days prior to such issuance (or, in the case of a registered public offering, at least seven business days prior to the commencement of such registered public offering) (provided, that, to the extent the terms of such offering cannot reasonably be provided seven business days prior to such issuance, notice of such terms may be given as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event prior to such issuance). The Company may provide such notice to the ORCP Stockholders on a confidential basis prior to public disclosure of such offering. Other than in the case of a registered public offering, an ORCP Stockholder may notify the Company in writing at any time on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the date of such issuance (or, if notice of all such terms has not been given prior to the second business day immediately preceding the date of such issuance, at any time prior to such issuance) whether such ORCP Stockholder will exercise such purchase rights and as to the amount of New Securities such ORCP Stockholder desires to purchase, up to the maximum amount calculated pursuant to Section 4.1(b). In the case of a registered public offering, any ORCP Stockholder shall notify the Company in writing at any time prior to the second business day immediately preceding the date of commencement of such registered public offering (or, if notice of all such terms has not been given prior to the second business day immediately preceding the date of commencement of such registered public offering, at any time prior to the date of commencement of such registered public offering) whether such ORCP Stockholder will exercise such purchase rights and as to the amount of New Securities such ORCP Stockholder desires to purchase, up to the maximum amount calculated pursuant to Section 4.1(b). Such notice to the Company shall constitute a binding commitment by such ORCP Stockholder to purchase the amount of New Securities so specified at the price and other terms set forth in the Companys notice to it. Subject to receipt of the requisite notice of such issuance by the Company, the failure of such ORCP Stockholder to respond prior to the time a response is required pursuant to this Section 4.1(c) shall be deemed to be a waiver of such ORCP Stockholders purchase rights under this Section 4.1 only with respect to the offering described in the applicable notice.
27
(d) Each ORCP Stockholder shall purchase the New Securities that it has elected to purchase under this Section 4.1 concurrently with the related issuance of such New Securities by the Company (subject to the receipt of any required approvals from any government, court, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, arbitrator or authority or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental official or entity (in each case including any self-regulatory organization), whether federal, state or local, domestic, foreign or multinational, to consummate such purchase by such ORCP Stockholder); provided, that if such related issuance is prior to the 20th business day following the date on which such ORCP Stockholder has notified the Company that it has elected to purchase New Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1, then each ORCP Stockholder shall purchase such New Securities within 20 business days following the date of the related issuance. If the proposed issuance by the Company of securities which gave rise to the exercise by the ORCP Stockholders of its purchase rights pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be terminated or abandoned by the Company without the issuance of any New Securities, then the purchase rights of the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall also terminate as to such proposed issuance by the Company (but not any subsequent or future issuance), and any funds in respect thereof paid to the Company by the ORCP Stockholders in respect thereof shall be promptly refunded in full.
(e) In the case of the offering of securities for consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair value thereof as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such fair value as determined by the Board of Directors shall not exceed the aggregate market price of the securities being offered as of the date the Board of Directors authorizes the offering of such securities.
(f) In the event that the ORCP Stockholders are not entitled to acquire any New Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1 because such issuance would require the Company to obtain stockholder approval in respect of the issuance of such New Securities to the ORCP Stockholders as a result of any such ORCP Stockholders status, if applicable, as an Affiliate of the Company or pursuant to the rules and listing standards of the NYSE (including NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 312.03(c)), the Company shall, upon the ORCP Stockholders reasonable request delivered to the Company in writing within seven business days following its receipt of the written notice of such issuance to such ORCP Stockholder pursuant to Section 4.1(c), at such ORCP Stockholders election, (i) waive the restrictions set forth in Section 4.1 solely to the extent necessary to permit such ORCP Stockholder to acquire such number of New Securities equivalent to its Purchase Rights Portion of such issuance such ORCP Stockholder would have been entitled to purchase had it been entitled to acquire such New Securities pursuant to Section 4.1(a) through (c); (ii) consider and discuss in good faith modifications proposed by such ORCP Stockholder to the terms and conditions of such portion of the New Securities which would otherwise be issued to such ORCP Stockholder such that the Company would not be required to obtain stockholder approval in respect of the issuance of such New Securities as so modified; and/or (iii) solely to the extent that stockholder approval is required in connection with the issuance of New Securities to Persons other than the ORCP Stockholders, use reasonable best efforts to seek stockholder approval in respect of the issuance of any New Securities to the ORCP Stockholders.
(g) The election by any ORCP Stockholder to not exercise its purchase rights under this Section 4.1 in any one instance shall not affect its right as to any subsequent proposed issuance.
(h) The Company and the ORCP Stockholders shall cooperate in good faith to facilitate the exercise of the ORCP Stockholders rights pursuant to this Section 4.1, including using reasonable best efforts to secure any required approvals or consents.
28
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company intends to (i) issue any additional shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible thereinto), including any issuances of Class A Common Stock pursuant to an equity compensation plan or upon the conversion of convertible securities or the exercise of warrants or options, or (ii) repurchase any shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible thereinto), including any repurchases of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible thereinto) pursuant to a share repurchase program established by the Board of Directors, the Company shall provide written notice to the ORCP Stockholders of such intended issuance(s) and repurchase(s) as promptly as practicable, and in no event fewer than five business days prior to any such issuance or repurchase; provided, however, that such written notice must only be provided by the Company to the ORCP Stockholders until such time as the ORCP Stockholders inform the Company in writing that they no longer wish to receive written notice of such intended issuance(s) or repurchase(s).
SECTION V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MATTERS
5.1 Board of Directors.
(a) For so long as a Sponsor Stockholder (other than a Specified Mutual Fund) Beneficially Owns greater than or equal to five percent (5%) of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, such Sponsor Stockholder shall have certain Director nomination rights (each such Sponsor Stockholder, a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder and collectively, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders) as described in the Certificate of Incorporation. Any individual nominated by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders for election to the Board of Directors shall be referred to as a Sponsor Nominee.
(b) Each of the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders hereby agrees with the Company (and only with the Company) that during (and only during) the 24-month period following the Effective Time, it will not, and will cause its controlled Affiliates not to, submit a Director nominee for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement under proxy access or similar rules under the Exchange Act.
(c) If, from time to time, the Sponsor Board Representation Number shall decrease as a result of a decrease in the Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock of a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder, the applicable Sponsor Stockholder shall take all necessary action to cause the applicable number of Sponsor Nominees to promptly (and in any event within five business days) tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors and all committees thereof. Such resignation or resignations shall be subject to delay at the request of the Unaffiliated Directors. If such resignation or resignations are then accepted by the Unaffiliated Directors on behalf of the Board of Directors, the Company shall cause the size of the Board of Directors to be reduced accordingly pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to the immediately foregoing sentences, none of the Sponsor Stockholders shall vote in favor of the removal of any Sponsor Nominee from the Board of Directors without the prior written consent of the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder.
29
(d) Committees.
(i) In accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent governing documents) of the Company, (1) the Board of Directors shall establish and maintain an audit committee of the Board of Directors, as well as all other committees of the Board of Directors required in accordance with applicable law and stock exchange regulations, and (2) the Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution establish and maintain other committees of the Board of Directors.
(e) Other Board of Directors Matters.
(i) The Company shall reimburse each Sponsor Nominee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees thereof, including travel, lodging and meal expenses, subject to the Companys travel and reimbursement policies that are no less favorable than the policies that apply to other Directors. In addition, with respect to any Sponsor Nominee who is not an employee of an ORCP Stockholder, at the request of applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder, the Company shall compensate such Sponsor Nominee in an amount and of the type (including as to incentive equity) that is no less favorable than the compensation provided to other Directors.
(ii) The Company shall obtain, for each Director nominated by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders, customary director and officer indemnity insurance on commercially reasonable terms as determined by the Board of Directors and on terms no less favorable than the director and officer indemnity insurance obtained for other Directors.
(iii) In addition to any other indemnification rights that the Directors have pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent governing documents) of the Company, each person nominated by the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders to serve on the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 5.1 shall have the right to enter into, and the Company agrees to enter into, an indemnification agreement in a form consistent with indemnification agreements customarily entered into between companies and their independent board members.
(iv) If at any time a Sponsor Nominee serving on the Board of Directors becomes a Competing Director, the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholder shall take all necessary action to cause such Competing Director to promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors; provided, that the applicable Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right to fill the resulting vacancy in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, including, in the case of the ORCP Stockholders, on any applicable committee of the Board of Directors, and the Company shall take all necessary action to fill such vacancy with the new Sponsor Nominee in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Director seat shall remain vacant until such vacancy is filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and this Section 5.1(e)(iv)).
(v) For so long as at least one Sponsor Stockholder qualifies as a Nominating Sponsor Stockholder, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate a number of members to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each Subsidiary of the Company that is proportionate (rounded up to the whole Director) to the number
30
of Sponsor Nominees that the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders are entitled to nominate to the Board of Directors pursuant to this Agreement, and the Company shall take such actions as is necessary (including the actions specified elsewhere in this Article V, mutatis mutandis) to effect the appointment of such Persons to such boards of directors (or similar governing bodies).
5.2 Initial Board Matters.
(a) The initial Board of Directors immediately following the Effective Time shall consist of the following individuals:
Sponsor Nominee Directors |
Unaffiliated Directors |
Mutually Agreed Director | ||
1. C. Dean Metropoulos 2. Kurtis Barker 3. Michael Cramer 4. Tony Lee 5. Kimberly Reed 6. Joseph Rosenberg 7. Allison Spector |
1. Robbert Rietbroek 2. Britta Bomhard 3. Susan E. Cates 4. Eric J. Foss 5. Jerry Fowden 6. Billy D. Prim 7. Steven P. Stanbrook |
1. To be agreed between the Unaffiliated Directors and the ORCP Stockholders |
(b) The initial Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be Dean Metropoulos, who shall serve as Non-Executive Chair for a period of two years from the Effective Time, or, if he is unable or unwilling to serve, an individual elected by the members of the Board of Directors. The initial Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall perform the duties and have the obligations as set forth on Exhibit B hereto.
(c) The initial Lead Independent Director of the Board of Directors shall be Jerry Fowden, who shall meet all applicable SEC and stock exchange independence tests, and shall be elected as the Lead Independent Director by the members of the Board of Directors. The Lead Independent Director may participate in all proceedings of the committees of the Board of Directors. During the 24-month period following the Effective Time, if the initial Lead Independent Director ceases to serve as a Director for any reason (including removal), the Unaffiliated Directors shall have the right to determine a replacement Lead Independent Director meeting the criteria set forth above, subject to the approval of the ORCP Stockholders so long as the ORCP Stockholders are entitled to appoint at least two Directors (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Following such 24-month period following the Effective Time, if the initial Lead Independent Director ceases to serve as a Director for any reason (including removal), the Board of Directors shall have the right to determine a replacement Lead Independent Director meeting the criteria set forth above.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, after the Effective Time, the Board of Directors shall establish the following committees, each initially consisting of four members, two of which are to be designated by the Initial ORCP Stockholder and two of which are to be designated by the Unaffiliated Directors, and each of whom shall be qualified to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law and stock exchange listing standards, and, taking into account any applicable transition provisions or exceptions, shall qualify as independent under applicable stock exchange listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC: (i) an
31
Audit Committee, which shall be chaired by an individual designated by the Unaffiliated Directors; (ii) a Sustainability Committee, which shall be chaired by an individual designated by the Initial ORCP Stockholder; (iii) a Nominating and Governance Committee, which shall be chaired by an individual designated by the Unaffiliated Directors; and (iv) a Compensation Committee, which shall be chaired by an individual designated by the Initial ORCP Stockholder; provided, that for so long as the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders have the right to designate at least half of the members of each committee, each committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of four Directors.
(e) All other committees of the Board of Directors shall initially consist of four Directors, two of which are Unaffiliated Directors and two of which are Sponsor Nominees.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, removal or replacement of the chief executive officer or equivalent officer of the Company prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Time shall require approval of two-thirds of the total number of the authorized Directors (66.7%) of the Board of Directors.
5.3 Other Governance Matters.
(a) The Company shall cause its NYSE ticker symbol to be PRMB.
(b) The Company shall have dual headquarters located in Tampa, Florida and Stamford, Connecticut, it being agreed that any change to such headquarters shall require the approval of the ORCP Stockholders (but only for so long as the ORCP Stockholders have approval rights pursuant to Section 6.1(a)).
SECTION VI. MATTERS REQUIRING CONSENT
6.1 Matters Requiring Consent.
(a) For so long as the ORCP Stockholders Beneficially Own greater than or equal to 30% of the outstanding Common Stock, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take, or be permitted to take, any of the actions enumerated in this Section 6.1(a) without the written approval of the ORCP Stockholders (in addition to any vote or consent required by the Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws or applicable law):
(i) any authorization, creation (by way of reclassification, merger, conversion, consolidation or otherwise) or issuance of Common Stock or other equity securities (or securities convertible thereinto) of the Company or the Companys Subsidiaries, including any designation of the rights (including special voting rights) of one or more classes of preferred stock of the Company or the Companys Subsidiaries, other than: (1) issuances to the Company or any of the Companys wholly owned Subsidiaries; (2) issuances of Common Stock or other equity securities (or securities convertible thereinto) of the Company or the Companys Subsidiaries not in excess of 3% in the aggregate of such entitys outstanding equity interests; (3) pursuant to an equity compensation plan either in effect as of the Effective Time or otherwise adopted by the Board of Directors; or (4) upon the conversion of convertible securities or the exercise of warrants or options; provided, that such convertible securities, warrants or options are outstanding as of the Effective Time or issued in compliance with this Section 6.1;
32
(ii) entering into, or materially amending, any joint venture or similar business alliance having a fair market value as of the date of formation thereof (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors) in excess of $200 million;
(iii) entering into, or materially amending, any agreement providing for the acquisition or divestiture of assets or equity securities of any Person, in each case and whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, providing for aggregate consideration in excess of $200 million;
(iv) declaring or paying any dividend or distribution to the Companys stockholders (1) on a non-pro rata basis or (2) in excess of $175 million in the aggregate during any fiscal year;
(v) any redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of its equity securities or any declaration thereof, other than (1) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any equity securities of any director, officer, independent contractor or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the termination of the employment or services of such director, officer, independent contractor or employee in the ordinary course of business as contemplated by the applicable equity compensation plan or award agreement with respect to such equity securities or (2) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any equity securities of any current or former officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation pursuant to the Companys compensation recovery policy and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC;
(vi) incurring indebtedness for borrowed money (including through capital leases, incurrence of loans, issuance of debt securities or guarantee of indebtedness of another Person) in such an amount which, after the incurrence thereof, would cause the Companys total net leverage ratio (as such term or equivalent term is customarily defined) to exceed 3.5x, other than (1) any incurrence under any of the senior note indentures in existence as of the Effective Time and (2) any incurrence made in the ordinary course of business under the Triton Credit Agreements in existence as of the Effective Time;
(vii) amending, modifying, waiving or repealing (whether by merger, consolidation, conversion or otherwise) any provision of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a manner that adversely affects (1) any powers, preferences or rights of the ORCP Stockholders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the advance waiver of corporate opportunities); (2) any rights or protections, or increases the liability (actual or potential) of a Sponsor Nominee; or (3) the Companys ability to perform under this Agreement or any successor stockholders agreement with the ORCP Stockholders;
(viii) designating a Director to the Board of Directors or to a committee thereof in a manner contrary to the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders rights as described in the Certificate of Incorporation; and
(ix) entering into of any agreement to do any of the foregoing.
33
For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors may approve and adopt any matter referred to in this Section 6.1(a) that also requires approval of the Companys stockholders under the DGCL prior to the Company obtaining the approval required by this Section 6.1(a); provided that the Company may not permit such matter to occur until the approval required by this Section 6.1(a) is obtained.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take, or be permitted to take, any of the actions enumerated in this Section 6.1(b) without the approval of the Directors constituting two-thirds of the total number of authorized Directors (66.7%) of the Board of Directors:
(i) any issuance of Common Stock or other Equity Securities, including any designation of the rights (including special voting rights) of one or more classes of preferred stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a Sponsor Stockholder, other than the ORCP Stockholders pursuant to an exercise of purchase rights in accordance with Section IV hereof;
(ii) entering into or effecting a Change of Control (as defined in any of the senior note indentures in effect on the date hereof) or any similar transaction;
(iii) increasing or decreasing the size of the Board of Directors or the board of directors of any Subsidiary or any committee thereof except in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation; and
(iv) initiating any voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, receivership, bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding involving the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries.
SECTION VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
7.1 Information and Access Rights.
(a) Available Financial Information. Upon written request, the Company will deliver, or will cause to be delivered, to each Sponsor Stockholder (until such time as such Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock):
(i) as soon as available after the end of each month and in any event within 30 days thereafter, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such month and consolidated statements of operations, income, cash flows, retained earnings and stockholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for each month and for the current fiscal year of the Company to date, together with a comparison of such statements to the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year and to the Companys business plan then in effect and approved by the Board of Directors;
34
(ii) an annual budget, a business plan and financial forecasts for the Company for the fiscal year of the Company (the Annual Budget), no later than three business days after the approval thereof by the Board of Directors (but no later than March 31 of such fiscal year), in such manner and form as approved by the Board of Directors, which shall include at least a projection of income and a projected cash flow statement for each fiscal quarter in such fiscal year and a projected balance sheet as of the end of each fiscal quarter in such fiscal year, in each case prepared in reasonable detail, with appropriate presentation and discussion of the principal assumptions upon which such budgets and projections are based, which shall be accompanied by the statement of the chief executive officer or chief financial officer or equivalent officer of the Company to the effect that such budget and projections are based on reasonable and good faith estimates and assumptions made by the management of the Company for the respective periods covered thereby; it being recognized by such holders that such budgets and projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by them may differ from the projected results. Any material changes in such Annual Budget shall be delivered to the Sponsor Stockholders as promptly as practicable after such changes have been approved by the Board of Directors;
(iii) as soon as available after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, and in any event within 90 days thereafter, (1) the annual financial statements required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act or (2) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year, and consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year, prepared in accordance with GAAP and setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by the opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company, and a Company-prepared comparison to the Companys Annual Budget for such year as approved by the Board of Directors (the Annual Financial Statements);
(iv) as soon as available after the end of the first, second and third quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Company, and in any event within 45 days thereafter, (1) the quarterly financial statements required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act or (2) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such quarterly period, and consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and for the current fiscal year to date, prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of notes thereto) and setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods of the previous fiscal year and to the Companys Annual Budget then in effect as approved by the Board of Directors, all of the information to be provided pursuant to this Section 7.1(a)(iv) in reasonable detail and certified by the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company.
In addition to the foregoing, the Company covenants and agrees to provide periodic updates to each Sponsor Stockholder during the course of the preparation of the Annual Budget and to keep the Sponsor Stockholders reasonably informed as to its progress, status and the budgeted items set forth therein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.1(a), the Companys obligations thereunder shall be deemed satisfied to the extent that such information is provided by (x) providing the financial statements of any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such financial statements reflect the entirety of the operations of the
35
business or (y) in the case of Section 7.1(a)(iii) and Section 7.1(a)(iv), filing such financial statements of the Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company whose financial statements satisfy the requirements of clause (x), as applicable, with the SEC on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (EDGAR) or in such other manner as makes them publicly available. The Companys obligation to furnish the materials described in Section 7.1(a)(i), Section 7.1(a)(iii) and Section 7.1(a)(iv), shall be satisfied so long as it transmits such materials to the requesting Sponsor Stockholders within the time periods specified therein, notwithstanding that such materials may actually be received after the expiration of such periods.
(b) Other Information. The Company covenants and agrees to deliver to each Sponsor Stockholder, upon written request (until such time as such Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock), with reasonable promptness, such other information and data (including such information and reports made available to any lender of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any credit agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such Sponsor Stockholder. Each such Sponsor Stockholder (until such time as such Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock) shall have access to such other information concerning the Companys business or financial condition and the Companys management as may be reasonably requested, including such information as may be necessary to comply with regulatory, tax or other governmental filings.
(c) Access. Until such time as a Sponsor Stockholder Beneficially Owns less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, auditors and other agents to (i) afford such Sponsor Stockholder and its officers, employees, auditors and other agents, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, at all reasonable times to the Companys and its Subsidiaries officers, employees, auditors, legal counsel, properties, offices, plants and other facilities and to all books and records from time to time as such Sponsor Stockholder may reasonably request and (ii) afford such Sponsor Stockholder and its officers, employees, auditors and other agents the opportunity to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with its officers from time to time as such Sponsor Stockholder may reasonably request, including a monthly call with the Companys management, including its Chief Financial Officer, to discuss the financial condition and performance of, and material updates with respect to, the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) Certain Tax Matters. Until such time as the Sponsor Stockholders, collectively, Beneficially Own less than 5% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) reasonably cooperate with the Sponsor Stockholders to provide them with any tax-related information requested by the Sponsor Stockholders, including for this purpose any information reasonably required for the completion of tax and information returns of the Sponsor Stockholders and their respective Affiliates and direct and indirect equity holders (including for this purpose information regarding the estimated earnings and profits of the Company) and the conduct of any tax audit or proceeding relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries. In addition, upon the request of the Sponsor Stockholders, the Company will promptly assess its status as a United States real property holding corporation (as such term is used in Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) (USRPHC) and provide a certification that the Company is not a USRPHC (or provide notice of its legal inability to provide such a certification considering the assets directly and indirectly owned by the Company).
36
7.2 Confidentiality. Each Sponsor Stockholder agrees that it will keep confidential and will not disclose for any purpose, other than in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company and its Subsidiaries, any confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to Section 7.1, unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation by such Sponsor Stockholder or its affiliates), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by such Sponsor Stockholder without use of the Companys confidential information or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to such Sponsor Stockholder by a third party (other than an Affiliate of any Sponsor Stockholder) without a breach of any confidentiality obligations or fiduciary duties such third party may have to the Company that is known to such Sponsor Stockholder; provided, that, a Sponsor Stockholder may disclose confidential information (i) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professional advisors to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company, (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Shares from such Sponsor Stockholder as long as such prospective purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.2 as if a Sponsor Stockholder, (iii) to any Affiliate, partner, member, limited partners, prospective partners or related investment fund of such Sponsor Stockholder and their respective directors, employees, consultants and representatives, in each case in the ordinary course of business (provided, that the recipients of such confidential information are subject to a customary confidentiality and non-disclosure obligation), (iv) as may be reasonably determined by such Sponsor Stockholder to be necessary in connection with such Sponsor Stockholders enforcement of its rights in connection with this Agreement, or (v) as may otherwise be required by law or legal, judicial or regulatory process.
7.3 Reliance. Each covenant and agreement made by a party in this Agreement or in any certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement on or before the Effective Time is material, shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the other parties and shall remain operative and in full force and effect after the Effective Time regardless of any investigation. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
7.4 Access to Agreement; Amendment and Waiver; Actions of the Board of Directors. For so long as this Agreement shall be in effect, this Agreement shall be made available for inspection by any Sponsor Stockholder at the principal executive offices of the Company. Any party may waive in writing any provision hereof intended for its benefit. No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to any party at law or in equity or otherwise. This Agreement may be amended only with the prior written consent of the ORCP Stockholders and the Company (acting with the approval of the Unaffiliated Directors); provided, that any amendment, modification, or waiver to any provision of this Agreement that is materially and disproportionately adverse in any material respect to a Sponsor Stockholder (relative to any other Sponsor Stockholder) shall require the approval of such Sponsor Stockholder. Any consent given as provided in the preceding sentence shall be binding on all parties. Further, with the prior written consent of the ORCP Stockholders and the Company, at any time hereafter, Permitted Transferees may be made parties hereto, and any such additional parties shall be treated as Sponsor Stockholders for all purposes hereunder, by executing a counterpart signature page in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, which signature page shall be attached to this Agreement and become a part hereof without any further action of any other party hereto.
37
7.5 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, emailed (so long as the sender thereof has not received a response from the applicable server indicating a delivery failure or delay) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses:
If to the Company:
c/o Primo Brands Corporation
1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800
Tampa, Florida 33607
Attention: General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Email:mpoe@primowater.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square, Suite 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attention: Matthew H. Meyers, Jonathan L. H. Nygren and Adam S. Weinstock
Email: matthew.meyers@faegredrinker.com, jon.nygren@faegredrinker.com and
adam.weinstock@faegredrinker.com
If to the ORCP Stockholders:
c/o One Rock Capital Management, LLC
45 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10111
Attention: General Counsel
Email: gc@onerock.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice):
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Attention: Alexander B. Johnson, Andrew Elken and Javier Stark
Facsimile: (212) 751-4864
Email: alex.johnson@lw.com, andrew.elken@lw.com and javier.stark@lw.com
or such other address or email address as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a business day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding business day in the place of receipt.
38
7.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and delivered via facsimile, .pdf or other electronic transmission, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
7.7 Remedies; Severability. It is specifically understood and agreed that any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by any party will result in irreparable injury to the other parties, that the remedy at law alone will be an inadequate remedy for such breach, and that, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies which they may have, such other parties may enforce their respective rights by actions for specific performance or injunctive relief (to the extent permitted at law or in equity). If any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein are not to be in any way impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
7.8 Entire Agreement; Termination of Prior Agreements. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
7.9 Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect until (a) terminated automatically (without any action by any party to this Agreement) as to a particular Sponsor Stockholder when such Sponsor Stockholder ceases to Beneficially Own any Shares, (b) as to a particular Sponsor Stockholder, receipt of written notice of termination by such Sponsor Stockholder to the Company and the ORCP Stockholders, or (c) receipt of written notice of termination for all Sponsor Stockholders by the ORCP Stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding Shares of Class A Common Stock held by all Sponsor Stockholders at such time; provided, that, notwithstanding any such termination, Sections 3.4 and 7.2 shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. Termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party for the breach of any obligations under this Agreement prior to such termination.
7.10 Governing Law. This Agreement is to be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules are not mandatorily applicable by statute and would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
7.11 Successors and Assigns; Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and the respective successors and assigns of the parties as contemplated herein. Any successor to the Company by way of merger or otherwise must specifically agree to be bound by the terms hereof as a condition of such succession. Except with respect to the Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 3.4, the parties hereby agree that their respective rights set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other parties hereto, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
39
7.12 Consent to Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
(a) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) to resolve all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other agreement executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the negotiation, breach, validity, termination or performance hereof and thereof or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and agrees that it will not bring any such action in any court other than the federal or state courts located in Wilmington, Delaware. Each party further irrevocably waives any objection to proceeding in such courts based upon lack of personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue in such courts and further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to make a claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to service of process by registered mail at the address to which notices are to be given as provided in Section 7.5. Each of the parties hereto agrees that its or his or her submission to jurisdiction and its or his or her consent to service of process by mail is made for the express benefit of the other parties hereto. The choice of forum set forth in this Section 7.12(a) shall not be deemed to preclude the enforcement of any judgment of a Delaware federal or state court, or the taking of any action under this Agreement to enforce such a judgment, in any other appropriate jurisdiction.
(b) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.
(c) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY OF THEM AGAINST THE OTHER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS EXECUTED AND DELIVERED PURSUANT TO OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE NEGOTIATION, BREACH, VALIDITY, TERMINATION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF AND THEREOF OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY. FURTHER, (I) NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL SEEK A JURY TRIAL IN ANY SUCH ACTION AND (II) NO PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE IN THIS SECTION 7.12. NO PARTY HAS IN ANY WAY AGREED WITH OR REPRESENTED TO ANY OTHER PARTY THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 7.12 WILL NOT BE FULLY ENFORCED IN ALL INSTANCES.
40
7.13 Further Assurances; Company Logo. At any time or from time to time after the Effective Time, the parties hereto agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as any other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the provisions of this Agreement and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder. The Company hereby grants the Sponsor Stockholders and their respective Affiliates permission to use the Companys and its Subsidiaries name and logo in marketing materials.
7.14 Regulatory Matters. The Company shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to keep the Sponsor Stockholders reasonably informed, on a current basis, of any events, discussions, notices or changes with respect to any criminal or material regulatory investigation or action involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, so that the Sponsor Stockholders and their respective Affiliates will have the opportunity to take appropriate steps to avoid or mitigate any regulatory consequences to them that might arise from such investigation or action.
7.15 No Inconsistent Agreements; Most Favored Nations. The Company shall not enter into any agreement or side letter with, or grant any proxy to, any other Person that conflicts with the provisions of this Agreement. In the event that the Company desires to enter into any agreement with any Person, including any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company, giving or granting any registration (or related) rights the terms of which are more favorable than or senior to the registration or other rights granted to the ORCP Stockholders hereunder, then (i) the Company shall provide prior written notice thereof to the ORCP Stockholders and (ii) upon execution by the Company of such other agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be, without any further action by the ORCP Stockholders or the Company, automatically amended and modified in an economically and legally equivalent manner such that the ORCP Stockholders shall receive the benefit of the more favorable terms and/or conditions (as the case may be) set forth in such other agreement; provided, that, upon written notice to the Company at any time, any ORCP Stockholder may elect not to accept the benefit of any such amended or modified term or condition, in which event the term or condition contained in this Agreement shall apply to such ORCP Stockholder as it was in effect immediately prior to such amendment or modification as if such amendment or modification never occurred with respect to such ORCP Stockholder.
7.16 In-Kind Distributions. If any of the Sponsor Stockholders (and/or any of their Affiliates) seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Shares to its respective direct or indirect equity holders, the Company will, subject to any applicable lockups, work with the foregoing Persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested and consistent with the Companys obligations under the Securities Act.
41
7.17 Recapitalization Transactions.
If at any time or from time to time there is any change in the capital structure of the Company by way of share split, share dividend, combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by other means, appropriate adjustments will be made in the provision hereof so that the rights and privileges granted hereby will continue with the same effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
[Signature Pages Follow]
42
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties are signing this Stockholders Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Hih Song Kim | |
Name: Hih Song Kim | ||
Title: Chief Administrative Officer | ||
INITIAL ORCP STOCKHOLDER | ||
TRITON WATER PARENT HOLDINGS, LP | ||
By: ORCP III DE TOPCO GP, LLC, its general partner | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: Tony W. Lee | ||
Title: Managing Member |
[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Joinder Agreement
By execution of this signature page, [__________________] hereby agrees to become a party to, and to be bound by the obligations of, and receive the benefits of, that certain Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024, by and among Primo Brands Corporation and Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, as amended from time to time thereafter.
[NAME] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Notice Address: | ||
| ||
|
Accepted: | ||
[NAME] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT B
Role of Initial Chairperson
The Companys Board of Directors will include a Non-Executive Chair, initially Dean Metropoulos. Mr. Metropoulos will participate in the initial investor presentation to Primo Water Corporation shareholders and consult with the Lead Independent Director to set and schedule the agenda of the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Non-Executive Chair role will follow customary parameters for a non-employee director, description of which is included below. The Non-Executive Chair may participate in all proceedings of the committees of the Board of Directors. The initial Non-Executive Chair may, at the option of the Initial ORCP Stockholder, be designated by the Initial ORCP Stockholder as one of its two designees for the Nominating and Governance Committee (the Governance Committee) and the Compensation Committee, in addition to other committees assigned by the Board of Directors, during the two-year term referenced in Section 5.2(b); provided that in the event the initial Non-Executive Chair is not qualified to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law and stock exchange listing standards, the Nominating Sponsor Stockholders shall designate a different Sponsor Nominee to serve on such committee or committees.
The expectation is that the initial Non-Executive Chair will serve for two years in the Non-Executive Chair role, during which time the compensation will be commensurate with the current Primo Water Corporation role or market-based levels for companies of similar size.
The combined Company will adhere to current Primo Water Corporation policies applicable to members of the Board of Directors, including any share ownership guidelines, non-employee director compensation policies, insider trading and reporting policies, corporate governance guidelines, etc.
While in office, the initial Non-Executive Chairs equity interest will be held, directly or indirectly, through the ORCP Stockholders and subject to the same restrictions on transfer as apply to the ORCP Stockholders, other than any equity interests purchased by, or granted to, the initial Non-Executive Chair directly. While in office, the initial Non-Executive Chair may not divest any Company equity he holds in a manner that would be reportable under applicable securities laws.
Because the role is an outside director role, neither the initial Non-Executive Chair nor his related persons and entities would be involved in day-to-day Company business as employees, consultants, independent contractors or otherwise; provided, that the initial Non-Executive Chair shall participate and represent the Board of Directors and the Company in certain communications with stockholders and other stakeholders.
The successor Non-Executive Chair will be chosen by an ad hoc committee of six directors, comprising three Unaffiliated Directors chosen by all Unaffiliated Directors and three Sponsor Nominees chosen by all Sponsor Nominees.
Non-Executive Chair Role Description:
| Provides leadership to the Board of Directors |
| Provides support and advice to the chief executive officer (CEO) |
| Per the Companys bylaws, holds the non-exclusive authority to call meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the independent Directors |
| Presides over: |
| Meetings of the Board of Directors, |
| Executive sessions of the independent Directors without management present, and |
| Annual and special meetings of stockholders |
| Briefs the CEO on issues and concerns arising in the executive sessions of the Board of Directors |
| Helps enable access to information to help the Board of Directors to monitor the Companys performance and the performance of management |
| Facilitates communication between and among the independent directors and management |
| Coordinates periodic Board of Directors input and review of managements strategic plan for the Company |
| Organizes the work of the Board of Directors |
| In consultation with Lead Independent Director, establishes the annual schedule of the meetings of the Board of Directors |
| In consultation with Lead Independent Director, sets the agendas for all meetings of the Board of Directors |
| Works with the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee with respect to: |
| the recruitment, selection and orientation of new members of the Board of Directors and committee composition; and the annual self-assessment and evaluation processes of the Board of Directors |
| Oversees the Compensation Committees development of appropriate objectives for the CEO and monitors the CEOs performance |
| Coordinates and chairs the annual performance review of the CEO performed by the Board of Directors and communicates results to the CEO |
| Leads the review of the succession plan for the CEO and other key senior executives by the Board of Directors |
| Attends and may participate in all Committee meetings ex officio and serves as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and such other Committees as assigned by the Board of Directors |
Exhibit 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT AGREEMENT
This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (this Agreement) is made as of November 8, 2024 by and between Primo Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and ______________, [a member of the Board of Directors/an officer/an employee/an agent] of the Company (Indemnitee). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement of expenses.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers, or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) and Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL). The Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and its directors, officers, and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification, and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to, and in furtherance of, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights of Indemnitee under any directors and officers liability insurance policy, and is not a substitute therefor, and does not diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, and available insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a/an [officer/director/employee/agent] without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as [a/an] [director/officer/employee/agent] of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise (as defined herein)) and Indemnitee.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(a) Affiliate shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (as in effect on the date hereof).
(b) Agent means any person who is authorized by the Company or an Enterprise to act for or represent the interests of the Company or an Enterprise, respectively.
(c) A Change in Control occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below), other than the Sponsor Stockholder Entities (as defined below) and their Related Parties (as defined below), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Companys securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
-2-
ii. Change in Board. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(c)(i), 2(c)(iii) or 2(c)(iv) of this Agreement) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;
iv. Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; and
v. Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
vi. For purposes of this Section 2(c), the following terms have the following meanings:
1 | Person has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company. |
2 | Beneficial Owner has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity. |
-3-
(d) Corporate Status describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, employee, or Agent of the Company or an Enterprise.
(e) Disinterested Director means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(f) Enterprise means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or Agent.
(g) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
(h) Expenses includes all reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, excise taxes and penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and all other disbursements, obligations, or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with preparing for or participating in a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) of this Agreement only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitees rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitees counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, do not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee, or fees, salaries, wages or benefits owed to Indemnitee.
(i) Independent Counsel means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law (and may be a panel firm under an applicable director and officer insurance policy maintained by the Company) and neither presently is, nor in the five years prior to its selection or appointment has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements) or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel does 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 Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel.
-4-
(j) Proceeding includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing, or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is, or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness, or otherwise by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitees part while acting pursuant to Indemnitees Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to, or culminate in, the institution of a Proceeding.
(k) Related Parties means collectively, with respect to any Person, (i) any controlling stockholder, controlling member, general partner, subsidiary, spouse or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of such Person, (ii) any estate, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners or owners of which consist solely of one or more of the Sponsor Stockholder Entities (as defined below) and their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its subsidiaries, if applicable) and Related Parties and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (i), or (iii) any executor, administrator, trustee, manager, director or other similar fiduciary of any Person referred to in the immediately preceding clause (ii), acting solely in such capacity.
(l) Sponsor Stockholder Entities means funds affiliated with or advised by (i) One Rock Capital Partners, LLC or (ii) any other individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity that (x) becomes a party to the stockholders agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024, between the Company and Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP (the Stockholders Agreement) by executing a joinder agreement thereto and (y) is designated as a Sponsor Stockholder under the Stockholders Agreement.
Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with, or in respect of, such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue, or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
-5-
Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue, or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the state of Delaware (the Delaware Court) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.
Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues, or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue, or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue, or matter.
Section 6. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitees behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee, or otherwise asked to participate or provide information.
Section 7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 8. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5 of this Agreement, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including but not limited to, the DGCL and any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that expand the Companys ability to indemnify its officers, directors, employees or Agents) if Indemnitee is a party to, or threatened to be made a party to, any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor).
-6-
Section 9. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to indemnify Indemnitee for:
(a) any amount actually paid to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) of this Agreement and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision;
(b) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;
(c) reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act);
(d) reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or
(e) any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitees rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
Section 10. Advances of Expenses.
(a) The Company will advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with:
i. any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee; or
ii. any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if
-7-
1 the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitees rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, including a proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, or
2 the Board authorized the advancement of expenses for such Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), whether prior to or after its initiation.
(b) The Company will advance the Expenses within forty-five (45) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding eligible for advancement of expenses.
(c) Advances will be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution of this Agreement and delivery to the Company. No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement. The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitees ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitees ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.
Section 11. Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.
(a) Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Indemnitees failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.
(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
-8-
Section 12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.
(a) Unless a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification will be made:
i. by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;
ii. by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;
iii. if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or
iv. if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.
(b) If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board).
(c) The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(iii) or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party. The notified party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to such selection has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection made by the Company or Indemnitee to the others selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(d) Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons, or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.
-9-
(e) If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within forty-five (45) days after such determination.
Section 13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement, the person, persons, or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper under the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b) If the determination of the Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification has not been made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after the later of (i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitees request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the Determination Period), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period will not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iv) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel.
-10-
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue, or matter therein by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on (i) the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or (iv) information or records given or reports made to the Company, its subsidiaries or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise. Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company, as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan. The provisions of this Section 13(d) are not exclusive and do not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other person affiliated with the Company or an Enterprise (including, but not limited to, a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, Agent or employee) may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitees right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 14. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7, or 8 of this Agreement within forty-five (45) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitees option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
-11-
Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitees rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company will not oppose Indemnitees right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.
(c) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 unless (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, was made in connection with Indemnitees request for indemnification, or (ii) the Company is prohibited from indemnifying Indemnitee under applicable law.
(d) The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding, or enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement, or defense of Indemnitees rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee under this Agreement. The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within forty-five (45) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding concerning this Agreement, Indemnitees other rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that Indemnitees claims in such action were made in bad faith or frivolous, or that the Company is prohibited by law from indemnifying Indemnitee for such Expenses.
-12-
Section 15. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
(a) The rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitees Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is 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, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities). The relationship between the Company and such other Persons, other than an Enterprise, with respect to Indemnitees rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses, and insurance is described by this subsection, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 15 with respect to a Proceeding concerning Indemnitees Corporate Status with an Enterprise.
i. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees:
1) the Companys obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of any other Persons, other than an Enterprise, are secondary (i.e., the Company is the indemnitor of first resort) with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding;
2) the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding, whether created by law, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;
3) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the Companys obligations; and
-13-
4) the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) or an insurer of any such Person.
ii. the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities), whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities), directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.
iii. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Companys obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities).
iv. Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Stockholder Entities) is specifically in excess over the Companys obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or Agents of the Company, the Company policy or policies will cover Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or Agent under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. Indemnitee agrees to assist the Companys efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.
-14-
(d) The Companys obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitees Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitees Corporate Status with such Enterprise. The Companys obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to, or arising from, Indemnitees Corporate Status with such Enterprise.
(e) In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or its insurance carrier. Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 16. Duration of Agreement. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are (i) binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), (ii) continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or Agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and (iii) inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitees spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
Section 17. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and will remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
-15-
Section 18. Interpretation. Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law. The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement of Expenses in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Companys stockholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.
Section 19. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer, employee, or Agent of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as director, officer, employee, or Agent of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors and officers insurance maintained by the Company, and applicable law, is not a substitute therefor, and does not diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
Section 20. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be valid unless executed in writing by the party entitled to enforce the provision to be waived and any such waiver will not be deemed or constitutes a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 21. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 22. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.
-16-
(b) If to the Company to:
Primo Brands Corporation
1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800
Tampa, Florida 33607, United States
Attention: Marni Poe General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Email: [ ]
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 23. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and Agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
Section 24. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agree that any action, claim, or proceeding between the parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action, claim, or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action, claim, or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action, claim, or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
Section 25. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
Section 26. Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Sponsor Stockholder Entities are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
Section 27. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.
[Signature Pages Follow]
-17-
Exhibit 10.7
Execution Version
PROJECT TRITON
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of March 31, 2021,
by and among
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Borrower
TRITON WATER INTERMEDIATE, INC.,
as Holdings
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
as Administrative Agent,
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
as Collateral Agent
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., BOFA SECURITIES, INC., JEFFERIES FINANCE
LLC, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS1, MIZUHO BANK, LTD. AND CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING
LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
1 | RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets business of Royal Bank of Canada and its Affiliates. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I. |
| |||||
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
| |||||
Section 1.01 |
Defined Terms | 2 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 84 | ||||
Section 1.03 |
Accounting and Finance Terms; Accounting Periods; Unrestricted Subsidiaries; Determination of Fair Market Value | 85 | ||||
Section 1.04 |
Rounding | 85 | ||||
Section 1.05 |
References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. | 85 | ||||
Section 1.06 |
Times of Day | 85 | ||||
Section 1.07 |
Available Amount Transactions | 85 | ||||
Section 1.08 |
Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Acquisitions; Basket and Ratio Compliance | 86 | ||||
Section 1.09 |
Currency Equivalents Generally | 89 | ||||
Section 1.10 |
Co-Borrowers | 90 | ||||
Section 1.11 |
Benchmark Replacement | 91 | ||||
ARTICLE II. |
| |||||
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS |
| |||||
Section 2.01 |
Term Loans | 91 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Intentionally Omitted | 93 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Intentionally Omitted | 93 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Intentionally Omitted | 93 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Conversion/Continuation | 93 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Availability | 94 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Prepayments | 94 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 100 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Repayment of Loans | 101 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Interest | 101 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Fees | 102 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 103 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Evidence of Indebtedness | 103 | ||||
Section 2.14 |
Payments Generally | 103 | ||||
Section 2.15 |
Sharing of Payments, Etc. | 105 | ||||
Section 2.16 |
Incremental Borrowings | 105 | ||||
Section 2.17 |
Refinancing Amendments | 109 | ||||
Section 2.18 |
Extensions of Loans | 109 | ||||
Section 2.19 |
Defaulting Lenders | 110 | ||||
Section 2.20 |
Judgment Currency | 111 | ||||
ARTICLE III. |
| |||||
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
| |||||
Section 3.01 |
Taxes | 112 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Illegality | 116 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 116 |
Section 3.04 |
Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans | 117 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Funding Losses | 118 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation | 119 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances | 119 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Survival | 120 | ||||
ARTICLE IV. |
| |||||
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS |
| |||||
Section 4.01 |
Conditions to Initial Borrowing | 121 | ||||
ARTICLE V. |
| |||||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
| |||||
Section 5.01 |
Organization, Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws | 124 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention | 124 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Governmental Authorization | 125 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Binding Effect | 125 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 125 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Litigation | 125 | ||||
Section 5.07 |
Labor Matters | 126 | ||||
Section 5.08 |
Ownership of Property; Liens | 126 | ||||
Section 5.09 |
Environmental Matters | 126 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Taxes | 126 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
[Reserved] | 126 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Subsidiaries | 126 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 127 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Disclosure | 127 | ||||
Section 5.15 |
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 127 | ||||
Section 5.16 |
Solvency | 127 | ||||
Section 5.17 |
USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and OFAC | 128 | ||||
Section 5.18 |
Collateral Documents | 128 | ||||
Section 5.19 |
Use of Proceeds | 128 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. |
| |||||
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 6.01 |
Financial Statements | 128 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information | 130 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Notices | 131 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Payment of Certain Taxes | 132 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 132 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties | 132 | ||||
Section 6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance | 132 | ||||
Section 6.08 |
Compliance with Laws | 133 | ||||
Section 6.09 |
Books and Records | 133 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Inspection Rights | 133 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security | 133 | ||||
Section 6.12 |
Further Assurances | 136 | ||||
Section 6.13 |
Designation of Subsidiaries | 137 |
ii
Section 6.14 |
Maintenance of Ratings | 137 | ||||
Section 6.15 |
Change in Nature of Business | 137 | ||||
Section 6.16 |
Post-Closing Matters | 138 | ||||
Section 6.17 |
Use of Proceeds | 138 | ||||
Section 6.18 |
Company Specified Representations | 138 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. |
| |||||
NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 7.01 |
Liens | 138 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Investments | 143 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
Indebtedness | 147 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Fundamental Changes | 151 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Dispositions | 153 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Restricted Payments | 156 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 160 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Negative Pledge | 162 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
Junior Debt Prepayments; Amendments to Junior Financing Documents | 164 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Passive Holding Company | 166 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Amendments to Organizational Documents and Changes to Fiscal Year | 167 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. |
| |||||
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] |
| |||||
ARTICLE IX. |
| |||||
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
| |||||
Section 9.01 |
Events of Default | 167 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Remedies upon Event of Default | 170 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Application of Funds | 171 | ||||
ARTICLE X. |
| |||||
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS |
| |||||
Section 10.01 |
Appointment and Authority of the Administrative Agent | 172 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Rights as a Lender | 173 | ||||
Section 10.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 173 | ||||
Section 10.04 |
Reliance by the Agents | 174 | ||||
Section 10.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 175 | ||||
Section 10.06 |
Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders; Disclosure of Information by Agents | 175 | ||||
Section 10.07 |
Indemnification of Agents | 176 | ||||
Section 10.08 |
No Other Duties; Other Agents, Lead Arrangers, Managers, Etc. | 177 | ||||
Section 10.09 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent | 177 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding | 178 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters; Exercise of Remedies | 180 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents | 183 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Intercreditor Agreements | 184 | ||||
Section 10.14 |
Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements | 184 | ||||
Section 10.15 |
Certain ERISA Matters | 185 | ||||
Section 10.16 |
Return of Certain Payments | 186 |
iii
ARTICLE XI. |
| |||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
| |||||
Section 11.01 |
Amendments, Waivers, Etc. | 187 | ||||
Section 11.02 |
Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies | 192 | ||||
Section 11.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies | 194 | ||||
Section 11.04 |
Attorney Costs and Expenses | 194 | ||||
Section 11.05 |
Indemnification by the Borrower | 195 | ||||
Section 11.06 |
Marshaling; Payments Set Aside | 197 | ||||
Section 11.07 |
Successors and Assigns | 197 | ||||
Section 11.08 |
Confidentiality | 205 | ||||
Section 11.09 |
Set-off | 206 | ||||
Section 11.10 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 207 | ||||
Section 11.11 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 207 | ||||
Section 11.12 |
Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents | 207 | ||||
Section 11.13 |
Survival | 208 | ||||
Section 11.14 |
Severability | 208 | ||||
Section 11.15 |
GOVERNING LAW | 208 | ||||
Section 11.16 |
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY | 209 | ||||
Section 11.17 |
Limitation of Liability | 210 | ||||
Section 11.18 |
Use of Name, Logo, Etc. | 210 | ||||
Section 11.19 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 210 | ||||
Section 11.20 |
Service of Process | 211 | ||||
Section 11.21 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 211 | ||||
Section 11.22 |
Binding Effect | 211 | ||||
Section 11.23 |
Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights | 211 | ||||
Section 11.24 |
Headings | 212 | ||||
Section 11.25 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 212 | ||||
Section 11.26 |
Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 212 | ||||
Section 11.27 |
Disqualified Lenders | 213 |
iv
SCHEDULES | ||
2.01 | Commitments | |
5.06 | Litigation | |
5.07 | Labor Matters | |
5.08 | Material Real Property | |
5.12 | Subsidiaries | |
6.15 | Post-Closing Matters | |
7.01 | Existing Liens | |
7.02 | Existing Investments | |
7.03 | Existing Indebtedness | |
7.07 | Existing Agreements, Instruments or Arrangements with Affiliates | |
11.02 | Administrative Agents Office, Certain Addresses for Notices | |
EXHIBITS | ||
Form of | ||
A-1 | Committed Loan Notice | |
A-2 | Conversion/Continuation Notice | |
B-1 | Term Loan Note | |
C | Compliance Certificate | |
D-1 | Assignment and Assumption | |
D-2 | Affiliate Assignment Notice | |
E | Guaranty | |
F | Security Agreement | |
G-1 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-2 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-3 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-4 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
H | Global Intercompany Note | |
I | Solvency Certificate | |
J | Prepayment Notice | |
K-1 | Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement | |
K-2 | Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement | |
L | Auction Procedures |
FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 31, 2021, by and among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Holdings), Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the Administrative Agent), Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as collateral agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the Collateral Agent), each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as an agent, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (collectively, the Lead Arrangers), and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the Lenders and, individually, a Lender). Capitalized terms used herein are defined as set forth in Section 1.01.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
The Borrower has requested that upon satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV, the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower in the form of $2,550,000,000 of Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date as a first lien secured credit facility pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Borrower will directly or indirectly acquire (the Acquisition) the Acquired Business (as defined below).
On or prior to the Closing Date, the Sponsor, Co-Investors and Company Persons will, directly or indirectly, contribute (the Equity Contribution) to the Borrower (or a Parent Entity of the Borrower) an aggregate amount of cash and/or rollover equity that represents not less than 27% (the Minimum Equity Contribution) of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date, (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes (as defined below) issued on the Closing Date and (c) the amount of such cash and fair market value of rollover equity contributed, in each case, on the Closing Date; provided that the amount of any Indebtedness incurred for the following purposes will be excluded: (i) Indebtedness incurred to finance any original issue discount or upfront fees in connection with the Transactions from the exercise of any market flex or securities demand provisions applicable to the Borrower and (ii) any ABL Loans (as defined below) borrowed on the Closing Date; provided further, following the consummation of the Transactions, the Sponsor will control a majority of the voting Equity Interests of the Borrower.
On the Closing Date, the Borrower, as issuer, will enter into the Notes Indenture pursuant to which the Borrower will issue Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $770,000,000.
On the Closing Date, the Borrower enter into the ABL Credit Agreement pursuant to which it will obtain revolving loan and other commitments in an aggregate amount of $350,000,000.
The proceeds of the Loans will be used to finance the Transactions, for payment of Transaction Expenses, for working capital purposes and general corporate purposes and to finance transactions not prohibited by this Agreement. The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to make Loans on the terms and subject only 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 have the meanings set forth below:
ABL Agent means Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, together with any permitted successors and assigns, in such capacity.
ABL Credit Agreement means that certain credit agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, the ABL Agent and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements (in each case with the same or new lenders, institutional investors or agents), including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.
ABL Credit Facility means the senior secured asset-based revolving loan facility and any term loan facilities made pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement.
ABL Loan Documents means the ABL Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, as each such document may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified.
ABL Loans means the senior secured asset-based revolving loans and any term loan facilities made on and after the Closing Date from time to time pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement.
ABL Obligations means the Obligations as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
Accounting Principles means:
(a) with respect to financial statements of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business prepared prior to the Closing Date, that such statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS; and
(b) with respect to financial statements of the Borrower prepared after the Closing Date, that such statements are prepared in accordance with (i) IFRS or (ii) upon notification to the Administrative Agent, GAAP; provided that, once made, such election shall be irrevocable until the Maturity Date.
If the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision of a Loan Document to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in IFRS or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of GAAP) 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 IFRS or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of GAAP), then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of IFRS 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. As used herein, Accounting Principles shall also refer to either IFRS or GAAP as the accounting standard in effect at such time or at the time such financial statements were prepared, as applicable, pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, as context shall require.
2
Acquired Business means all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Nestle Waters North America Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries and certain related assets.
Acquisition has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
Acquisition Agreement means the Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2021, by and among NESTLÉ S.A. and the Borrower (and any other parties from time to time party thereto).
Acquisition Agreement Representations means such of the representations and warranties made with respect to the Acquired Business in the Acquisition Agreement to the extent a breach of such representations and warranties is material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such).
Acquisition Date means the date or time that the Acquisition is required to be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement.
Acquisition Transaction means the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions, including by merger or otherwise) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the property, assets or business of another Person, or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of, any Person, or of a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of any Person (including any Investment which serves to increase the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys respective equity ownership in any Joint Venture or other Person to an amount in excess (or further in excess) of the majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of such Joint Venture or other Person).
Additional Lender means, at any time, any bank, other financial institution or institutional investor that, in any case, is not an existing Lender and that agrees to provide any portion of any,
(a) Incremental Loan in accordance with Section 2.16; or
(b) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.17;
provided that each Additional Lender (other than any Person that is an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund of a Lender at such time) shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to the extent any such consent would be required from the Administrative Agent under Section 11.07(b)(iii)(B) for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Lender.
Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate means, with respect to any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall in no event be less than 0.50% per annum with respect to (a) Initial Term Loans made to the Borrower or any Co-Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and (b) all other Term Loans unless an alternate Eurocurrency Rate floor is specifically noted in the documentation with respect to such other Term Loans or such documentation with respect to such other Term Loans specifically provides that there shall be no Eurocurrency Rate floor. The Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate will be adjusted automatically as to all Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Statutory Reserve Rate.
Administrative Agent has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
3
Administrative Agents Office means the Administrative Agents address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, 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 U.K. 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. Controlled has the meaning correlative thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Lead Arrangers, the Agents, or their respective lending affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.
Affiliated Debt Fund means,
(a) any Affiliate of the Sponsor that is a bona fide bank, debt fund, distressed asset fund, hedge fund, mutual fund, insurance company, financial institution or an investment vehicle that is engaged in the business of investing in, acquiring or trading commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business, in each case, that is not organized primarily for the purpose of making equity investments and with respect to which the Sponsor does not possess the power to make investment decisions for such entity, and either,
(i) information barriers are in place restricting the sharing of information between it and the Sponsor, or
(ii) its managers have fiduciary duties to the investors in such fund that are independent of fiduciary duties to investors in the Sponsor, and
(b) any investment fund or account of a permitted Affiliated Debt Fund investor managed by third parties (including by way of a managed account, a fund or an index fund in which a permitted Affiliated Debt Fund investor has invested) that is not organized or used primarily for the purpose of making equity investments.
Affiliated Lender means, at any time, any Lender that is either the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor at such time, excluding in any case, (a) Holdings, (b) the Borrower, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings and (d) any natural person.
Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(h)(iii).
Agent Parties has the meaning specified in Section 11.02(e).
Agent-Related Persons means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, attorney-in-fact, partners, trustees, advisors and other representatives of such Persons and of such Persons Affiliates.
4
Agents means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any), the Joint Bookrunners and the Lead Arrangers.
Aggregate Commitments means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
Agreement means this First Lien Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
Agreement Currency has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(b).
AHYDO Catch Up Payment has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(a)(viii).
All-In Yield means, as to any Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class), as of any date of determination, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees or an interest rate floor (such as a Eurocurrency Rate floor or Base Rate floor) as of such date; provided that when determining the All-In Yield,
(a) (i) if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) is, by its terms, capable of being priced with reference to three month ICE LIBOR for Dollar denominated loans, then All-In Yield shall be measured with reference such ICE LIBOR rate, and (ii) if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) is not, by its terms, capable of being priced with reference to such ICE LIBOR rate, including if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) is priced with reference to a fixed rate of interest, then for purpose of determining the All-In Yield, such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) shall be deemed to be swapped so that would effectively be priced with reference to such ICE LIBOR rate on a customary matched maturity basis in a customary manner;
(b) if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) is priced with reference to a margin that is subject to a leverage-based or other pricing grid, then for purpose of determining the All-In Yield the margin applicable to such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) shall be determined with reference to such grid as of such date of measurement;
(c) OID and similar upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a 4-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity of the applicable Indebtedness as of such time);
(d) All-In Yield shall not include any arrangement fees, structuring fees, underwriting fees, commitment fees, amendment fees, ticking fees or any other fees similar to the foregoing (regardless of how such fees are computed or to whom paid), fees not paid by a Loan Party, interest payable in kind or prepayment (or repayment) premiums applicable to such Indebtedness.
When comparing the All-In Yield of any Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) to the All-In Yield of the Initial Term Loans (or any other applicable Indebtedness), as of any date,
(i) if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) includes an interest rate floor that is greater than the corresponding interest rate floor applicable to the Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness), the amount of such differential will increase the applicable margin with respect to such Indebtedness (or Loans of such Class) for purposes of determining All-In Yield, but only to the extent an increase in the interest rate floor applicable to the Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness) as of such date would cause an increase in the interest rate applicable to the Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness) at such time, and in such case, for purposes of applying the provisions of Section 2.16(h), the interest rate floor (but not the interest rate margin) applicable to the Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness) shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors; and
5
(ii) if such Indebtedness (or Loans of any Class) includes an interest rate floor that is lower than the corresponding interest rate floor applicable to the Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness), or does not include an interest rate floor, and, as of the date such date of determination, the applicable interest rate floor with respect to Initial Term Loans (or such other applicable Indebtedness) is the basis for determining its margin, then the amount of such differential (which shall be deemed to be 0.00% in the case of Indebtedness without an interest rate floor) shall reduce the applicable margin with respect to such Indebtedness (or Loans of such Class) for purposes of determining All-In Yield.
Alternative Currencies means, in the case of any Incremental Facility or Refinancing Loans, any currency agreed to by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Lender providing such Incremental Facility or Refinancing Loans; provided that, in each case, each such other currency is a lawful currency that is readily available, freely transferable and not restricted and able to be converted into Dollars in the London interbank deposit market.
Annual Financial Statements means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business as of December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in parent company net investment and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, in each case, prior to giving effect to the Transactions.
Applicable Creditor has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(b).
Applicable Decimal Place has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
Applicable Indebtedness has the meaning specified in the definition of Weighted Average Life to Maturity.
Applicable Law means, as to any Person, all applicable Laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.
Applicable Rate means:
(a) with respect to Initial Term Loans, a percentage per annum equal to (i) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, 3.50% and (ii) for Base Rate Loans, 2.50%; provided that from and after the third Business Day after the date on which the Administrative Agent shall have received the applicable financial statements and a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a) calculating the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio in respect of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, the Applicable Rate for Initial Term Loans shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption Alternate Base Rate Spread or Eurocurrency Rate Spread, respectively, based upon the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recent Test Period as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):
6
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio |
Alternate Base Rate Spread |
Eurocurrency Rate Spread |
||||||
Above 4.25 to 1.00 |
2.50 | % | 3.50 | % | ||||
Equal to or below 4.25 to 1.00 |
2.25 | % | 3.25 | % |
No change in the Applicable Rate set forth above resulting from a change in the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective until three Business Days after the date on which the Administrative Agent shall have received the applicable financial statements and a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a) calculating the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio. At any time the Borrower has not submitted to the Administrative Agent the applicable information as and when required under Section 6.02(a), the Applicable Rate for Initial Term Loans shall be determined as if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio were in excess of 4.25 to 1.00. Within one Business Day of receipt of the applicable information under Section 6.02(a) (or if the Borrower has not submitted the applicable information as and when required under Section 6.02(a), within one Business Day of the date such information was required to be delivered), the Administrative Agent shall give each Initial Term Loan Lender telefacsimile or telephonic notice (confirmed in writing) of the Applicable Rate in effect from such date. In the event that any financial statement or certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and Section 6.02(a) is determined to be inaccurate (at a time prior to the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period than the Applicable Rate applied for such period, then (a) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) following such determination deliver to the Administrative Agent correct financial statements and the certificate required by Section 6.01 and Section 6.02(a) for such period, (b) the Applicable Rate for such period shall be determined as if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio were determined based on the amounts set forth in such correct financial statements and certificate and (c) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days) following delivery of such corrected financial statements and certificate pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the provisions of this final paragraph (but not any of the other provisions of this clause of this preceding this final paragraph) may be amended or waived as provided in Section 11.01(b)(ii).
(b) with respect any Term Loans (other than Initial Term Loans) or other Incremental Loans, as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at all times following the consummation of a Qualifying IPO consummated after the first full fiscal quarter completed after the Closing Date, the rates otherwise applicable pursuant to the preceding provisions shall be reduced by 0.25%.
Appropriate Lender means, at any time, with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class.
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.
Asset Sale Prepayment Percentage means:
(a) With respect to the proceeds of the Designated Asset Sale:
7
(i) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof to the extent the Total Net Leverage Ratio equals or exceeds 5.75 to 1.00, on a Pro Forma Basis; and
(ii) 0% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio equaling, or being less than, 5.75 to 1.00 on a Pro Forma Basis; and
(b) with respect to any other prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii), 100%.
Assignment and Assumption means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Attorney Costs means all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail fees, expenses, charges 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 the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles).
Auction Agent means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor engaged by the Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any auction in accordance with the auction procedures set forth on Exhibit L; 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 neither Holdings nor any of its Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.
Available Amount means, as of any date of determination (such date, the Reference Date), with respect to the applicable Available Amount Reference Period, a cumulative amount equal to the sum of, without duplication:
(a) the greater of (i) $268,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 50.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination; plus
(b) an amount equal to the greater of, as of the applicable date of determination:
(i) an amount equal to (A) the cumulative amount of Excess Cash Flow for such Available Amount Reference Period; provided that when measuring such amount (1) Excess Cash Flow will be deemed not to be less than zero in any fiscal year and (2) Excess Cash Flow for any fiscal year will be deemed to be zero until the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) for such fiscal year have been received by the Administrative Agent, minus (B) the portion of such Excess Cash Flow that has been (or is required to be) applied to the prepayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.07(b)(i); and
(ii) 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income for such Available Amount Reference Period; provided that when measuring such amount (A) Consolidated Net Income will be deemed not to be less than zero in any fiscal year and (B) Consolidated Net Income for any fiscal year will be deemed to be zero until the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) for such fiscal year, and the related Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for such fiscal year, have been received by the Administrative Agent; plus
8
(c) the aggregate amount of Permitted Equity Issuances, during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied; plus
(d) to the extent not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, 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 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 (x) no Investment has been made in reliance on Section 7.02(w) in respect of such amount and (y) not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, the Investments of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (up to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of such Investments of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such re-designation or merger or consolidation and (ii) the fair market value of such Investments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time they were made); plus
(f) to the extent not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment or not required to be applied to prepay Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.07(b)(ii), the aggregate amount of all Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Disposition of its ownership interest in any Minority Investment or Unrestricted Subsidiary during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Reference Date; plus
(g) to the extent (i) not reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment and (ii) not in excess of the fair market value of such Investment at the time it was made, the returns (including repayments of principal and payments of interest), profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or Cash Equivalents by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on Investments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(h) (i) any amount of mandatory prepayments of Term Loans required to be prepaid pursuant to Section 2.07(b) that have been declined by Lenders or that is otherwise permitted to be retained by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.07(b)(vii) and (ii) any amount of mandatory prepayments of Pari Passu Lien Debt of the Borrower (and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing), to the extent such amount was required to be applied to offer to repurchase or otherwise prepay such Indebtedness and the holders of such Pari Passu Lien Debt declined such repurchase or prepayment; plus
(i) any amount of Net Cash Proceeds from Dispositions or Casualty Events not required to be applied to a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii); minus
9
(j) the aggregate amount of any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(gg)(i), any Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(o)(i), any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 7.06(t) with Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds, any Junior Debt Repayment made pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(x)(A) and any Junior Debt Repayment made pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(xi) with Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the applicable date of determination (and, for purposes of this clause (j), without taking account of the intended usage of the Available Amount on such applicable date of determination in the contemplated transaction).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the extent any Excess Cash Flow or Net Cash Proceeds is not applied to make a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(i) or Section 2.07(b)(ii) by virtue of the application of Section 2.07(b)(vi), such Excess Cash Flow or Net Cash Proceeds shall not under any circumstances increase the Available Amount.
Available Amount Reference Period means, with respect to any applicable date of measurement of the Available Amount, the period commencing on (a) with respect to the calculation of clause (b) of the definition of Available Amount, the first Business Day of the first full fiscal year of the Borrower ending after the Closing Date, and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal year for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) have been received by the Administrative Agent and (b) with respect to the calculation of Available Amount (other than clause (b) of the definition thereof) the day after the Closing Date through and including such date of measurement.
Available Tenor means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark or (y) otherwise, any 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, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any tenor for such Benchmark that is removed from the definition of Interest Period pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 11.01(g).
Bail-In Action means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of any 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).
Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate on such day for an Interest Period of one month plus 1.00% (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Rate with respect to any Initial Term Loans shall in no event be less than 1.00% per annum and shall not be available as to any Alternative Currency.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
10
Benchmark means, initially, LIBOR; provided that, if a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred with respect to LIBOR 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 (i) of Section 11.01(g).
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) | the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
(2) | the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
(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 U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
provided that, in the case of clause (1) of this definition, 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.
If at any time the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) of this definition 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 that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement; |
(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 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark; and |
11
(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 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; |
provided that, (x) 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 and (y) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, more than one tenor of such Benchmark is available as of the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement that will replace such Benchmark in accordance with Section 11.01(g) will not be a term rate, the Available Tenor of such Benchmark for purposes of this definition of Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall be deemed to be, with respect to each Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement having a payment period for interest calculated with reference thereto, the Available Tenor that has approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustments) as such payment period.
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of ABR, 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 the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the 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 |
12
(3) | 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. |
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 the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the 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 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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), 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 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 11.01(g) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 11.01(g).
13
Beneficial Ownership Certification means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan means any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such employee benefit plan or plan.
BHC Act Affiliate of 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.
Board of Directors means, as to any Person, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such entity, and the term directors means members of the Board of Directors.
Borrower means Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Borrower Materials has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Borrowing means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.
Borrowing Base means, as of any date, an amount equal to the sum of (a) with respect to all accounts receivable of Loan Parties (i) owed by any account debtor whose securities have an investment grade rating, the book value of such accounts receivable multiplied by 90.0%, (ii) owed by any account debtor whose securities do not have an investment grade rating, the book value of accounts receivable multiplied by 85.0%; and (iii) that are unbilled, the book value of such unbilled accounts receivable multiplied by 80.0%; plus (b) the lesser of (i) 85.0% of the net appraised orderly liquidation value of inventory and (ii) 75.0% of the book value of inventory of any Loan Party; plus (c) 100.0% of the cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties; plus (d) any Acquired Borrowing Base Component (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the jurisdiction where the Administrative Agents Office is located (which, as of the date of this Agreement, is New York, New York) and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
Capital Expenditures means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capitalized Leases) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with the Accounting Principles, are or are required to be included as capital expenditures on the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
14
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 the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles).
Capitalized Leases means all capital leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with the Accounting Principles as in effect on the Closing Date (but without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles), 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 in accordance with the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles) as adopted by the Borrower and as in effect on the Closing Date.
Captive Insurance Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).
Cash Collateral Account means an account held at, and subject to the sole dominion and control of, the Collateral Agent.
Cash Collateralize means, in respect of an Obligation, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral in Dollars, at a location and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and Cash Collateralization has a corresponding meaning). Cash Collateral shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
Cash Equivalents means any of the following types of Investments (including for the avoidance of doubt, cash), to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(a) Dollars, euros, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and each Alternative Currency;
(b) local currencies held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business and not for speculation;
(c) readily marketable direct obligations 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year 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 $500,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof as of the date of such investment);
(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses ((c)) and ((d)) above or clause (h) below entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause ((d)) above;
15
(f) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moodys or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of creation thereof;
(g) marketable short-term money market and similar highly liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from Moodys or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);
(h) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moodys or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(i) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);
(j) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses ((a)) through ((i)) above; and
(k) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that a Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable law.
In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a jurisdiction outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses ((a)) through ((k)) above in 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 in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses ((a)) through ((k)) above and in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause ((a)) or ((b)) above; provided that such amounts, except amounts used to pay obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary denominated in any currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency in the ordinary course of business, are converted into Dollars or an Alternative Currency 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 Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or Agent (a) on the Closing Date (with respect to any Cash Management Services entered into prior to the Closing Date), (b) at the time it initially provides any Cash Management Services to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (c) at the time that the Person to whom the Cash Management Services are provided is merged with the Borrower or becomes or is merged with a Restricted Subsidiary (with respect to any Cash Management Services entered into prior to the date of such merger or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary), in each case whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender or Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or Agent.
16
Cash Management Obligations means obligations owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in respect of or in connection with any Cash Management Services and designated by the Cash Management Bank and the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as Cash Management Obligations.
Cash Management Services means any agreement or arrangement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit card processing, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.
Casualty Event means any event that gives rise to the receipt by a Loan Party of any property or casualty insurance proceeds or any condemnation awards, in each case, 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.
Certain Funds Provisions means, with respect to the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 4.01, that:
(a) the only representations and warranties that will be made on the Closing Date and the making and accuracy of which will be a condition to the initial availability of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date will be the Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations; provided, that a failure of an Acquisition Agreement Representation to be accurate will not result in a failure of a condition precedent as set forth in Section 4.01, unless such failure results in a failure of a condition precedent to the Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition or such failure gives the Borrower the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligations, in each case, pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement;
(b) (i) the attachment and perfection of any Lien on Collateral (other than (x) Personal Property Collateral and (y) certificated equity securities of the Borrower (if any) securing the Initial Term Loans) is not a condition precedent to the availability of the Initial Term Loans, will not affect the size of the Initial Term Loans and will not result in a Default or Event of Default and (ii) other than as set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i), with respect to certificated securities of the Acquired Business, which shall be delivered in accordance with clause (d) below, if any Lien on Collateral does not attach or become perfected on the Closing Date after the Borrowers use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, such attachment or such perfection will not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Initial Term Loans, will not affect the size of the Initial Term Loans and will not result in a Default or Event of Default, but will be required within 90 days after the Closing Date (subject to extensions agreed to by the Administrative Agent with respect to Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date); provided that the foregoing will not limit the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01(a)(iii) requiring the authorization of all asset UCC filings and in Section 4.01(a)(v) requiring the delivery of certain equity securities constituting Collateral, in each case, with customary stock powers executed in blank (in each case, subject to clause (d) below);
(c) there are no conditions (implied or otherwise) to the Commitments and agreements hereunder, other than the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01, and upon satisfaction (or waiver by the Lead Arrangers) of such conditions precedent, the Administrative Agent and each Initial Term Loan Lender will execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the initial funding under the Initial Term Loans will occur; and
17
(d) the execution and delivery by each Target Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is required to be a party on the Closing Date is not a condition precedent under this Agreement, it being agreed that such execution and delivery shall be accomplished under escrow arrangements pursuant to which the Target Loan Parties signature pages are provided to the Administrative Agent before (or coincident with) the Acquisition Date, and such signature pages (and the Loan Documents and related deliverables to which the Target Loan Parties are parties) are automatically released from escrow to the Administrative Agent concurrently with the Acquisition Date and the adoption of related authorizing resolutions. The Target Loan Parties signature pages may be executed by individuals that will be officers, directors, managers, members and/or partners of the Target Loan Parties (or of one or more controlling parent or general partner entities of such Target Loan Parties) upon consummation of the Acquisition, whether or not such individuals are officers, directors, managers, members and/or partners of any such Target Loan Parties (or any such controlling parent or general partner entities) prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, so long as such individuals are authorized in such capacity at the time such signature pages are released. Certificated securities issued by the Acquired Business constituting Collateral and required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement (subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) will be delivered promptly after consummation of the Acquisition, but no later than five business days after the Acquisition Date, subject to Section 6.16 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree); it being understood and agreed that failure to do so by such time shall constitute an immediate Event of Default.
CFC means a Foreign Subsidiary which is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following:
(a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (excluding the taking effect after the date of this Agreement of a law, rule, regulation or treaty adopted prior to the date of this Agreement);
(b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or
(c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. 111-203, H.R. 4173), all Laws relating thereto, all interpretations and applications thereof and any compliance by a Lender with any and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof or relating thereto and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives issued by any United States or foreign regulatory authority in connection with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be adopted subsequent to the date hereof and a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
18
Change of Control means the earliest to occur of:
(a) either:
(i) at any time prior to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, the Permitted Holders ceasing to beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity; or
(ii) at any time upon or after the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or Persons (other than one or more Permitted Holders) constituting a group (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person and its Subsidiaries, and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under such Act), directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests representing more than thirty-five percent of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the then issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity and the percentage of aggregate ordinary voting power so held is greater than the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity beneficially owned (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the Permitted Holders;
unless, in the case of either clause ((a)(i) or ((a)(ii) above, the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election 50% or more of the Board of Directors of either (1) Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or (2) a Parent Entity;
(b) the Borrower ceasing to be a direct wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable); and
(c) a change of control or similar defined term occurring under the Notes Indenture or the ABL Credit Agreement for events substantially consistent with those described in clause (a) of this definition.
Class when used in reference to,
(a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are an issuance of Term Loans (including any Initial Term Loans), an issuance of Incremental Term Loans, an issuance of Refinancing Term Loans, or an issuance of Extended Term Loans;
(b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is (i) a Commitment in respect of Term Loans (including Initial Term Loans), (ii) a Refinancing Term Commitment (and, in the case of a Refinancing Term Commitment, the Class of Loans to which such commitment relates), or (iii) a Commitment in respect of a Class of Loans to be made pursuant to an Incremental Amendment or an Extension Amendment; and
(c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments.
19
Refinancing Term Commitments, Refinancing Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans and any other Term Loans that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes.
Closing Date means the first date on which all of the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01 and the Initial Term Loans are made to the Borrower pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2.01(a).
Closing Date EBITDA means $558,257,000.00.
Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio means 4.75 to 1.00.
Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the agents party thereto, and each additional representative from time to time party thereto, as acknowledged by the Loan Parties, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio means 4.75 to 1.00.
Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio means 6.00 to 1.00.
Closing Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(e).
Co-Borrower has the meaning specified in Section 1.10.
Co-Investor means any of (a) the assignees, if any, of the equity commitments of the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and (b) the transferees, if any, that are identified to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent agrees) and acquire, within 180 days of the Closing Date, any Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) held by the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Closing Date.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Collateral means all the Collateral (or equivalent term) as defined in any Collateral Document, the Mortgaged Properties and all other property that is subject or purported to be subject to any Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Collateral Document, but in any event excluding all Excluded Assets.
Collateral Agent has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Collateral Documents means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, the Mortgages, Security Agreement Supplements, or other similar agreements delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Sections 4.01(a), 6.11, 6.12 or 6.15, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
Commitment Letter means the Amended and Restated Commitment Letter, dated February 25, 2021, by and among the Borrower and the Commitment Parties.
20
Commitment Parties means, collectively, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, Ares Capital Management LLC and CBAM Partners, LLC.
Commitments means the Term Loan Commitments.
Committed Loan Notice means a notice of a Borrowing pursuant to Article II, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Company Person means any future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Borrower, any Subsidiary, Holdings or any Parent Entity.
Comparable Financing means any Indebtedness that is (a) in the form of a term loan B facility, (b) denominated in US Dollars and (c) secured by Liens on Collateral that rank pari passu in priority with the Liens that secure the Initial Term Loans.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
Connection Income Taxes means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA means, with respect to any Person for any Test Period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such Test Period:
(a) increased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis:
(i) interest expense, including (A) imputed interest on Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness (which, in each case, will be deemed to accrue at the interest rate reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligations or Attributable Indebtedness), (B) commissions, discounts and other fees, charges and expenses owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptance financing, surety and performance bonds and receivables financings, (C) amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, debt discounts, commissions, fees, premium and other expenses, as well as expensing of bridge, commitment or financing fees, (D) payments made in respect of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (E) cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than such Person or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary) in connection with Indebtedness incurred by such plan or trust, (F) all interest paid or payable with respect to discontinued operations, (G) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligations, and (H) all interest on any Indebtedness that is (x) Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, but limited to the fair market value of such property, (y) contingent obligations in respect of
21
Indebtedness; provided that any such interest expense shall be calculated after giving effect to Hedge Agreements related to interest rates (including associated costs), but excluding unrealized gains and losses with respect to such Hedge Agreements or (z) fees and expenses paid to the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such and for its own account) pursuant to the Loan Documents and fees and expenses paid to the administrative agent, the collateral agent, trustee or other similar Persons for the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(b); plus
(ii) taxes based on gross receipts, income, profits or revenue or capital, franchise, excise, property, commercial activity, sales, use, unitary or similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes, including (A) penalties and interest and (B) tax distributions made to any direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests of such Person in respect of any such taxes attributable to such Person and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries or pursuant to a tax sharing arrangement or as a result of a tax distribution or repatriated funds; plus
(iii) amortization expense (including amortization and similar charges related to goodwill, customer relationships, trade names, databases, technology, software, internal labor costs, deferred financing fees or costs and other intangible assets); plus
(iv) depreciation expense; plus
(v) non-cash items (provided that, if any such non-cash item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (1) the Borrower may determine not to add back such non-cash item in the current Test Period and (2) to the extent the Borrower decides to add back such non-cash expense or charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period will be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period), including the following: (A) expenses in connection with, or resulting from, stock option plans, employee benefit plans or agreements or post-employment benefit plans or agreements, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other similar rights, (B) currency translation losses related to changes in currency exchange rates (including re-measurements of Indebtedness (including intercompany Indebtedness) and any net loss resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk), (C) losses, expenses, charges or negative adjustments attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of hedge agreements or other derivative instruments, including the effect of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 and International Accounting Standard No. 9 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, (D) charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances, (E) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and Investments in debt and equity securities, (F) charges or losses resulting from any purchase accounting adjustment or any step-ups with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with the Transactions or any Investments either existing or arising after the Closing Date, (G) all losses from Investments recorded using the equity method, (H) the excess of rent expense over actual cash rent paid during such period due to the use of straight line rent for purposes consistent with the Accounting Principles and (I) any interest expense; plus
(vi) unusual, extraordinary, infrequent, or non-recurring items, whether or not classified as such under the Accounting Principles; plus
22
(vii) charges, costs, losses, expenses or reserves related to: (A) restructuring (including restructuring charges or reserves, whether or not classified as such under the Accounting Principles), severance, relocation, consolidation, integration or other similar items, (B) strategic and/or business initiatives, business optimization (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives; strategic initiatives; retention; severance; systems establishment costs; systems conversion and integration costs; contract termination costs; recruiting and relocation costs and expenses; costs, expenses and charges incurred in connection with curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefits plans; costs to start-up, ramp-up, pre-opening, opening, closure, transition and/or consolidation of distribution centers, operations, offices and facilities) including in connection with the Transactions and any Permitted Investment, any acquisition or other investment consummated prior to the Closing Date or in connection with the hiring of any broker, and new systems design and implementation, as well as consulting fees and any one-time expense relating to enhanced accounting function, (C) business or facilities (including greenfield facilities) start-up, opening, transition, consolidation, shut-down and closing, (D) recruiting, signing, retention and completion bonuses, (E) severance, relocation or recruiting, (F) public company registration, listing, compliance, reporting and related expenses, (G) charges and expenses incurred in connection with litigation (including threatened litigation), any investigation or proceeding (or any threatened investigation or proceeding) by a regulatory, governmental or law enforcement body (including any attorney general), and (H) expenses incurred in connection with casualty events or asset sales outside the ordinary course of business; plus
(viii) all (A) costs, fees and expenses relating to the Transactions, (B) costs, fees and expenses (including diligence and integration costs) incurred in connection with (x) investments in any Person, acquisitions of the Equity Interests of any Person, acquisitions of all or a material portion of the assets of any Person or constituting a line of business of any Person, and financings related to any of the foregoing or to the capitalization of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or (y) other transactions that are out of the ordinary course of business of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case of clause (x) and (y), including transactions considered or proposed but not consummated), including Permitted Equity Issuances, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, mergers, option buyouts and the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness (including all consent fees, premium and other amounts payable in connection therewith) and (C) non-operating professional fees, costs and expenses; plus
(ix) items reducing Consolidated Net Income to the extent (A) covered by a binding indemnification or refunding obligation or insurance, (B) paid or payable (directly or indirectly) by a third party (except to the extent such payment gives rise to reimbursement obligations) or with the proceeds of a contribution to equity capital of such Person or (C) such Person is, directly or indirectly, reimbursed for such item by a third party; plus
(x) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid, payable or accrued in such Test Period (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements); plus
23
(xi) the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting (including the effects of adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Subsidiaries) and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any such amount; plus
(xii) expenses, revenue and lost profits of such Person for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, in each case, to the extent covered by insurance and reasonably expected to be received no later than 12 months after the end of such Test Period; plus
(xiii) minority interest expense consisting of income attributable to Equity Interests held by third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(xiv) expenses, charges and losses resulting from the payment or accrual of indemnification or refunding provisions, earn-outs, holdbacks and contingent consideration obligations; bonuses and other compensation paid to employees, directors or consultants; and payments in respect of dissenting shares and purchase price adjustments; in each case, made in connection with a Permitted Investment or other transactions disclosed in the documents referred to in clause ((xx)vii) below or otherwise disclosed to the Lead Arrangers; plus
(xv) any losses from abandoned, disposed or discontinued operations; plus
(xvi) fees, expenses or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement and any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members; plus
(xvii) (A) any costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Test Period as a result of, in connection with or pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any pension plan (including (1) any post-employment benefit scheme to which the relevant pension trustee has agreed, (2) as a result of curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and (3) without limitation, compensation arrangements with holders of unvested options entered into in connection with a permitted Restricted Payment), any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement, any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members, any employee benefit trust, any employee benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement (including any deferred compensation arrangement), including any payment made to option holders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to, or share repurchase from, a shareholder, which payments are being made to compensate option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution or share repurchase and (B) any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests held by management of Holdings (or any Parent Entity, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary); plus
24
(xviii) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; plus
(xix) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles (including the Borrowers election pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Accounting Principles); plus
(xx) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income for such period, cash actually received (or any netting arrangement resulting in reduced cash expenditures) during such period so long as the non-cash gain relating to the relevant cash receipt or netting arrangement was deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any previous period and not added back; plus
(xxi) the amount of fees, expense reimbursements and indemnities paid to directors and/or members of advisory boards, including directors of Holdings or any other Parent Entity; plus
(xxii) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature; plus
(xxiii) charges, expenses, and lost revenue attributable to the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic and any other pandemic, disaster or similar business disruption that is outside the control of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(xxiv) the amount of run rate cost savings, operating expense reductions and other cost synergies that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken no later than 24 months after the end of such Test Period (which amounts will be determined by the Borrower in good faith and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such amounts had been realized on the first day of the Test Period for which Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such Test Period from such actions; provided that, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower such cost savings are reasonably identifiable, reasonably anticipated to be realized and factually supportable (it being agreed that such determinations need not be made in compliance with Regulation S-X or other applicable securities law); plus
(xxv) the excess (if any) of (i) the aggregate amount of run rate profits pursuant to Recurring Contracts entered into on or after the first date of the relevant Test Period (net of actual profits pursuant to such Recurring Contracts during such Test Period) projected by the Borrower, in good faith, as if such contracted pricing was applicable (at the contracted rate and calculated based on an assumed margin determined by the Borrower to be a reasonable good faith estimate of the actual costs (including increased overhead costs) associated with such Recurring Contracts) during the entire Test Period over (ii) profits associated with Recurring Contracts that were cancelled or otherwise terminated during such Test Period; plus
25
(xxvi) payments made pursuant to Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks; plus
(xxvii) adjustments of the type reflected in (A) the financial model for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared by the Sponsor and delivered to the Lead Arrangers in connection with the Transactions or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by any of the Big Four accounting firms and furnished to the Administrative Agent, in connection with the Transactions, an Acquisition Transaction, Permitted Investment or other Investment consummated after the Closing Date; plus
(xxviii) the amount of any contingent payments in connection with the licensing of intellectual property or other assets; plus
(xxix) Public Company Costs; plus
(xxx) charitable contributions, including contributions related to any charitable foundations established by the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in any Test Period; and
(b) decreased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles (solely to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income for such Test Period and without duplication):
(i) any amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been included for any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period, all as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles (provided that if any non-cash income or non-cash gain represents an accrual or deferred income in respect of potential cash items in any future period, such Person may determine not to deduct the relevant non-cash gain or income in the then-current period); plus
(ii) the amount of any cash payment made during such period in respect of any non-cash accrual, reserve or other non-cash charge that is accounted for in a prior period and that was added to Consolidated Net Income to determine Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such prior period and that does not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income for the current period; plus
(iii) unusual, extraordinary, infrequent or non-recurring gains; plus
(iv) any net income from discontinued operations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA shall be (a) for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020, $121,634,278, (b) for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020, $203,292,080, (c) for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020, $146,993,237 and (d) for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, $86,337,405, in each case, as such amounts may be adjusted pursuant to the foregoing provisions and other pro forma adjustments permitted by this Agreement (including as necessary to give Pro Forma Effect to any Specified Transaction).
26
Consolidated Current Assets means, as of any date of determination, the total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current assets in conformity with the Accounting Principles, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents, amounts related to current or deferred taxes based on income or profits, assets held for sale, loans (permitted) to third parties, pension assets, deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments, and excluding the effects of adjustments pursuant to the Accounting Principles resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transactions or any consummated acquisition.
Consolidated Current Liabilities means, as at any date of determination, the total liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current liabilities in conformity with the Accounting Principles, excluding (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (b) the current portion of interest, (c) accruals for current or deferred taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals of any costs or expenses related to restructuring reserves, (e) any revolving facility, (f) the current portion of any Capitalized Lease Obligation, (g) deferred revenue arising from cash receipts that are earmarked for specific projects, (h) liabilities in respect of unpaid earn-outs and (i) the current portion of any other long-term liabilities, and, furthermore, excluding the effects of adjustments pursuant to the Accounting Principles resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or purchase accounting, as the case may be, in relation to the Transaction or any consummated acquisition.
Consolidated First Lien Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to the Initial Term Loans and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral on an equal priority basis with the Initial Term Loans (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any Test Period, the sum of:
(a) cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income, of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under hedging agreements, plus
(b) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from the amortization of OID from the issuance of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Indebtedness borrowed under this Agreement, the Notes Indenture and the ABL Credit Agreement, in each case, in connection with and to finance the Transactions and in each case to the extent not already included in clause (a) above) at less than par, plus
(c) pay-in-kind interest expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clause ((b)) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), (ii) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under hedging agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging, (iii) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any
27
receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing), (v) any additional interest owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities, (vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions, (vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (ix) interest expense attributable to a direct or indirect Parent Entity resulting from push-down accounting, (x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, (xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto and with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or other Investment, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles; and (xii) any payments on right of use leases. For the avoidance of doubt, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Swap Contracts relating to interest rate protection.
Consolidated Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any Person for any Test Period, the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that there shall be excluded from such consolidated net income (to the extent otherwise included therein), without duplication:
(a) the Net Income for such Test 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; provided that the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys equity in the Net Income of such Person shall be included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for such Test Period up to the aggregate amount of dividends or distributions or other payments in respect of such equity that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by such Person to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, in such Test Period, to the extent not already included therein (subject in the case of dividends, distributions or other payments in respect of such equity made to a Restricted Subsidiary to the limitations contained in clause (b) below);
(b) solely with respect to the calculation of Available Amount and Excess Cash Flow, the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such Test Period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or requirement of Law applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary during such Test Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash to such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Test Period;
(c) any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period upon any asset sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person (other than any dispositions in the ordinary course of business) by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(d) gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles for such Test Period;
28
(e) earnings (or losses), including any impairment charge, resulting from any reappraisal, revaluation or write-up (or write-down) of assets during such Test Period;
(f) (i) unrealized gains and losses with respect to Hedge Agreements for such Test Period and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 815 (Derivatives and Hedging) and (ii) any after-tax effect of income (or losses) for such Test Period that result from the early extinguishment of (A) Indebtedness, (B) obligations under any Hedge Agreements or (C) other derivative instruments;
(g) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gain (or extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual loss), together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), recorded or recognized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period;
(h) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such Test Period;
(i) after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations for such Test Period;
(j) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, debt and unfavorable or favorable lease line items in such Persons consolidated financial statements pursuant to the Accounting Principles for such Test Period resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated prior to the Closing Date and any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, for such Test Period;
(k) any non-cash compensation charge or expense for such Test Period, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights and any cash charges or expenses associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by, or to, management of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions;
(l) (i) Transaction Expenses incurred during such Test Period and (ii) any fees and expenses incurred during such Test Period, or any amortization thereof for such Test Period, in connection with any acquisition (other than the Transactions), Investment, disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt or equity instrument (in each case, including any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring costs incurred during such Test Period as a result of any such transaction;
(m) any expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, Permitted Acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days); and
29
(n) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption.
Consolidated Secured Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to the Term Loans and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Total Debt means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of third party Indebtedness of the type described in (i) clauses (a), (b) (in respect of Indebtedness of the type described in clause (a)) and (d) (excluding accrued dividends to the extent not increasing liquidation preference) of the definition of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis and as reflected on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles (but excluding the effects of the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted hereunder), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money; provided, that Consolidated Total Debt will not include Indebtedness in respect of: (i) any Qualified Securitization Financing; (ii) undrawn letters of credit and bank guarantees; (iii) obligations under any Hedge Agreement; (iv) any right of use leases; and (v) other Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations as reflected on the balance sheet to the extent less than $25,000,000 (and Consolidated Total Debt will limited to amounts in excess of such threshold).
Consolidated Working Capital means, as of any date of determination, the excess of Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities.
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.
Contribution Indebtedness means Indebtedness of one or more Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at the time of the incurrence thereof not to exceed an amount equal to (a) 200.00% of the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuances during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the reference date that are Not Otherwise Applied and (b) available dollar-based capacity under Section 7.06 to make Restricted Payments, which for the avoidance of doubt shall reduce such dollar-based capacity under the relevant clause of Section 7.06.
Control has the meaning specified in the definition of Affiliate.
30
Conversion/Continuation Notice means a notice of (a) a conversion of Loans from one Type to another or (b) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Article II, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
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.
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 11.26(b).
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of one or more Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries in the form of term loans or notes or revolving commitments; provided that:
(a) such Indebtedness is incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, or refinance, in whole or part, Indebtedness that is either Term Loans or other Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (together, Refinanced Debt);
(b) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness on any date such Indebtedness is incurred (or commitments with respect thereto are made) shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the Refinanced Debt being exchanged, extended, renewed, replaced or refinanced (plus (i) the amount of all unpaid, accrued, or capitalized interest, penalties, premiums (including tender premiums) and other amounts payable with respect to the Refinanced Debt and (ii) underwriting discounts, fees, commissions, costs, expenses and other amounts payable with respect to such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness);
(c) (i) the scheduled final maturity date of such Indebtedness will be no earlier than the scheduled final maturity date of the Refinanced Debt; provided that this clause (c)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any such Indebtedness will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Refinanced Debt; provided that this clause shall not apply to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
(d) any mandatory prepayment of such Indebtedness (i) that comprises Pari Passu Lien Debt may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments required to be made on the Refinanced Debt pursuant to its terms, it being agreed (A) any repayment of such Indebtedness at maturity shall be permitted and (B) any greater than pro rata repayment of such Indebtedness shall be permitted with the proceeds of a permitted refinancing thereof; provided that this clause (d)(i) shall not apply to the
31
incurrence of any such Indebtedness pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) that comprises Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral may not participate in mandatory repayments required to be made on the Refinanced Debt pursuant to its terms, unless such mandatory prepayments are first made or offered to any remaining Refinanced Debt (to the extent required); provided that this clause (d)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and
(e) (i) to the extent secured by a Lien on property or assets of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any such Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person that does not also secure the Initial Term Loans (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar fronting lender, (2) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, (3) any Excluded Assets, and (4) Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Liens secure such Indebtedness); and (ii) to the extent guaranteed by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for guarantees by other Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, (2) an Excluded Subsidiary, and (3) any such Person guaranteeing such Indebtedness that also guarantees the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Person guarantees such Indebtedness); provided, if such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is secured, the Administrative Agent will enter into an applicable Intercreditor Agreement with respect thereto.
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (i) may rank either pari passu or junior in right of payment with any Class of Term Loans (including the Initial Term Loans) and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, may be Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness not secured by a Lien on any Collateral. Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Credit Facilities means, collectively, any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, working capital facilities, term loans, notes, debentures, indentures, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables), supply chain finance, letters of credit or bankers acceptances, or other long-term Indebtedness, including any notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, extended, increased, renewed, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced (including through the issuance of debt securities), restructured or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original borrower, issuer, agent, trustee, lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, and whether provided under the applicable original Credit Facility or one or more other credit or other agreements or indentures, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings, other extensions of credit and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such debt facilities or successor debt facilities, whether by the same or any other borrower, issuer, agent, lender or group of lenders (or institutional investors).
Customary Bridge Facilities means bridge financings, escrow or other similar arrangements, the terms of which provide for an automatic extension of the maturity date thereof, subject to customary conditions, to a date that is not earlier than the maturity date of the Initial Term Loans.
32
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 syndicated 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.
Debt Representative means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness secured by a Lien that is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, or is subordinated in right of payment to all or any part of the Obligations, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
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 Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to the outstanding principal amount of any Loan not paid when due, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan (giving effect to Section 2.05(c)) plus 2.00% 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 2.19(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 Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due;
(b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lenders obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lenders determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied);
(c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause ((c)) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; or
33
(d) the Administrative Agent or the Borrower has received notification that such Lender is, or has a direct or indirect parent entity that is, (i) insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) other than via an Undisclosed Administration, the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, intervenor or sequestrator, 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 Federal or state regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or the like has been appointed for such Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity, or such Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment 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 entity thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
Any determination by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through ((d)) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.19) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender.
Deliverable Obligation means each obligation of the Loan Parties that would constitute a Deliverable Obligation under a market standard credit default swap transaction documented under the ISDA CDS Definitions and specifying any of the Loan Parties as a Reference Entity. Each capitalized term used but defined in the preceding sentence has the meaning specified in the ISDA CDS Definitions, as applicable.
Derivative Instrument means with respect to a Person, any contract or instrument to which such Person is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any portion thereof) are based on the value and/or performance of the Loans and/or any Deliverable Obligations or Obligations (as defined in the ISDA CDS Definitions) with respect to the Loan Parties; provided that a Derivative Instrument will not include any contract or instrument that is entered into pursuant to bona fide market-making activities.
Designated Asset Sale means the Disposition (including by a public or private Disposition of Equity Interests) of the Home and Office Delivery Business and any and all assets, facilities and lines of business related or ancillary thereto, in each case, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, or otherwise disposed of in connection with such Disposition of the Home and Office Delivery Business.
Designated Asset Sale Proceeds means the aggregate amount of the proceeds and/or in-kind consideration (collectively, Proceeds) that are received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from the Designated Asset Sale; provided Proceeds shall be Designated Asset Sale Proceeds only to the extent that the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.75 to 1.00, with the Total Net Leverage Ratio measured after giving Pro Forma Effect to (a) the Designated Asset Sale, (b) any actual or anticipated repayment, prepayments or retirement of Indebtedness with all or a portion of such Proceeds (or the application of all or a portion of such Proceeds to any applicable cash netting provisions) and, (c) to the
34
extent reasonably expected by the Borrower to be made within 90 days of the date of the consummation of the Designated Asset Sale, any (i) Restricted Payments made by the Borrower of Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds pursuant to Section 7.06(t) and (ii) Junior Debt Repayments made by the Borrower with Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(xi); with it being agreed that the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be measured, at the Borrowers option, either at (A) the time of the consummation of the Designated Asset Sale or (B) the time of the entry into a definitive agreement in respect of the Designated Asset Sale.
Designated Jurisdiction means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanctions.
Designated Non-Cash Consideration means the fair market value of any non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to the General Asset Sale Basket that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within one hundred eighty days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).
Disposition or Dispose means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (excluding Liens, and any sale of Equity Interests in, or issuance of Equity Interests by, a Restricted Subsidiary but including any sale-leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person.
Disqualified Equity Interests means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition,
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale, as long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event is 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);
(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 that are required to be made only 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 Latest Maturity Date of the Loans at the time of issuance; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of one or more Company Persons or by any such plan to one or more Company Persons, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by Holdings, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of a Company Persons termination, death or disability.
Disqualified Lender means,
35
(a) the competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower (i) to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) to the Administrative Agent, from time to time on or after the Closing Date;
(b) (i) any Persons that are engaged as principals primarily in private equity, mezzanine financing or venture capital and (ii) those particular banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Sponsor to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to February 16, 2021;
(c) any Affiliate of a Person described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that (in each case, other than any Affiliates that are banks, financial institutions, bona fide debt funds or investment vehicles that are engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course (except to the extent separately identified under clause (a) or (b) above)), in each case, is either reasonably identifiable as such on the basis of its name or is identified as such in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Sponsor (i) to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) to the Administrative Agent from time to time on or after the Closing Date; and
(d) Net Short Lenders identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower from time to time to the Administrative Agent.
Any supplementation of the list of Disqualified Lenders provided for under clauses (a) and (c) above shall become effective two (2) Business Days after the date that such written supplement is delivered to the Administrative Agent, but which shall not apply retroactively, other than as set forth in Section 11.27, to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans and/or Commitments as permitted herein. The Borrower shall, upon request of any Lender, identify whether any Person identified by such Lender as a proposed assignee or Participant is a Disqualified Lender.
Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds means an amount equal to 50% of the sum of (i) the Designated Asset Sale Proceeds less (ii) any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and any distributions made pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(i) or 7.06(h)(iii).
Division has the meaning specified in Section 1.02(d).
Dollar and $ mean lawful money of the United States.
Dollar Amount means, at any time:
(a) with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars, the principal amount thereof then outstanding (or in which such participation is held); and
(b) with respect to any other amount (i) if denominated in Dollars, the amount thereof, or (ii) if denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the Exchange Rate (determined in respect of the most recent relevant date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such currency.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
36
Early Opt-in Election means, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBOR, the occurrence of:
(1) | a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding U. S. 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 Borrower to trigger a fallback from LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders. |
ECF Deductions has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(i).
ECF Prepayment Percentage means,
(a) 50%, if the Borrowers First Lien Net Leverage Ratio at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year (but giving effect to any ECF Deductions prior to the date a payment is required to be made pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(i)) equals or exceeds the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio less 0.50 to 1.00;
(b) 25%, if such First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is less than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio less 0.50 to 1.00, but equals or exceeds the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio less 1.00 to 1.00; and
(c) 0%, if such First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is less than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio less 1.00 to 1.00.
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 Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.07(b)(v); provided that the following Persons shall not be Eligible Assignees: (a) any Defaulting Lender, (b) any Person that is Disqualified Lender (other than a Net Short Lender) and (c) unless approved by the Borrower in its sole discretion (for the avoidance of doubt, without giving effect to the proviso set forth in Section 11.07(b)(iii)(A), if applicable), any prospective Lender or Participant that would be a Net Short Lender immediately after giving effect to the assignment or participation pursuant to which such prospective Lender or Participant would become an actual Lender or Participant, as applicable.
37
EMU means the Economic and Monetary Union as contemplated in the EU Treaty.
EMU Legislation means the legislative measures of the EMU for the introduction of, changeover to, or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.
Environment means ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources such as flora and fauna.
Environmental Claim means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation or potential liability, investigations by any Governmental Authority, or proceedings with respect to any Environmental Liability or pursuant to Environmental Law, including those (a) by any Governmental Authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law and (b) by any Person seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws relating to the protection of the Environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and safety, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, and the generation, use, transport, management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.
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 the Restricted 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 or issued pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement means a pari passu intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K-2, or, if requested by the providers of Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be Pari Passu Lien Debt, another arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, in each case as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Upon the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement with one or more Debt Representatives for Pari Passu Lien Debt permitted hereunder.
Equity Contribution has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
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, including any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest) 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).
38
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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 or Section 4001 of ERISA. For the avoidance of doubt, when any provision of this Agreement relates to a past event or period of time, the term ERISA Affiliate includes any Person who was, as to the time of such past event or period of time, an ERISA Affiliate within the meaning of the preceding sentence.
ERISA Event means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan, written notification of any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; (d) the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for the payment of plan contributions or PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with respect to any Pension Plan; (f) the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) with respect to any Pension Plan; (g) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan; (h) the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan; or (i) a determination that any Pension Plan is in at-risk status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA).
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.
EU Treaty means the Treaty on European Union.
Euro and mean the single currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 109(i)4 of the EU Treaty.
Eurocurrency Rate means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, the rate per annum equal to (i) the ICE LIBOR Rate (ICE LIBOR), as published on the applicable Thomson Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period;
39
(b) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate per annum equal to (i) the rate, as published on the applicable Thomson Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in such Alternative Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in such Alternative Currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and
(c) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) ICE LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.
Eurocurrency Rate Loan means a Loan, whether denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Currency, that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) or (b), as applicable, of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.
Excess Cash Flow means, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:
(a) the sum, without duplication, of:
(i) Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus
(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) for such period to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, but excluding any such non-cash charges representing an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period; plus
(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions or Dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period, the application of purchase accounting or the reclassification of items from short term to long term or vice versa); plus
(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by the 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; plus
40
(v) the amount deducted as tax expense in determining Consolidated Net Income to the extent in excess of cash taxes paid in such period (including, without duplication, tax distributions pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(i)) and tax distribution reserves set aside or payable; plus
(vi) cash receipts in respect of Hedge Agreements during such period to the extent not otherwise included in such Consolidated Net Income; over
(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 (but excluding any non-cash credit to the extent representing the reversal of an accrual or reserve described in clause ((a)(ii) above) and cash charges excluded by virtue of clauses ((a)) through (l) (other than clause (g)) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income; plus
(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause ((b)(xi) below or this clause ((b)(ii) in prior periods, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property accrued or made in cash during such period to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt; plus
(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness (including the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Leases) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such prepayments or repayments are not funded with the proceeds of Funded Debt, excluding (A) all payments of Indebtedness described in Section 2.07(b)(i)(B)(I)-2.07(b)(i)(B)(IV) to the extent such payments reduce the repayment of Term Loans that would otherwise be required by Section 2.07(b)(i), (B) all payments of Indebtedness pursuant to and in accordance with Section 7.09(a)(x)(A), and (C) any prepayment of revolving loans to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder; plus
(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by the 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 and the net cash loss on Dispositions to the extent otherwise added to arrive at Consolidated Net Income; plus
(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions or Dispositions by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period, the application of purchase accounting or the reclassification of items from short term to long term or vice versa); plus
(vi) cash payments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries actually made during such period to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt in respect of any purchase price holdbacks, earn-out obligations, long-term liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness) to the extent such payments are not expensed during such period or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period (and so long as there has not been any reduction in respect of such payments in arriving at Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal year); plus
41
(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clauses (viii) and ((xi)) below in prior periods, the amount of Permitted Investments, including Acquisition Transactions (in each case, including costs and expenses related thereto), made during such period pursuant to Section 7.02 (excluding Section 7.02(ff)(i)) to the extent that such Permitted Investments were not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt; plus
(viii) the amount of Restricted Payments actually paid (and permitted to be paid) during such period pursuant to Section 7.06 (excluding Sections 7.06(a), 7.06(c) and 7.06(s)(ii) (but only to the extent such Restricted Payments were made in reliance on clause (b) of the definition of Available Amount)) to the extent such Restricted Payments were not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt; plus
(ix) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such fiscal year or are not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income (and so long as there has not been any reduction in respect of such expenditures in arriving at Consolidated Net Income for such period); plus
(x) to the extent such were not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are made in connection with any prepayment of any principal of Indebtedness to the extent such prepayment of principal reduced Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause ((b)(iii) above or reduced the mandatory prepayment required by Section 2.07(b)(i); plus
(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, commitments, or binding purchase orders (to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt, the Contract Consideration) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions (or Investments similar to those made for Permitted Acquisitions), acquisitions of intellectual property to be consummated or Capital Expenditures that are committed to be made within the twelve month period following the end of such period; provided that, to the extent the aggregate amount actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions (or Investments similar to those made for Permitted Acquisitions), acquisitions of intellectual property or Capital Expenditures during any period is less than the Contract Consideration that reduced Excess Cash Flow for the prior period, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for such period; plus
(xii) [reserved]; plus
(xiii) the amount of cash taxes (including penalties and interest) 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 calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus
42
(xiv) cash expenditures in respect of Hedge Agreements during such period to the extent not deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus
(xv) any amount related to items that were added to or not deducted from Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income or were added to or not deducted from Consolidated Net Income, in each case to the extent such items represented a cash payment which had not reduced Excess Cash Flow upon the accrual thereof in a prior Test Period, or an accrual for a cash payment, by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or did not represent cash received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated basis during such Test Period;
provided that, (A) at the option of the Borrower, any item that meets the criteria of any sub-clause of this clause ((b)) after the end of the applicable period and prior to the applicable date of calculation of Excess Cash Flow for such period may, at the Borrowers option, be included in the applicable period, but not in any calculation pursuant to this clause ((b)) for the subsequent calculation period if such election is made and (B) Excess Cash Flow shall not be increased by any gains from the Designated Asset Sale.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Rate means, on any date with respect to any currency, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such date on the applicable Bloomberg page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Bloomberg page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying the exchange rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent, or, in the event no such service is selected, 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., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two Business Days later; provided that, if at the time of any such determination, for any reason no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable method that it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.
Excluded Asset has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Excluded Equity Interests has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Excluded Incremental Facility means any Indebtedness that either (a) is not a Comparable Financing or (b) is a Comparable Financing and is (i) in an original aggregate principal amount less than the greater of 50% of Closing Date EBITDA and 50% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) incurred in connection with any Permitted Investment (iii) incurred in reliance on the Ratio Amount, (iv) with a final maturity later than the date that is eight years after the Closing Date or (v) Customary Bridge Facilities.
Excluded Subsidiary means:
(a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party;
(b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower or of any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary;
(c) any FSHCO;
43
(d) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC or a FSHCO;
(e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law from providing a Guaranty or by a binding contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition) from providing a Guaranty (provided that such contractual obligation is not entered into by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries principally for the purpose of qualifying as an Excluded Subsidiary under this definition) or if such Guaranty would require governmental (including regulatory) or third party (other than Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained;
(f) any special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity) including any Securitization Subsidiary created pursuant to a transaction permitted under this Agreement;
(g) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization;
(h) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary;
(i) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith and in consultation with the Administrative Agent, the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the Guaranty shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom;
(j) any other Subsidiary to the extent the provision of a guaranty by such Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith in consultation with the Administrative Agent;
(k) any Unrestricted Subsidiary; and
(l) any Immaterial Subsidiary;
provided that the Borrower, in its sole discretion (or in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, with the consent of the Administrative Agent not to be unreasonably withheld), may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that qualifies as an Excluded Subsidiary under clauses ((a)) through ((l)) above to become a Guarantor in accordance with the definition thereof (subject to completion of any requested know your customer and similar requirements of the Administrative Agent) and thereafter such Subsidiary shall not constitute an Excluded Subsidiary (unless and until the Borrower elects, in its sole discretion, to designate such Persons as an Excluded Subsidiary).
Excluded Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Guarantor, 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) by virtue of such Guarantors failure for any reason to constitute an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to any keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantors Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.
44
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, 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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 3.01(g) and (d) Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks shall mean those earnouts and unfunded holdbacks existing on the Closing Date.
Extended Commitments means Extended Term Commitments.
Extended Loans means Extended Term Loans.
Extended Term Commitments means the Term Loan Commitments held by an Extending Lender.
Extended Term Loans means the Term Loans made pursuant to Extended Term Commitments.
Extending Lender means each Lender accepting an Extension Offer.
Extension has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
Extension Amendment has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).
Extension Offer has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
Facility means the Term Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) (including the Initial Term Loans), any Extended Term Loans any Incremental Term Loans, or any Refinancing Term Loans, as the context may require.
fair market value means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arms-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction as determined in good faith by the management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower or as otherwise set forth in Section 1.03.
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 (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities (and any related fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant thereto) implementing such Sections of the Code.
45
FCPA means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or modified from time to time.
Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such days federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate for any day is less than zero, the Federal Funds Rate for such day will be deemed to be zero.
Financial Covenant has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(e).
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Fitch means Fitch Ratings, Inc., and any successor thereto.
Fixed Incremental Amount means, as of the date of measurement, the sum of:
(a) the greater of (i) $536,000,000 (i.e. approximately 100.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 100.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(b) the aggregate principal amount of voluntary prepayments, redemptions and repurchases (including all debt buybacks (whether or not offered to all lenders)) including pursuant to yank-a-bank provisions in each case, based on the purchase price therefor (rather than the face amount thereof) of the Initial Term Loans and/or other Pari Passu Lien Debt and/or any Junior Lien Debt (provided, that prepayments of Junior Lien Debt shall only build capacity for further incurrences of Junior Lien Debt), in each case, except to the extent such prepayments were funded with the proceeds of long-term indebtedness; and
(c) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that, at such time, could be incurred pursuant to the General Debt Basket;
minus, without duplication of any amounts incurred in reliance on this definition the aggregate amount of any Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred and then outstanding in reliance on the Fixed Incremental Amount.
Flood Insurance Certificate means with respect to each Mortgaged Property, a completed Life-of-Loan Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination.
Floor means, for the Loans or any tranche thereof, as applicable, the benchmark rate floor (which may be zero), if any, provided for in this Agreement with respect to LIBOR as determined for the Loans or such tranche thereof, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the Floor applicable to the Initial Term Loans as of the Closing Date shall be 0.50% per annum.
Foreign Casualty Event has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(vi)(A).
46
Foreign Disposition has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(vi)(A).
Foreign Lender means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
Foreign Subsidiary means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
FSHCO means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) that has no material assets other than Equity Interests (or Equity Interests and Indebtedness) in one or more CFCs or other FSHCOs.
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.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.
General Asset Sale Basket has the meaning specified in Section 7.05(j).
Global Intercompany Note means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit H executed by Holdings, the Borrower and the other parties thereto.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Grant Event means the occurrence of any of the following:
(a) the formation or acquisition by a Loan Party of a new Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary);
(b) the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of a Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) of any Loan Party as a Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) any Person (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) becoming a Subsidiary of a Loan Party; or
(d) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary.
Granting Lender has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).
47
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 (other than a Permitted 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, Permitted Liens, 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 means Holdings, the Borrower (other than to its own primary Obligations) and each Restricted Subsidiary that executed a counterpart to the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto) on the Closing Date or thereafter pursuant to Section 6.11, in each case, other than any Excluded Subsidiaries.
Guaranty means (a) the guaranty made by Holdings and the other Guarantors from time to time party thereto in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.
Guaranty Release Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(iii).
Guaranty Supplement means the First Lien Guarantee Supplement as defined in the Guaranty.
Hazardous Materials means any hazardous or toxic chemicals, materials, substances or waste which is listed, classified or regulated by any Governmental Authority as hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, restricted hazardous wastes, toxic substances, toxic wastes, contaminants or pollutants, or words of similar import, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum products (including gasoline, crude oil or any fraction thereof), asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, radon gas and urea formaldehyde.
Hedge Agreement means any agreement with respect to (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
48
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.
Hedge Bank means any Person that is an Agent, a Lender, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing on the Closing Date (with respect to any Secured Hedge Agreement entered into on or prior to the Closing Date) or at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, a Lender, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing; provided, at the time of entering into a Secured Hedge Agreement, no Hedge Bank shall be a Defaulting Lender.
HMT means Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Holdings has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns permitted hereunder.
Home and Office Delivery Business means those assets and property identified by the Borrower as comprising the Home and Office Delivery business.
ICE LIBOR means the London Interbank Offered Rate set by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited.
Identified Transaction has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
IFRS means International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any successor to either such Board, or the SEC, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.
Immaterial Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Material Subsidiary.
Increased Amount of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness or in the form of Equity Interests, as applicable, the accretion of original issue discount, deferred financing fees or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies.
Incremental Amendment has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(e).
Incremental Amount has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(c).
Incremental Equivalent Debt means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Loan Party; provided that at the time of incurrence thereof:
(a) the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt on any date such Indebtedness is incurred (or commitments with respect thereto are made) shall not, together with any Incremental Term Facilities then outstanding, exceed the Incremental Amount;
49
(b) (i) the scheduled final maturity date of any Incremental Equivalent Debt (A) that is Pari Passu Lien Debt will be no earlier than the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans and (B) that is Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral shall not mature prior to the date that is 91 days following the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans; provided that this clause (b)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Incremental Equivalent Debt will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans (without giving effect to any amortization or prepayment on the outstanding Initial Term Loans); provided that this clause (b)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
(c) any mandatory prepayment of Incremental Equivalent Debt (i) that comprises Pari Passu Lien Debt may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b), it being agreed (A) any repayment of such Incremental Equivalent Debt at maturity shall be permitted and (B) any greater than pro rata repayment of such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall be permitted with the proceeds of a permitted refinancing thereof; provided that this clause (c)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) that comprises Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral may not participate in any mandatory repayments of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b), unless such mandatory prepayments are first made or offered to the Initial Term Loans (to the extent required); provided that this clause (c)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and
(d) (i) to the extent secured by a Lien on property or assets of Holdings or any other Loan Party, any Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not be secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person that does not also secure the Initial Term Loans (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar fronting lender, (2) Excluded Assets, (3) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, and (4) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Liens secure such Incremental Equivalent Debt); and (ii) to the extent guaranteed by Holdings or any other Loan Party, any such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not be guaranteed by any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for guarantees by other Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, (2) an Excluded Subsidiary, and (3) any such Person guaranteeing such Incremental Equivalent Debt that also guarantees the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Person guarantees such Incremental Equivalent Debt); provided, if such Incremental Equivalent Debt is secured, the Administrative Agent will enter into an applicable Intercreditor Agreement with respect thereto.
Incremental Equivalent Debt (i) may rank either pari passu or junior in right of payment with any Class of Term Loans (including the Initial Term Loans) and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, may be Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral. Incremental Equivalent Debt will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Incremental Facility has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Incremental Loans has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
50
Incremental Term Facilities has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Incremental Term Loan Commitment means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund an Incremental Term Loan and Incremental Term Loan Commitments means such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate.
Incremental Term Loan Exposure means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans of such Lenders; provided, at any time prior to the making of the Incremental Term Loans, the Incremental Term Loan Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lenders Incremental Term Loan Commitment.
Incremental Term Loans has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication,
(a) any indebtedness (including principal or premium) of such Person in respect of borrowed money; any indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments; letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); Capitalized Lease Obligations; the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles;
(b) (i) to the extent not otherwise included, any Guarantee by such Person of the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business and (ii) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such obligations are assumed by such Person and whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness for purposes of this clause (ii) will be the lesser of the fair market value of such property at such date of determination and the amount of Indebtedness so secured;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreement to the extent such obligations would appear as a net liability on a balance sheet of such Person (other than in the footnotes) prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles; and
(d) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include indebtedness, guarantees or obligations that are (1) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business unless and until such obligations are non-contingent, (2) trade payables, (3) customary purchase money obligations incurred in the ordinary course, (4) earn outs, purchase price holdbacks or similar obligations, (5) intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (6) [reserved], (7) loans and advances made by Loan Parties having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll over or extension of terms) (such loans and advances, Short Term Advances) and (8) Indebtedness of any direct or indirect Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of such Person solely by reason of push down accounting under the Accounting Principles. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.
51
Indemnified Liabilities has the meaning specified in Section 11.05.
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Indemnitees has the meaning specified in Section 11.05.
Independent Financial Advisor means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged and that is independent of the Borrower and its Affiliates.
Information has the meaning specified in Section 11.08.
Initial Term Loan Commitment means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make an Initial Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder on the Closing Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Initial Term Loans to be made by such Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iii) an Extension. The initial amount of each Lenders Initial Term Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 under the caption Initial Term Loan Commitment or, otherwise, in the Assignment and Assumption or Refinancing Amendment pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Initial Term Loan Commitment, as the case may be. The aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments is $2,550,000,000.
Initial Term Loans has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).
Inside Maturity Exception means Indebtedness consisting of, at the Borrowers option, any combination of Incremental Facilities, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing, that is any of the following: (a) Indebtedness that is incurred under the Ratio Amount; (b) Indebtedness in an original principal amount that does not exceed the greater of (x) $268,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (y) 50% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination or (c) is a Customary Bridge Facility.
Intellectual Property has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Intellectual Property Security Agreements has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Intercreditor Agreements means the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and any Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement and any other intercreditor agreement governing lien priority, in each case that may be executed by the Collateral Agent from time to time.
Interest Coverage Ratio means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the Test Period as of such date.
Interest Payment Date means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Eurocurrency Rate Loan and the applicable Maturity Date; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates, (b) as to any Base Rate Loan the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter and the applicable Maturity Date and (c) to the extent necessary to create a fungible tranche of Term Loans, the date of the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans.
52
Interest Period means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent consented to by each applicable Lender, twelve months (or such period of less than one month as may be consented to by each applicable Lender), 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 immediately 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 applicable Maturity Date.
Interim Financial Statements has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(g).
Investment means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, by means of
(a) the purchase or other acquisition (including by merger or otherwise) 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, but excluding any Short Term Advances; or
(c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions, including by merger or otherwise) 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 another Person;
provided that none of the following shall constitute an Investment (i) intercompany advances between and among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to their cash management, tax and accounting operations in the ordinary course of business and (ii) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness between and among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries having a term not exceeding 364 days and made in the ordinary course of business.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower.
IRS means Internal Revenue Service of the United States.
53
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.
Joint Bookrunners means Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC.
Joint Venture means (a) any Person which would constitute an equity method investee of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any Person in whom the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially owns any Equity Interest that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Joint Venture Investments means Investments in any Joint Venture in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $134,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 25.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination.
Judgment Currency has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(b).
Junior Debt Repayment has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(a).
Junior Financing means any Material Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations expressly by its terms.
Junior Financing Documentation means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.
Junior Lien Debt means any Indebtedness that that is (or is intended by the Borrower to be) secured by Liens on all or any portion of the Collateral that has a priority that is contractually (or otherwise) junior in priority to the Lien on such Collateral that secure the Obligations other than the ABL Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Junior Lien Debt excludes the Initial Term Loans as of the Closing Date. A Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of Junior Lien Debt shall become party to, or otherwise subject to the provisions of an Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement means an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K-1 (as the same may be modified in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower), or, if requested by the providers of Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be Junior Lien Debt, another lien subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, in each case as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Upon the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with one or more Debt Representatives for secured Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred hereunder as Junior Lien Debt.
Latest Maturity Date means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Loan, any Refinancing Term Loan, any Extended Term Loan, 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 and executive orders, 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.
54
LCA Election has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).
LCA Test Date has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).
Lead Arrangers means Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC.
Lender has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes each Term Loan Lender), and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender. Each Additional Lender shall be a Lender to the extent any such Person has executed and delivered a Refinancing Amendment or an Incremental Amendment, as the case may be, and to the extent such Refinancing Amendment or Incremental Amendment shall have become effective in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and each Extending Lender shall continue to be a Lender. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 2.01 sets forth the name of each Lender.
Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
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); provided that in no event shall a right of use lease or an agreement to sell in and of itself be deemed or give rise to a Lien.
Lien Release Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(i).
Limited Condition Acquisition means any Acquisition Transaction or other Investment by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.
Loan means a Term Loan made by a Lender to the Borrower under a Loan Document.
Loan Documents means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment, (d) the Guaranty, (e) the Collateral Documents, (f) the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement (if any) and (g) the Global Intercompany Note.
Loan Parties means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors; provided that prior to consummation of the Acquisition, neither the Acquired Business nor any Target Loan Parties shall be Loan Parties.
Management Stockholders means (a) any Company Person who is an investor in Holdings or a Parent Entity, (b) family members of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a), (c) trusts, partnerships or limited liability companies for the benefit of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b), and (d) heirs, executors, estates, successors and legal representatives of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b).
55
Margin Stock has the meaning set forth in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.
Market Capitalization means an amount equal to (a) the sum of (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower or any Parent Entity on the date of the initial public offering of the shares of common stock of the Borrower or such Parent Entity, plus (ii) the total number of shares of common stock of the Borrower or any Parent Entity that are actually issued, if any, upon exercise of the overallotment option granted to the underwriters of such initial public offering, multiplied by (b) the initial public offering price of such shares of common stock.
Master Agreement has the meaning specified in the definition of Hedge Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect means any event, circumstance or condition that has had a materially adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (b) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under the Loan Documents; provided that, until December 31, 2022, (i) the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic and (ii) the direct effects of the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic upon the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not in any event constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
Material Domestic Subsidiary means, as of the Closing Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Borrowers Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in clause (a) or (b) comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re-designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or on the date of such redesignation, as applicable (or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), (i) designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Domestic Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true and (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 6.11 with respect to any such Domestic Subsidiaries identified in the foregoing clause (i).
56
Material Foreign Subsidiary means, as of the Closing Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Borrowers Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is 30 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Material Foreign Subsidiaries comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re-designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or on the date of such re-designation (or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Foreign Subsidiaries as Material Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true.
Material Indebtedness means, as of any date, Indebtedness for borrowed money on such date in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount; provided that in no event shall any of the following be Material Indebtedness (a) Indebtedness under a Loan Document, (b) obligations in respect of a receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing), (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (d) Indebtedness held by a Loan Party or any Indebtedness held by an Affiliate of a Loan Party and (e) Indebtedness under Hedge Agreements.
Material Intellectual Property means Intellectual Property that is owned by a Loan Party and that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (whether owned as of the Closing Date or thereafter acquired).
Material Real Property means any real property located in the United States owned in fee by a Loan Party (or owned by any Person required to become a Loan Party hereunder) (a) with a fair market value in excess of $20,000,000, (b) not located in, or containing improvements in, an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood area on the Closing Date or on each date of the acquisition thereof and (c) not including any portion of fee-owned real property as otherwise mutually agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Material Subsidiary means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Material Foreign Subsidiary.
Maturity Date means:
(a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans that have not been extended pursuant to Section 2.18, the date that is the earlier of (i) seven years after the Closing Date and (ii) the date such Term Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02;
57
(b) with respect to any tranche of Extended Term Loans, the earlier of (i) the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Extension Amendment and (ii) the date such tranche of Extended Term Loans are terminated and/or declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02;
(c) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loans, the earlier of (i) the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and (ii) the date such Refinancing Term Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02; and
(d) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, the earlier of (i) the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment and (ii) the date such Incremental Term Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02;
provided, in each case, that if such day is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately preceding such day.
Maximum Rate has the meaning specified in Section 11.10.
Minimum Equity Contribution has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
Minority Investment means any Person other than a Subsidiary in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owns any Equity Interests.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
Mortgage Policy and/or Mortgage Policies means an American Land Title Association Lenders Extended Coverage title insurance policy or the equivalent or other equivalent form available in the applicable jurisdiction covering such interest in the Mortgaged Property in an amount at least equal to the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property (or such lesser amount as shall be specified by the Collateral Agent) insuring the first priority Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid Lien on the property described therein, free of exceptions to title (other than Permitted Liens) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company, together with such reasonable and customary endorsements to the extent applicable to the Mortgaged Property, as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to the extent available at commercially reasonable rates in the applicable jurisdiction.
Mortgaged Properties means the property on which Mortgages are required pursuant to Section 6.11(b).
Mortgaged Spring Water Collateral means the property on which Mortgages are required pursuant to Section 6.11(c).
Mortgages means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, hypothecs and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and any other mortgages, deeds of trust, trust deeds and hypothecs executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11(b) and Section 6.11(c).
Multiemployer Plan means any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
Negative ECF Amount has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(i).
58
Net Cash Proceeds means, with respect to:
(a) 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 and 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 of the Restricted Subsidiaries), over
(ii) the sum of,
(A) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest, breakage costs and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and required to be repaid in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event or otherwise comes due under the terms thereof (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents or Pari Passu Lien Debt);
(B) the out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys fees, accountants fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and re-cording 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 and restoration costs following a Casualty Event and out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with such Disposition;
(C) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable in connection therewith and distributions made pursuant to Section 7.06(g)(i) or 7.06(g)(iii) (including taxes imposed on the distribution or repatriation of any such Net Cash Proceeds);
(D) in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause ((D)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof); and
(E) (i) any Cash escrow arrangements (until released from escrow to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiary) and (ii) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (1) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with the Accounting Principles and (2) 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, it being understood that Net Cash Proceeds shall include the amount of any reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in this clause ((E));
59
provided that 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 exceeds (a) $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause ((a))); and
(b) the sale, incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of:
(i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over
(ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, fees (including investment banking fees, attorneys fees, accountants fees, underwriting fees and discounts), commissions, costs (including fees, discounts, and issuance costs) and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses, incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, incurrence or issuance.
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, on an unconsolidated basis) and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.
Net Short Lender means at any date of determination, each Lender that has a Net Short Position as of such date; provided that, for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Unrestricted Lenders shall at all times be deemed to not be Net Short Lenders.
Net Short Position means, with respect to a Lender (other than an Unrestricted Lender), as of a date of determination, the net positive position, if any, held by such Lender that is remaining after deducting any long position that the Lender holds (i.e., a position (whether as an investor, lender or holder of Loans, debt obligations and/or Derivative Instruments) where the Lender is exposed to the credit risk of the Loan Parties) from any short positions (i.e., a position as described above, but where the Lender has a negative exposure to the credit risk described above).
For purposes of determining whether a Lender (other than an Unrestricted Lender) has a Net Short Position on any date of determination:
(a) Derivative Instruments shall be counted at the notional amount (in Dollars) of such Derivative Instrument; provided that, subject to clause (e) below, the notional amount of Derivative Instruments referencing an index that includes any of the Loan Parties or any bond or loan obligation issued or guaranteed by any Loan Party shall be determined in proportionate amount and by reference to the percentage weighting of the component which references any Loan Party or any bond or loan obligation issued or guaranteed by any Loan Party that would be a Deliverable Obligation or an Obligation (as defined in the ISDA CDS Definitions) of the Loan Parties;
(b) notional amounts of Derivative Instruments in other currencies shall be converted to the Dollar equivalent thereof by such Lender in accordance with the terms of such Derivative Instruments, as applicable; provided that if not otherwise provided in such Derivative Instrument, such conversion shall be made in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate determined (on a mid-market basis) by such Lender, acting in a commercially reasonable manner, on the date of determination;
60
(c) Derivative Instruments that incorporate either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions, in each case as supplemented (or any successor definitions thereto, collectively, the ISDA CDS Definitions) shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such Derivative Instrument and (A) the Loans are a Reference Obligation under the terms of such Derivative Instrument (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a Standard Reference Obligation on the most recent list published by Markit, if Standard Reference Obligation is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner) or (B) the Loans would be a Deliverable Obligation or an Obligation (as defined in the ISDA CDS Definitions) of the Loan Parties under the terms of such Derivative Instrument;
(d) credit derivative transactions or other Derivative Instruments which do not incorporate the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be counted for purposes of the Net Short Position determination if, with respect to the Loans, such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers such Lender protection in respect of the Loans; and
(e) Derivative Instruments in respect of an index that includes any of the Loan Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by any of the Loan Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position, so long as (A) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (B) the Loan Parties, and any Deliverable Obligation of the Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5.0% of the components of such index.
Net Short Representation means, with respect to any Lender (other than an Unrestricted Lender) at any time, a representation (including any deemed representation, as the case may be) from such Lender to the Borrower that it is not (x) a Net Short Lender at such time or (y) knowingly and intentionally acting in concert with any of its Affiliates for the express purpose of creating (and in fact creating) the same economic effect with respect to the Loan Parties as though such Lender were a Net Short Lender at such time.
Non-Consenting Lender has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Non-Defaulting Lender means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
Non-Loan Party means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party.
Not Otherwise Applied means, with reference to the Available Amount or the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuance that is proposed to be applied to a particular use or transaction, that such amount was not previously applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of net cash proceeds from Permitted Equity Issuances, any use of such amount to increase the Available Amount or to fund a Specified Equity Contribution) where such permissibility was (or may have been) contingent on the receipt or availability of such amount, it being agreed that the incurrence of secured debt shall be deemed one use transaction for purposes of this definition.
Note means each of the Term Loan Notes.
61
Notes Indenture means the Indenture (including the guaranty set forth therein), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower, as issuer, Holdings and the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, as guarantors, and the Notes Trustee, as trustee, pursuant to which notes are issued, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Notes Trustee means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacities as trustee under the Notes Indenture, together with its successors and permitted assigns.
Obligations means all,
(a) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, 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, premiums, fees and expenses that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, premiums, fees and expenses are allowed claims in such proceeding;
(b) obligations of any Loan Party arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement; and
(c) Cash Management Obligations;
provided that Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, premiums, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party and to provide Cash Collateral under any Loan Document.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.
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, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(i).
Other Applicable Indebtedness has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(ii)(B).
62
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.07).
Overnight Rate means, for any day, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
Parent Entity has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Pari Passu Lien Debt means any Indebtedness that is (or is intended by the Borrower to be) secured by Liens that are pari passu in priority with the Liens that secure the Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Pari Passu Lien Debt includes the Initial Term Loans, and excludes Obligations that are unsecured or secured (or intended to be secured) by a lien that is junior in priority to Liens on Collateral securing Pari Passu Lien Debt. A Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of Pari Passu Lien Debt shall become party to, or otherwise subject to the provisions of an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents securing the Initial Term Loans.
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).
Participant Register has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(e).
Participating Member State means each state as described in any EMU Legislation.
Participation has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates or to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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, or has had an obligation to make, contributions at any time in the preceding five plan years.
Permitted Acquisition means an Acquisition Transaction together with other Investments undertaken to consummate such Acquisition Transaction; provided that:
(a) after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Acquisition Transaction or Investment, at the applicable time determined in accordance with Section 1.08(f), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
63
(b) the business of such Person, or such assets, as the case may be, constitute a business permitted by the Loan Documents; and
(c) with respect to each such purchase or other acquisition, all actions required to be taken with respect to any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (including each Subsidiary thereof that constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary) or assets in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 6.11 to the extent applicable shall have been taken (or shall be taken), to the extent required by such section (or arrangements for the taking of such actions after the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition shall have been made) (unless such newly created or acquired Subsidiary constitutes an Excluded Subsidiary or is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Permitted Equity Issuance means any,
(a) public or private sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Parent Entity;
(b) contribution to the equity capital of the Borrower or any other Loan Party (other than (i) a Specified Equity Contribution or (ii) in exchange for Disqualified Equity Interests);
(c) sale or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings, the Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity; or
(d) interest, returns, profits, dividends, distributions and similar amounts received from any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is not a Subsidiary or on account of an Investment in such Person;
provided that the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuance will be, (i) in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution and the fair market value of any other property received in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value and (ii) in the case of clause (c) above, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness so converted or exchanged.
Permitted Holders means any:
(a) a Permitted Investor and any Co-Investor;
(b) the Management Stockholders;
(c) any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of which the Persons described in clauses ((a)) or ((b)) above are members; provided that, without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Persons described in clauses ((a)) or ((b)) above, collectively, beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) Equity Interests representing at least a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interest of Holdings (or any Successor Holdings, if applicable) then held by such group; and
(d) any Parent Entity, for so long as a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Parent Entity is beneficially owned (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by one or more Permitted Holders described in clauses ((a)), ((b)) and/or ((c)) of the definition thereof.
64
Permitted Investment means (a) any Permitted Acquisition, (b) any Acquisition Transaction and/or (c) any other Investment or acquisition permitted hereunder.
Permitted Investors means (a) the Sponsor, (b) each of the Affiliates and investment managers of the Sponsor, (c) any fund or account managed by any of the persons described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition, (d) any employee benefit plan of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and (e) investment vehicles of members of management of Holdings or the Borrower, Holdings, the Borrower, and their respective Subsidiaries.
Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness that is Junior Lien Debt.
Permitted Lien means any Lien not prohibited by Section 7.01.
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness that is Pari Passu Lien Debt.
Permitted Ratio Debt means Indebtedness of one or more Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, at the time of incurrence thereof (or the time commitments with respect thereto are made):
(a) immediately after giving effect to the issuance, incurrence, or assumption of such Indebtedness:
(i) in the case of any Pari Passu Lien Debt, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (1) the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or (2) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence;
(ii) in the case of any Junior Lien Debt, either (1) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (A) the Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50:1.00 or (B) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence or (2) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or greater than (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence; and
(iii) in the case of any Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral, either:
(A) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (I) the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50:1.00 or (II) the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence, or
(B) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or greater than (I) 2.00 to 1.00 or (II) the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence;
65
in each case, after giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any use of proceeds thereof (excluding the effect of any substantially concurrent increase under the Fixed Incremental Amount) and measured as of and for the Test Period immediately preceding the issuance, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Ratio Debt incurred by Non-Loan Parties shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the greater of (A) $268,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 50.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination; and
(b) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Permitted Ratio Debt has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, (i) if such Permitted Ratio Debt is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) if such Permitted Ratio Debt is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) if such Permitted Ratio Debt is in the form of a Comparable Financing (other than an Excluded Incremental Facility), then the provisions of Section 2.16(h) shall apply as if such Permitted Ratio Debt was in the form of Incremental Term Loans;
(d) (i) the scheduled final maturity date of any Permitted Ratio Debt (A) that is Pari Passu Lien Debt will be no earlier than the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans and (B) that is Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral shall not mature prior to the date that is 91 days following the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans; provided that this clause (d)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Permitted Ratio Debt will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans (without giving effect to any amortization or prepayment on the outstanding Initial Term Loans); provided that this clause (d)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
(e) any mandatory prepayment of Permitted Ratio Debt (i) that comprises Pari Passu Lien Debt may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b), it being agreed (A) any repayment of such Permitted Ratio Debt at maturity shall be permitted and (B) any greater than pro rata repayment of such Permitted Ratio Debt shall be permitted with the proceeds of a permitted refinancing thereof; provided that this clause (e)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) that comprises Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral may not participate in any mandatory repayments of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b), unless such mandatory prepayments are first made or offered to the Initial Term Loans (to the extent required); provided that this clause (e)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and
(f) (i) to the extent secured by a Lien on property or assets of Borrower or any other Loan Party, any Permitted Ratio Debt shall not be secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person that does not also secure the Initial Term Loans (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar fronting lender, (2) Excluded Assets, (3) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence and (4) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under Initial Term Loans for so long as such Liens secure such Permitted Ratio Debt); and (ii) to the extent guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such Permitted Ratio Debt shall not be guaranteed by
66
any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for guarantees by other Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, (2) an Excluded Subsidiary and (3) any such Person guaranteeing such Permitted Ratio Debt that also guarantees Initial Term Loans for so long as such Person guarantees such Permitted Ratio Debt).
Permitted Ratio Debt (i) may rank either pari passu or junior in right of payment with any Class of Term Loans (including the Initial Term Loans) and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, may be Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness not secured by a Lien on any Collateral. Permitted Ratio Debt will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.
Permitted Refinancing means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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, replaced, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon, plus OID and upfront fees plus other fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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(d), such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended,
(c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d) no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(d) such Indebtedness shall not be incurred or guaranteed by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary other than a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that was an obligor of the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, renewed, replaced or refinanced and no additional Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries shall become liable for such Indebtedness;
(e) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is Junior Financing or Junior Lien Debt,
(i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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, replaced, renewed or extended,
67
(ii) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is unsecured, such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is either (A) unsecured or (B) secured only by Permitted Liens (provided that such incurrence will thereafter count in the calculation of any remaining basket capacity thereunder, while such Indebtedness remains outstanding);
(iii) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is secured by Liens, (A) such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is either (1) unsecured or (2) secured only by Permitted Liens, provided that if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of (1) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or (2) if such Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (B) to the extent that such Liens are subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is secured by Liens that are subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation (including any intercreditor or similar agreements) governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended; and
(iv) such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended and no additional obligors become liable for such Indebtedness;
(f) if such Indebtedness is secured by assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(i) such Indebtedness shall not be secured by Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are not also subject to, or would be required to be subject to pursuant to the Loan Documents, a Lien securing the Obligations (except (1) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence, and (2) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders);
(ii) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of (A) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or (B) if such Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;
(g) in the case of any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt or any Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt, in each case, such Permitted Refinancing is secured by Liens on assets of Loan Parties that are subject to an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable; and
(h) in the case of any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any Incremental Equivalent Debt, (i) such Permitted Refinancing shall be subject to the terms of clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of Incremental Equivalent Debt as if such Permitted Refinancing were also Incremental Equivalent Debt and (ii) to the extent secured by a Lien, such Permitted Refinancing shall be secured with no greater Priority in relation to the Obligation than the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended.
68
Permitted Refinancing will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the case of any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness that is subject to a limitation on incurrence or guarantee of such Indebtedness by any Non-Loan Party, such limitation shall apply to any Permitted Refinancing thereof as if such Permitted Refinancing were such Indebtedness.
Permitted Reorganization means any transaction (a) undertaken to effect a corporate reorganization (or similar transaction or event) for operational or efficiency purposes, (b) undertaken in connection with and reasonably required for consummating an Qualifying IPO or (c) related to tax planning or tax reorganization, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Borrower and entered into after the Closing Date; provided that, (i) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to such transaction and immediately after giving effect thereto and (ii) the Borrower has determined in good faith that, after giving effect to such transaction, the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral (taken as a whole) and the Guarantees of the Obligations (taken as a whole), in each case would not be impaired as a result thereof, and such transaction would not otherwise be materially adverse to the Lenders.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Personal Property Collateral means any Collateral consisting of personal property in which a valid lien may be created pursuant to Article 9 of the New York UCC.
Platform has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Pledged Collateral Threshold means an amount equal to the Threshold Amount.
Pledged Debt has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Pledged Equity has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Pounds Sterling and £ mean the lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Prepayment Date has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(vii).
Prepayment Notice means a written notice made pursuant to Section 2.07(a)(i) substantially in the form of Exhibit J.
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 reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).
Private-Side Information means any information with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries that is not Public-Side Information.
Pro Forma Basis and Pro Forma Effect mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant or calculation hereunder, the determination or calculation of such test, covenant or ratio (including in connection with Specified Transactions) in accordance with Section 1.08.
69
Pro Rata Share means,
(a) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the Term Loans of a given Class of any 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 Term Loan Exposure of such Class of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of such Class of all Lenders at such time; and
(b) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the Incremental Term Loans of any 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 Incremental Term Loan Exposure of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Incremental Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders at such time.
Prohibited Perfection Action means any requirement or action:
(a) to perfect security interests in the Collateral other than by,
(i) all asset filings pursuant to the UCC in the office of the secretary of state (or similar central filing office) of the relevant state(s) for each Domestic Subsidiary and filings in the applicable real estate records with respect to Material Real Property and Spring Water Collateral;
(ii) filings in (A) the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to any material U.S. registered patents and trademarks and (B) the United States Copyright Office of the Library of Congress with respect to material copyright registrations, in the case of each of (A) and (B), constituting Collateral;
(iii) Mortgages and/or UCC filings in respect of Material Real Property;
(iv) Mortgages and/or UCC filings in respect of Spring Water Collateral; and
(v) delivery to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (or a bailee or other agent of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent) to be held in its possession of all Collateral consisting of (A) certificates representing Pledged Equity, and (B) promissory notes and other instruments constituting Collateral, in each case, in the manner provided in the Collateral Documents; provided that promissory notes and instruments having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Pledged Collateral Threshold or less need not be delivered to the Collateral Agent;
(b) to enter into any control agreement, lockbox or similar arrangement with respect to any deposit account, securities account, commodities account or other bank account, or otherwise take or perfect a security interest with control (other than with respect to the Cash Collateral Account and Pledged Securities under the Collateral Documents);
(c) to be required to have any notice sent to Account Debtors (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or other contractual third parties prior to an Event of Default;
(d) to provide any notice or obtain the consent of governmental authorities under the Federal Assignment of Claims Act (or any state equivalent thereof);
70
(e) to take any perfection action with respect to any real property other than Material Real Property or Spring Water Collateral (except to the extent excused pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition of Excluded Asset);
(f) to take any action (i) outside of the United States with respect to any assets located outside of the United States, (ii) in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or (iii) required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction to create, perfect or maintain any security interest or otherwise, except, in each case, with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary that voluntarily becomes a Guarantor; or
(g) to take any action with respect to perfecting a Lien with respect to letters of credit, letter of credit rights, Commercial Tort Claims, Chattel Paper or assets subject to a certificate of title or similar statute (in each case, other than the filing of customary all asset UCC-1 financing statements) or to deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels, bailee letters or collateral access letters, in each case, unless required by the terms of the Security Agreement or the relevant Collateral Document.
No representation or warranty contained herein or in any Loan Document shall be deemed inaccurate as a result of any Grantor not taking a Prohibited Perfection Action.
PTE means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Public Company Costs means costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to Holdings status (or any relevant Parent Entitys status) as a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors and officers insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.
Public Lenders means Lenders that do not wish to receive Private-Side Information.
Public-Side Information means (a) at any time prior to a Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries becoming the issuer of any Traded Securities, information that Holdings determines (i) would be required by applicable Law to be publicly disclosed in connection with an issuance by such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries of its debt or equity securities pursuant to a registered public offering made at such time or (ii) not material to make an investment decision with respect to securities of such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries (for purposes of United States federal, state or other applicable securities laws), and (b) at any time on or after such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries becoming the issuer of any Traded Securities, information that does not constitute material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal, state or other applicable securities laws) with respect to such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities.
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 11.26(a).
Qualified Equity Interests means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
71
Qualified Holding Company Debt means Indebtedness of Holdings:
(a) that is not subject to any Guarantee by any Loan Party (including the Borrower);
(b) that will not mature prior to the date that is six months after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of issuance or incurrence thereof;
(c) that has no scheduled amortization or scheduled payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligation (it being understood that such Indebtedness may have mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions satisfying the requirements of clause (e) below);
(d) that does not require any payments in cash of interest or other amounts in respect of the principal thereof prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is four years from the date of the issuance or incurrence thereof and (ii) the date that is 180 days after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such issuance or incurrence; and
(e) that has mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption, covenant, default and remedy provisions customary for senior discount notes of an issuer that is the parent of a borrower under senior secured credit facilities, and in any event, with respect to covenant, default and remedy provisions, no more restrictive (taken as a whole) than those set forth in this Agreement (other than provisions customary for senior discount notes of a holding company), in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
provided that any such Indebtedness shall constitute Qualified Holding Company Debt only if immediately after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence thereof and the use of proceeds thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Qualified Professional Asset Manager has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a).
Qualified Securitization Financing means any Securitization Financing that meets the following conditions:
(a) such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
(b) all sales, transfers and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets are made at fair market value; and
(c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof, including any Standard Securitization Undertakings, shall be market terms, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
Qualifying IPO means,
(a) the issuance by Holdings or any Parent Entity of its common Equity Interests in an underwritten primary public offering, other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8, pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering), or
72
(b) any transaction or series of related transactions following consummation of which Holdings or any Parent Entity is either subject to the periodic reporting obligations of the Exchange Act or has a class or series of Equity Interests publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange, in each case, if following such transaction or series of transactions, any class or series of Equity Interests of such Person is listed on a national securities exchange.
Ratio Amount means an aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness that is incurred pursuant to clause (a) of the Permitted Ratio Debt definition.
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) any Lender, as applicable.
Recurring Contracts means, as of any date of determination, any commercial contract of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary for the provision of goods or other services that are continuous and not project based.
Reference Date has the meaning specified in the definition of Available Amount.
Reference Time with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is LIBOR, 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 not LIBOR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
Refinanced Debt has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.
Refinanced Loans has the meaning specified in Section 11.01(f)(ii).
Refinancing Amendment means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrower and Holdings, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Additional Lender and Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness being incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.17.
Refinancing Commitments means any Refinancing Term Commitments.
Refinancing Loans means any Refinancing Term Loans.
Refinancing Term Commitments means one or more Classes of Term Loan commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.
Refinancing Term Loans means one or more Classes of Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.
Refunding Equity Interests has the meaning specified in Section 7.06(o).
Register has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(c).
Registered Equivalent Notes means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, substantially identical notes (having the same Guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.
73
Regulated Entity means (a) any swap dealer registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission or security-based swap dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as applicable; or (b) any commercial bank with a consolidated combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000,000 that is (i) a U.S. depository institution the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (ii) a corporation organized under section 25A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act of 1913; (iii) a branch, agency or commercial lending company of a foreign bank operating pursuant to approval by and under the supervision of the Board under 12 C.F.R. part 211; (iv) a non-U.S. branch of a foreign bank managed and controlled by a U.S. branch referred to in clause (iii); or (v) any other U.S. or non-U.S. depository institution or any branch, agency or similar office thereof supervised by a bank regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.
Related Indemnified Person of an Indemnitee means (a) any controlling person or controlled affiliate of such Indemnitee, (b) the respective directors, officers, or employees of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling persons or controlled affiliates and (c) the respective agents of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling persons or controlled affiliates, in the case of this clause (c), acting at the instructions of such Indemnitee, controlling person or such controlled affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled affiliate or controlling person in this definition shall pertain to a controlled affiliate or controlling person involved in the negotiation or syndication of the Facility.
Release Actions has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release Certificate has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release Date has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release/Subordination Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(i)(H).
Relevant Governmental Body means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
Replacement Loans has the meaning specified in Section 11.01(f)(ii).
Reportable Event means, with respect to any Pension 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 day notice period has been waived by regulation.
Repricing Event means:
(a) the incurrence by the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any Indebtedness (including any new or additional Term Loans under this Agreement, whether incurred directly or by way of the conversion of the Initial Term Loans into a new tranche of replacement Term Loans under this Agreement) (i) having an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield for the Initial Term Loans, and (ii) the proceeds of which are used to prepay (or, in the case of a conversion, deemed to prepay or replace), in whole or in part, the outstanding principal of the Initial Term Loans; or
(b) any effective reduction in the All-In Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans pursuant to an amendment to the Loan Documents;
74
provided that a Repricing Event shall not include any event described in clause (a) or ((b)) above that (i) is not consummated for the primary purpose of lowering the All-In Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), or (ii) that is consummated in connection with any of the following transactions: a Change of Control, a Qualifying IPO or an Acquisition Transaction.
Required Facility Lenders means, with respect to any Facility on any date of determination, Lenders having or holding more than 50% of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans under such Facility and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that (i) any determination of Required Facility Lenders shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.07(i) with respect to Affiliated Lenders and (ii) the portion of outstanding Loans and the unused Commitments of such Facility, as applicable, held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Facility Lenders.
Required Lenders means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having or holding more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders; provided that (a) any determination of Required Lenders shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.07(i) with respect to Affiliated Lenders and (b) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of or held by any Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
Resolution Authority means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any U.K. Financial Institution, a U.K. Resolution Authority.
Responsible Officer means the executive chairman, chief executive officer, president, senior vice president, senior vice president (finance), vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, manager of treasury activities or assistant treasurer or other similar officer or Person performing similar functions of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of a 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, 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. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Responsible Officer shall refer to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
Restricted means, when referring to cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, that such cash or Cash Equivalents appear (or would be required to appear) as restricted on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (unless such appearance is related to a restriction in favor of, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the ABL Agent (to the extent such cash or Cash Equivalents are also restricted in favor of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent) or any Lender).
Restricted Payment means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, solely to a holder of Equity Interests in such Persons capacity as a holder of such Equity Interests other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower), 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 Borrowers stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any Contractual Obligation that is based on, or measured with respect to the value of an Equity Interest, including any such Contractual Obligations constituting compensation arrangements, shall not be considered a Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment not made in cash or Cash Equivalents shall be the fair market value of the securities or other property distributed by dividend or other otherwise.
75
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
S&P means Standard & Poors, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
Sale Leaseback Transaction means a sale leaseback transaction with respect to all or any portion of any real property, equipment or capital assets owned by a Loan Party or other property customarily included in such transactions.
Same Day Funds means disbursements and payments in immediately available funds.
Sanctions means any sanction or trade embargo administered or enforced by the United States government (including OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or HMT.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Secured Hedge Agreement means any Hedge Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank and designated in writing by the Hedge Bank and the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a Secured Hedge Agreement.
Secured Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Net Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Secured Obligations has the meaning given to such term in the Security Agreement.
Secured Parties means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, each Hedge Bank, each Cash Management Bank, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 10.05 and Section 10.12.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Securitization Assets means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams, other rights to payment (including with respect to rights of payment pursuant to the terms of Joint Ventures) subject to a Qualified Securitization Financing and the proceeds thereof.
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 Financing.
Securitization Financing means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person, or may grant a security interest or Lien in, any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto, including all collateral securing such Securitization Assets, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Securitization Assets, proceeds of such Securitization Assets and other assets that are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving Securitization Assets as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
76
Securitization Repurchase Obligation means any obligation of a seller or transferor of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a Standard Securitization Undertaking, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.
Securitization Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Borrower (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Securitization Financing in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower makes an Investment and to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower transfers Securitization Assets and related assets) that engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Securitization Assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contingent and other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower or such other Person (as provided below) as a Securitization Subsidiary, and
(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;
(b) with which none of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower reasonably believes to be no less favorable to Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower; and
(c) to which none of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results;
it being agreed that a Securitization Asset consisting of an obligation of or to any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall not result in non-compliance with any of the foregoing provisions.
Security Agreement means, collectively, the Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit F, together with each Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.
Security Agreement Supplement has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Senior Notes means the notes issued by the Borrower pursuant to the Notes Indenture.
Short Term Advances has the meaning specified in the definition of Indebtedness.
77
Similar Business means any business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from (a) business or activities conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, (b) any business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or (c) any business that in the Borrowers good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
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 Administrators Website at approximately 2:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
SOFR Administrator means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
SOFR Administrators Website means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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.
Solvent and Solvency mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, exceeds its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.
SPC has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).
Specified Equity Contribution has the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement or equivalent term in any amendment or Permitted Refinancing in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement.
Specified Event of Default means an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(f) with respect to any Loan Party.
Specified Representations means those representations and warranties made by Holdings and the Borrower in Sections 5.01(a) (with respect to organizational existence only), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.04, 5.13, 5.16, 5.17 and 5.18.
Specified Transaction means any of the following identified by the Borrower: (a) transaction or series of related transactions, including Investments and Acquisition Transactions, that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any transaction or series of related transactions, including Dispositions, that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (d) any acquisition or disposition of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person or a facility, (e) any material changes in customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified by the Borrower or new material customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified
78
by the Borrower, including (i) material changes to amounts to be paid by or received by Loan Parties and (ii) material changes to contracted or implemented revenue, (f) any restructuring of the business of the Borrower identified by the Borrower, whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise, (g) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes) and any increase or decrease in cash or Cash Equivalents resulting from an Acquisition Transaction, Investment, Restricted Payment or Disposition (and the corresponding effect to leverage ratios after giving effect to any cash netting provisions), (h) any Restricted Payment and (i) transactions, events or occurrences of the type given pro forma effect in (A) the financial model for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared by the Sponsor and delivered to the Lead Arrangers in connection with the Transactions or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by a nationally recognized accounting firm and furnished to the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or an Acquisition Transaction or other Investment consummated after the Closing Date.
Specified Transaction Adjustments has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(c).
Sponsor means (a) any funds, limited partnerships or co-investment vehicles managed or advised by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC or any Affiliates of any of the foregoing Person(s) or any direct or indirect Subsidiaries of any of the foregoing Person(s) (or jointly managed by any such Person(s) or over which any such Person(s) exercise governance rights) and (b) any investors (including limited partners) in the Persons identified in clause (a) who are investors in such Persons as of the Closing Date, and from time to time, invest directly or indirectly in Holdings or any Parent Entity.
Sponsor Management Agreement means those certain Management Services Agreements, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Sponsor, certain Co-Investors and certain Management Stockholders, as the same may be amended, modified, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, but only to the extent that any such amendment, modification, replacement, supplement or other modification does not, directly or indirectly, increase the obligation of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to make any payments thereunder.
Sponsor Termination Fees means any one-time payment under the Sponsor Management Agreements of a termination fee to the Sponsor or other party to a Sponsor Management Agreement in the event of either a Change of Control or the completion of a Qualifying IPO.
Spring Water Collateral means any Spring Water Property and its related appurtenances, easements and rights of way, in each case, to the extent owned in fee by any Loan Party.
Spring Water Property means any parcel or series of related parcels of real property located in the United States and owned in fee by any Loan Party to the extent that such property (i) provides rights to divert and beneficially use spring water pursuant to applicable law and (ii) produced on average over the previous two years (or, in the case of Spring Water Property as of the Closing Date, for the 2018 and 2019 calendar years) at least 25 million gallons of water annually.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower that are customary in a Securitization Financing.
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 percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the FRB to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted
79
Eurocurrency Rate, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities in Regulation D of the FRB). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurocurrency Rate 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 such 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.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Subsidiaries will mean Subsidiaries of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation of the foregoing, no Person shall be considered a Subsidiary of the Borrower, unless the Borrower has the ability to Control such Person and the Borrower owns of record, either directly or indirectly through a Restricted Subsidiary, Equity Interests issued by such Person (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) that, in the aggregate, have a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Person.
Subsidiary Guarantor or Subsidiary Loan Party means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) that, at such time, is required to be a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Successor Borrower has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(e).
Successor Holdings means any successor to Holdings pursuant to Section 7.04(a)(iii), Section 7.04(g)(i) or Section 7.10(b)(ii), as applicable, together with such Persons subsequent successors and assigns permitted hereunder.
Supplemental Administrative Agent and Supplemental Administrative Agents have the meanings specified in Section 10.12(a).
Supported QFC has the meaning specified in Section 11.26(a).
Swap Obligations means with respect to any Guarantor any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Swap Termination Value means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
80
Target Loan Parties means the subsidiaries of the Acquired Business that are required to become Loan Parties hereunder on the Closing Date, subject to the Certain Funds Provisions.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
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 Loan means the Initial Term Loans and any Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans and Refinancing Term Loans, to the extent not otherwise indicated and as the context may require.
Term Loan Commitment means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder (including any Initial Term Loan Commitment), expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loans to be made by such Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iii) an Extension and (c) increased from time to time pursuant to an Incremental Amendment.
Term Loan Exposure means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of such Lender; provided, at any time prior to the making of the Term Loans, the Term Loan Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lenders Term Loan Commitment, or, with regard to any Incremental Amendment at any time prior to the making of the applicable Incremental Term Loans thereunder, the Term Loan Exposure of any Lender with respect to such Incremental Term Facility shall be equal to such Lenders Incremental Term Loan Commitment thereunder.
Term Loan Lender means a Lender having a Term Loan Commitment or other Term Loan Exposure.
Term Loan Note means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Lender.
Termination Conditions means, collectively, (a) the payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted, (ii) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements as to which alternative arrangements acceptable to the Hedge Bank thereunder have been made and (iii) Cash Management Obligations) and (b) the termination of the Commitments.
Test Period in effect at any time means either (a) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01((b)), or (b) until the first date after the Closing Date on which such financial statements have been delivered (or if the Borrower otherwise elects) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements are available (which may be internal financial statements). A Test Period may be designated by reference to the last day thereof (i.e. the December 31st Test Period of a particular year refers to the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on December 31st of such year), and a Test Period shall be deemed to end on the last day thereof.
81
Threshold Amount means the greater of (a) $108,000,000 (i.e. approximately 20.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 20.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.
Total Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Traded Securities means any debt or equity securities issued pursuant to a public offering or Rule 144A offering.
Transaction Expenses means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any amortization thereof in any period, including any amortization thereof in any period.
Transactions means, collectively, the funding of the Initial Term Loans, the Equity Contribution, the issuance of notes under the Notes Indenture, the receipt of commitments under the ABL Credit Facility (and the borrowing thereunder to the extent permitted thereby), the consummation of the Acquisition, including all payments to the holders of the Equity Interests of the Acquired Business in connection therewith and the payment of the Transaction Expenses.
Treasury Equity Interests has the meaning specified in Section 7.06(o).
TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA means, as of any date of determination, the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a Pro Forma Basis, for the most recent Test Period.
Type means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.
U.K. Financial Institution means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
U.K. Resolution Authority means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any U.K. Financial Institution.
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto
U.S. Special Resolution Regimes has the meaning specified in Section 11.26(a).
Undisclosed Administration means, in relation to a Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity, the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian, or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent entity is subject to home jurisdiction supervision, if applicable law requires that such appointment not be disclosed.
82
Unfunded Advances/Participations means with respect to the Administrative Agent, the aggregate amount, if any (i) made available to the Borrower on the assumption that each Lender has made available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent as contemplated by Sections 2.01(b)(ii) and (ii) with respect to which a corresponding amount shall not in fact have been returned to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or made available to the Administrative Agent by any such Lender.
Uniform Commercial Code means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof (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.
Unrestricted Lender means any Regulated Entity, any Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (a) each Securitization Subsidiary and (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13 subsequent to the date hereof and each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary, in each case, until such Person ceases to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in accordance with Section 6.13 or ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
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 Public Law No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by
(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness;
provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of (i) any Refinanced Debt, (ii) any Indebtedness that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, or (iii) any Term Loans for purposes of incurring any other Indebtedness (in any such case, the Applicable Indebtedness), the effects of any amortization payments or other prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness (including the effect of any prepayment on remaining scheduled amortization) prior to the date of the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement, extension or incurrence shall be disregarded.
wholly owned means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (a) directors qualifying shares and (b) nominal 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.
83
Withdrawal Liability means the liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such term is defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Withholding Agent means the Borrower, any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers means (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
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) references in this Agreement to an Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, clause or sub-clause refer (A) to the appropriate Exhibit or Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or sub-clause in this Agreement or (B) to the extent such references are not present in this Agreement, 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; (v) the phrase permitted by and the phrase not prohibited by shall be synonymous, and any transaction not specifically prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents shall be deemed to be permitted by the Loan Documents; (vi) the phrase commercially reasonable efforts shall not require the payment of a fee or other amount to any third party or the incurrence of any expense or liability by a Loan Party (or Affiliate) outside its ordinary course of its business; (vii) the term continuing means, with respect to a Default or Event of Default, that it has not been cured (including by performance) or waived; (viii) the phrase in good faith when used with respect to a determination made by a Loan Party shall mean that such determination was made in the prudent exercise of its commercial judgment and shall be deemed to be conclusive if fully disclosed in writing (in reasonable detail) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders have objected to such determination within ten Business Days of such disclosure to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and (ix) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 jurisdictions laws) (a Division), if (a) 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 (b) 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.
84
Section 1.03 Accounting and Finance Terms; Accounting Periods; Unrestricted Subsidiaries; Determination of Fair Market Value. All accounting terms, financial terms or components of such terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles) to the extent the Accounting Principles defines such term or a component of such term. To the extent the Accounting Principles does not define any such term or a component of any such term, such term shall be calculated by the Borrower in good faith. The inclusion of an explanatory paragraph in an audit opinion shall not result in such opinion being qualified. For purposes of calculating any consolidated amounts necessary to determine compliance by any Person and, if applicable, its Restricted Subsidiaries with any ratio or other financial covenant in this Agreement, Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference to a fiscal year shall refer to a fiscal year of the Borrower ending December 31st, and any reference to a fiscal quarter shall refer to a fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending March 31st, June 30th or September 30th. All determinations of fair market value under a Loan Document shall be made by the Borrower in good faith and, if such determination is either (a) consistent with a valuation or opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor, (b) pursuant to an Officers Certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors setting out such fair market value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith or (c) fully disclosed (in reasonable detail) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders have objected to such determination within ten Business Days of such disclosure, then such determination shall be conclusive for all purposes under the Loan Documents or related to the Obligations.
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 decimal place more than the number of decimal places by which such ratio is expressed herein (the Applicable Decimal Place) and rounding the result up or down to the Applicable Decimal Place.
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 the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
Section 1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.07 Available Amount Transactions. If more than one action occurs on any given date the permissibility of the taking of which is determined hereunder by reference to the amount of the Available Amount immediately prior to the taking of such action, the permissibility of the taking of each such action shall be determined independently, but in no event may any two or more such actions be treated as occurring simultaneously, i.e., each transaction must be permitted under the Available Amount as so calculated.
85
Section 1.08 Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Acquisitions; Basket and Ratio Compliance.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.08.
(b) For purposes of calculating TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, Specified Transactions identified by the Borrower that have been made (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to such Test Period and prior to or substantially simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in income statement items, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period and any increase or decrease to cash or Cash Equivalents (including for any applicable netting provisions) or other balance sheet items occurred on the last day of such Test Period. If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have consummated any Specified Transaction identified by the Borrower that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.08, then TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.08.
(c) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Responsible Officer and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions; synergies, additional net income and profit projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken (calculated on a pro forma basis as though amounts had been realized on the first day of such Test Period and as if any such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies were realized during the entirety of such period) relating to such Specified Transaction, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions (such amounts, Specified Transaction Adjustments); provided that (i) such Specified Transaction Adjustments are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (ii) such actions are taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken no later than twenty-four months after the date of such Specified Transaction, and (iii) no amounts shall be included pursuant to this clause ((c)) to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise included in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, with respect to any Test Period.
(d) In the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, as the case may be (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility (including the ABL Credit Facility) in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period with respect to leverage ratios or the first day of such Test Period with respect to the Interest Coverage Ratio.
86
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary,
(i) the Borrower may rely on more than one basket or exception hereunder (including both ratio-based and non-ratio based baskets and exceptions, and including partial reliance on different baskets that, collectively, permit the entire proposed transaction) at the time of any proposed transaction, and the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with the available baskets and exceptions hereunder at such later time (provided that with respect to reclassification of Indebtedness and Liens, any such reclassification shall be subject to the parameters of Sections 7.01 and 7.03, as applicable);
(ii) unless the Borrower elects otherwise, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of such related transaction (A) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under or as permitted by a ratio-based basket and (B) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted or repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under a non-ratio-based basket (which shall occur within five Business Days of the events in clause (A) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions;
(iii) if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Borrower may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with this Agreement and each other Loan Document on the date commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date, in which case such committed amount may thereafter be borrowed or reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with the Loan Documents, in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility); provided that, in each case, any future calculation of any such ratio based basket shall only include amounts borrowed and outstanding as of such date of determination;
(iv) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness under a ratio-based basket, such ratio-based basket (together with any other ratio-based basket utilized in connection therewith, including in respect of other Indebtedness, Liens, Dispositions, Investments, Restricted Payments or payments in respect of Junior Financing) will be calculated excluding the cash proceeds of such Indebtedness for netting purposes (i.e., such cash proceeds shall not reduce the Borrowers Consolidated Net Debt or Consolidated Secured Net Debt pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of such terms), provided that the actual application of such proceeds may reduce Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with any applicable ratio; and
(v) without prejudice to subclause (i) above, if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary relies in full or in part on a non-ratio based basket or exception in connection with any proposed transaction, all or any portion of which transaction subsequently is eligible to be reclassified as having been incurred pursuant to a ratio-based basket or exception, then such amounts originally permitted under the non-ratio-based basket or exception shall automatically be reclassified as having been incurred pursuant to a ratio-based basket or exception to the maximum extent then permitted under such ratio-based basket or exception without the Borrower needing to make any election, give any notice or take any action to effect such reclassification.
87
For example, if the Borrower incurs Indebtedness under the Fixed Incremental Amount on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness under the Ratio Amount, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio and any other applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence under the Ratio Amount without regard to any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Fixed Incremental Amount. Unless the Borrower elects otherwise, each Incremental Facility (or Incremental Equivalent Debt) shall be deemed incurred first under the Ratio Amount to the extent permitted (and calculated prior to giving effect to any substantially simultaneous incurrence of any Indebtedness based on a basket or exception that is not based on a financial ratio, including under any revolving facility and/or the Fixed Incremental Amount), with any balance incurred under the Fixed Incremental Amount. For purposes of determining compliance with Section 2.16, in the event that any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of Ratio Amount or Fixed Incremental Amount, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with Section 2.16 on the date of such classification or any such reclassification, as applicable; provided, if all or any portion of any Incremental Facility or any Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in reliance on the Fixed Incremental Amount is eligible to be reclassified as incurred pursuant to the Ratio Amount, such amounts shall automatically be reclassified as incurred pursuant to the Ratio Amount without the Borrower making an election to do so.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when,
(i) calculating any applicable ratio in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted, the repayment of Indebtedness or for any other purpose;
(ii) determining the accuracy of any representation or warranty;
(iii) determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action; or
(iv) determining compliance with any other condition precedent to any action or transaction;
in each case of clauses (i) through ((iv)) in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such ratio, the accuracy of such representation or warranty (but taking into account any earlier date specified therein), whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, or the satisfaction of any other condition precedent shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrowers election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an LCA Election), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the LCA Test Date). If on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults (other than any Specified Event of Default, which shall also be tested at consummation), satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions are calculated as if such Limited Condition Acquisition or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCA Test Date for which financial statements are available, the Borrower could have
88
taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if any of such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA), a change in facts and circumstances or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded, breached, or otherwise failed as a result of such fluctuations or changed circumstances solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition and any related transactions is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related Specified Transactions. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction or otherwise on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated. For purposes of any calculation pursuant to this clause ((f)) of the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense may be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith.
(g) For purposes of calculating the Ratio Amount, Permitted Ratio Debt and each other section or provision hereof making reference to the Ratio Amount or Permitted Ratio Debt, the phrase immediately prior to such incurrence shall be construed to apply only if, at the time of such determination, on a Pro Forma Basis for such incurrence of Indebtedness and/or Liens (and for any related Permitted Investment, if applicable), (i) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, (ii) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50 to 1.00, (iii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50 to 1.00 or (iv) the Interest Coverage Ratio would be less than 2.00 to 1.00, as applicable.
(h) For purposes of determining the maturity date of any Indebtedness, bridge loans that are subject to customary conditions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith, including conditions requiring no payment or bankruptcy event of default) that would either automatically be extended as, converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing shall be deemed to have the maturity date as so extended, converted or exchanged.
Section 1.09 Currency Equivalents Generally.
(a) No Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred under a Loan Document solely as a result of changes in rates of currency exchange occurring after the time any applicable action (including any incurrence of a Lien or Indebtedness or the making of an Investment) so long as such action (including any incurrence of a Lien or Indebtedness or the making of an Investment) was permitted hereunder when made.
89
(b) For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, where the permissibility of a transaction or determinations of required actions or circumstances depend upon compliance with, or are determined by reference to, amounts stated in Dollars, any requisite currency translation (i) with respect to Loans or Commitments, shall be based on the Exchange Rate and (ii) with respect to any other amounts, shall be based on the rate of exchange between the applicable currency and Dollars as reasonably determined by the Borrower, in each case in effect on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such transaction or determination (subject to clauses ((c)) and ((d)) below) and shall not be affected by subsequent fluctuations in exchange rates.
(c) 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 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 (or, in the case of an LCA Election, on the date of the applicable LCA Test Date); provided that, if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the Exchange Rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Indebtedness so refinanced does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 Exchange Rate that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
(d) For purposes of determining the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio, including Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA when calculating such ratios, all amounts denominated in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars for any purpose (including testing the any financial maintenance covenant) at the effective rate of exchange in respect thereof reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the applicable Test Period for which such measurement is being made, and will reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles, of Hedge Agreements permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the Dollar equivalent of such Indebtedness.
Section 1.10 Co-Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower, upon 15 Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent), may cause any Loan Party on or after the Closing Date by written election to the Administrative Agent to become a borrower (each such Loan Party, a Co-Borrower, and, together with the Borrower, the Co-Borrowers) under each of the Facilities hereunder on a joint and several basis (such date, the Co-Borrower Effective Date); provided that such Loan Party shall (i) execute a joinder to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent assuming all obligations of a Co-Borrower hereunder, (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of a customary opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties (or, if customary in such jurisdiction, counsel to the Administrative Agent) as to such matters relating to the Co-Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (iii) at least three Business Days prior to such Co-Borrower Effective Date, provide to the Lenders all documentation and other information required by United States regulatory authorities under applicable know your customer and Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including without limitation Title III of the USA Patriot Act, that shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the consummation of such joinder, (iv) provide to the Lenders, if such Loan Party qualifies as a legal entity customer under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification and (v) be a domestic Subsidiary Guarantor wholly owned by the Borrower. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any amendment to this Agreement or to any other Loan Document as may be necessary or appropriate in order to establish any additional Borrower pursuant to this Section 1.10 and such technical amendments, and other customary amendments with respect to provisions of this Agreement relating to taxes for borrowers, in each case as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection therewith.
90
Upon the later of execution and delivery of a joinder to this Agreement by a Co-Borrower and the countersignature of the Administrative Agent thereto (which countersignature shall constitute an agreement that the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii) above have been satisfied), each Co-Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for the obligations of each other Co-Borrower hereunder with respect to any Class of Loans on an individual tranche basis, including with respect to the payment of principal of and interest on all Loans on an individual tranche basis, the payment of amounts owing in respect of Letters of Credit and the payment of fees and indemnities and reimbursement of costs and expenses. Each Co-Borrower is accepting joint and several liability hereunder in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Co-Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Co-Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them. Each Co-Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with each other Co-Borrower, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of all of the Co-Borrowers without preferences or distinction among them. If and to the extent that any of the Co-Borrowers shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of such Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event each other Borrower will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligations. Each Co-Borrower further agrees that the Borrower will be such Co-Borrowers agent for administrative, mechanical, and notice provisions in this Agreement and any other Loan Document and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that each Co-Borrower will have the same rights under the Loan Documents as if it is the Borrower and for any other purposes under the provisions of this Agreement, including the affirmative and negative covenants, each such Co-Borrower will be treated as a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 1.11 Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent does not warrant nor accept any responsibility nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to (i) any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (ii) the administration, submission or any matter relating to the rates in the definition of Benchmark or with respect to any rate that is an alternative, comparable or successor rate thereto or (iii) the effect of any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
Section 2.01 Term Loans.
(a) Term Loan Commitments. Subject only to the conditions set forth in Section 4.01, each Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment severally agrees to make to the Borrower on the Closing Date a term loan denominated in Dollars equal to such Lenders Initial Term Loan Commitment (the Initial Term Loans). Initial Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Term Loans.
91
(i) Subject to Section 4.01(a)(i) and Section 2.16(a), each Borrowing of Term Loans shall be made upon the Borrowers notice to the Administrative Agent in writing or by telephone (and promptly confirmed in writing). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (A) 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) 12:00 noon one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided however that (1) if the Borrower wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of Interest Period, the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing (or such shorter period as reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent), conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the applicable Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them and not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the applicable Lenders and (2) any (I) such notice delivered in connection with the initial Borrowing of Term Loans on the Closing Date must be received by the Administrative Agent no later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to the Closing Date and (II) such notices may be conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing Date or, with respect to an Incremental Facility, may be conditioned on the occurrence of any transaction anticipated to occur in connection with such Incremental Facility.
(ii) Each notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) must be delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (A) that the Borrower is requesting a Term Loan Borrowing, (B) the requested date of the Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of Term Loans to be borrowed, (D) the Type of Term Loans to be borrowed, and (E) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Term Loan in a Committed Loan Notice, then the applicable Term Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Borrower will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(iii) Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that the total number of Interest Periods for Eurocurrency Rate Loans outstanding under this Agreement at any time shall comply with Section 2.10(d).
(iv) 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 tranche of Term Loans. In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Term Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agents Office not later than 1:00 p.m., on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions to such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (A) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (B) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
92
(v) The failure of any Lender to make the Term 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 Term Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Term Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
Section 2.02 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 2.03 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 2.04 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 2.05 Conversion/Continuation.
(a) Each conversion of Loans from one Type to another, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrowers irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may only be given in writing. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested date of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans and not later than 2:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of continuation of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Each notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) must be delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Conversion/Continuation Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Conversion/Continuation Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be converted or continued, (iv) the Class of Loans to be converted or continued, (v) the Type of Loans to which such existing Loans are to be converted, if applicable, and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be converted to Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion or continuation pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Conversion/Continuation Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender 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 of Loans described in Section 2.05(a).
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require by notice to the Borrower that no Loans denominated in Dollars may be converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
93
Section 2.06 Availability. 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 Lenders Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the 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 Borrower 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 Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the applicable Loans comprising such Borrowing and (b) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.06 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders applicable Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.06 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
Section 2.07 Prepayments.
(a) Optional.
(i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Prepayment Notice, at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty, subject to clause ((D)) below; provided that:
(A) such Prepayment Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent (1) not later than 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (2) not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to any date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans;
(B) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding;
(C) 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, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and
(D) any prepayment of Initial Term Loans made on or prior to the date that is six months after the Closing Date in connection with a Repricing Event shall be accompanied by the payment of the fee described in Section 2.11(g), if applicable.
Each Prepayment Notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid, and the payment amount specified in each Prepayment Notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of a Prepayment Notice and of the amount of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such prepayment; provided, non-consenting Lenders may be repaid on a non-pro rata basis in connection with an Extension Offer or a Refinancing Amendment and Disqualified Lenders may be repaid on a non-pro rata basis. Any prepayment of Loans shall be subject to Section 2.07(c).
94
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind, in whole or in part, any notice of prepayment under Section 2.07(a)(i), if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.
(iii) Voluntary prepayments of Term Loans permitted hereunder shall be applied in a manner determined at the discretion of the Borrower and specified in the notice of prepayment (and absent such direction, in direct order of maturity).
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary (including Section 2.15), (A) the Borrower may prepay the outstanding Term Loans of any Lender on a non-pro rata basis at or below par with the consent of only such Lender and (B) the Borrower may prepay Term Loans of one or more Classes below par on a non-pro rata basis in accordance with the auction procedures set forth on Exhibit L; provided that, in each case, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom.
(b) Mandatory.
(i) Excess Cash Flow. Within five Business Days after the Compliance Certificate has been delivered or is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) with respect to any financial statements that have been delivered or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), commencing with the first full fiscal year ending after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall, subject to Section 2.07(b)(v) and Section 2.07(b)(vi), prepay an aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans and any other Term Loans (unless such prepayment is not required pursuant to the terms of such other Term Loans) equal to,
(A) the ECF Prepayment 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 any other term loans that are Pari Passu Lien Debt (including (A) those made through debt buybacks and in the case of below-par repurchases in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in cash in respect of such below-par repurchase, (B) cash payments by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.07 or other applicable yank-a-bank provisions (solely to the extent the applicable Term Loans or other Pari Passu Lien Debt is retired instead of assigned) and (C) prepayments of Loans and Participations held by Disqualified Lenders);
(II) all voluntary payments and prepayments of revolving facility, in each case to the extent accompanied by a corresponding permanent reduction in commitments;
(III) all voluntary prepayments of Junior Lien Debt (including those made through debt buybacks and in the case of below-par repurchases in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in cash in respect of such below-par repurchase);
95
(IV) all voluntary prepayments of Indebtedness secured by Liens on Excluded Assets (including those made through debt buybacks and in the case of below-par repurchases in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in cash in respect of such below-par repurchase);
(V) all voluntary prepayments of Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that is unsecured or secured by Liens on assets that are not Collateral (including those made through debt buybacks and in the case of below-par repurchases in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in cash in respect of such below-par repurchase);
(VI) to the extent the Borrower elects not to have such amounts reduce Excess Cash Flow, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions of intellectual property accrued or made in cash during such period to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt;
(VII) to the extent the Borrower elects not to have such amounts reduce Excess Cash Flow, the amount of Permitted Investments, including Acquisition Transactions (in each case, including (x) costs and expenses related thereto and (y) purchase price holdbacks, earnouts, and other long term liabilities in connection therewith), made during such period pursuant to Section 7.02 to the extent that such Permitted Investments were not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt;
(VIII) without duplication of amounts that reduced Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts, commitments, or binding purchase orders (to the extent not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt, the Contract Consideration) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions (or Investments similar to those made for Permitted Acquisitions), acquisitions of intellectual property to be consummated or Capital Expenditures that are committed to be made within the twelve month period following the end of such period; provided that, to the extent the aggregate amount actually utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions (or Investments similar to those made for Permitted Acquisitions), acquisitions of intellectual property or Capital Expenditures during any period is less than the Contract Consideration that reduced Excess Cash Flow for the prior period, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for such period; and
(IX) to the extent the Borrower elects not to have such amounts reduce Excess Cash Flow, amount of Restricted Payments actually paid (and permitted to be paid) during such period pursuant to Section 7.06 (excluding Sections 7.06(a)) to the extent such Restricted Payments were not financed with the proceeds of Funded Debt (clauses (I) through (IX), the ECF Deductions); provided that for the purposes of calculating the Available Amount, the amount of any such Restricted Payment shall reduce the amount of Excess Cash Flow included in clause (b)(i) of the definition of Available Amount;
96
in each case, (I) during such fiscal year or, at the election of the Borrower, following the end of such fiscal year and prior to the date of such calculation (provided that, with respect to any such amount following the end of such fiscal year, such amount is not included in any calculation pursuant to this Section 2.07(b)(i) for the subsequent fiscal year), (II) to the extent such prepayments or other amounts are not funded with the proceeds of Funded Debt and (III) including, for the avoidance of doubt, assignments of such Indebtedness to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (and prepayments of such Indebtedness below par) to the extent of the amount paid in connection with such assignment (or prepayment); provided that (x) no such payment shall be required if such amount is equal to or less than the greater of $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and only amounts in excess of such minimum will be subject to the repayment provisions of this Section 2.07(b) and (y) if such payment is less than $0 (the Negative ECF Amount), such Negative ECF Amount shall be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years to be deducted from the amount required to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.07(b)(i); provided further that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower is required to repay or repurchase or to offer to repurchase or repay Pari Passu Lien Debt pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with all or a portion of such Excess Cash Flow (such Pari Passu Lien Debt required to be repaid or repurchased or to be offered to be so repaid or repurchased, Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness), then the Borrower may apply such Excess Cash Flow on a pro rata basis to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repayment or re-purchase of Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.07(b)(i) shall be reduced accordingly (for purposes of this proviso pro rata basis shall be determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness at such time, with it being agreed that the portion of Excess Cash Flow allocated to the Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such Excess Cash Flow required to be allocated to the Other Applicable ECF Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such net proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof).
(ii) Asset Sales; Casualty Events. If the Borrower or any Loan Party,
(A) Disposes of any property or assets constituting Collateral pursuant to the General Asset Sale Basket, or
(B) any Casualty Event occurs with respect to property or assets constituting Collateral,
which, in either case, results in the realization or receipt by the Borrower or such Loan Party of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay on or prior to the date which is ten Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds in excess of the greater of $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any transaction or series of related transactions, subject to Sections 2.07(b)(v) and 2.07(b)(vi), an aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans and any other Term Loans (unless such prepayment is not required pursuant to the terms of such other Term Loans) equal to the Asset Sale Prepayment Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds realized or received; provided that if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrower is required to repay or repurchase or to offer to repurchase or repay Pari Passu Lien Debt pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the proceeds of such Disposition or Casualty Event (such Pari Passu Lien Debt required to be repaid or repurchased or to be offered to be so repaid or repurchased, Other Applicable Indebtedness), then the Borrower may apply such Net Cash Proceeds on a pro rata basis to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repayment or repurchase of Other Applicable Indebtedness, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.07(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly (for purposes of this proviso pro rata basis shall be determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount
97
of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time, with it being agreed that the portion of such net proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such net proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such net proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof); provided further that to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof; provided further that no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.07(b)(ii) with respect to (I) such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that the Borrower intends to or may reinvest in accordance with this Section 2.07(b)(ii) and (II) Designated Asset Sale Proceeds.
With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Disposition or any Casualty Event that, in either case, is subject to the application of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07(b)(ii), at the option of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may (in lieu of making a prepayment pursuant to the foregoing provisions) elect to (I) reinvest an amount equal to all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in any assets used or useful in the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or make prepayments of Loans pursuant to Section 2.07 within eighteen months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or if the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds within eighteen months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, no later than one hundred and eighty days after the end of such eighteen month period; provided, the Borrower may elect to deem expenditures that otherwise would be permissible as a reinvestment of such Net Cash Proceeds or any such prepayment in accordance with this clause that occur prior to the receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds to have been reinvested in accordance with this paragraph (it being agreed that such deemed expenditures or prepayment shall have been made no earlier than the earliest of (1) notice of such Disposition or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, (2) execution of a definitive agreement for such Disposition, if applicable, and (3) consummation of such Disposition); provided, further; that if any portion of such amount is not so reinvested by such dates, subject to Section 2.07(b)(v) and Section 2.07(b)(vi), an amount equal to the Asset Sale Prepayment Percentage of any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied within five Business Days after such dates to the prepayment of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness as set forth above or (II) apply such Net Cash Proceeds to permanently repay indebtedness of Non-Loan Parties.
(iii) Indebtedness. If any of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues (x) any Indebtedness that is not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03 or (y) any Indebtedness that constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Replacement Loans, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans and any other Term Loans (unless such prepayment is not required pursuant to the terms of such other Term Loans) equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom (A) in the case of clause (y) above, concurrently with the incurrence of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Replacement Loans received therefrom and (B) in the case of clause (x) above, on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds.
(iv) Intentionally Omitted.
(v) Application of Payments. (A) Except as may otherwise be set forth in any Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or any Incremental Amendment, each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(i), ((ii)) or ((iii)) shall be applied ratably to each Class of Term Loans then outstanding, (B) with respect to each Class of Loans that constitutes Pari Passu Lien Debt, each prepayment pursuant to clauses ((i)) through ((iii)) of this Section 2.07(b) shall be applied to remaining scheduled installments of principal thereof following the date of prepayment as directed by the Borrower and specified in the notice of prepayment (and absent such direction, in direct order of maturity of the remaining installments under the applicable Class of Loans), and (C) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.
98
(vi) Foreign and Tax Considerations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.07(b),
(A) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii) (a Foreign Disposition), the Net Cash Proceeds of any Casualty Event from a Foreign Subsidiary (a Foreign Casualty Event) or Excess Cash Flow of a Foreign Subsidiary are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law 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 2.07(b) but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States, and
(B) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation to the United States of any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or any Foreign Casualty Event or any or all of the Excess Cash Flow of a Foreign Subsidiary would have material adverse tax consequences (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary.
(vii) Mandatory Prepayment Procedures; Declining Lenders. The Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative Agent of any mandatory prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b) by 11:00 a.m. at least three Business Days (or such shorter period as reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior to the date on which such payment is due. Such notice shall state that the Borrower is offering to make or will make such mandatory prepayment on or before the date specified in Section 2.07(b), as the case may be (each, a Prepayment Date). Once given, such notice shall be irrevocable (provided that the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or any portion of the applicable Facility or been made in connection with a Disposition, which refinancing or Disposition shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed) and all amounts subject to such notice shall be due and payable on the Prepayment Date (except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07(b)(vi) and in the last sentence of this Section 2.07(b)(vii)). Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall immediately give notice to each Lender of the prepayment, the Prepayment Date and of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the prepayment. Except with respect to repayments under Section 2.07(b)(iv)(y), each Lender may elect (in its sole discretion) to decline all (but not less than all) of its Pro Rata Share of any mandatory prepayment by giving notice of such election in writing to the Administrative Agent by 11:00 a.m., on the date that is one Business Day after the date of such Lenders receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. If a Lender fails to deliver a notice of election declining receipt of its Pro Rata Share of such mandatory prepayment to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, any such failure will be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall immediately notify the Borrower of such election. Any amount so declined by any Lender shall be retained by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or applied by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in any manner not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
99
(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.07 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.
(d) Application of Prepayment Amounts. In the event that the obligation of the Borrower to prepay the Loans shall arise pursuant to Section 2.07(b), the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in the amount of such prepayment obligation within the applicable time periods specified in Section 2.07(b), with such prepayment to be applied in the manner set forth in Section 2.07(b)(v).
Each payment or prepayment pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.07(b) shall be applied ratably among the Lenders of each Class holding the Loans being prepaid, in proportion to the principal amount held by each, and shall be applied as among the Term Loans being prepaid, (A) first, to prepay all Base Rate Loans and (B) second, to the extent of any excess remaining after application as provided in clause (A) above, to prepay all Eurocurrency Rate Loans (and as among Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (1) first to prepay those Eurocurrency Rate Loans, if any, having Interest Periods ending on the date of such prepayment, and (2) thereafter, to the extent of any excess remaining after application as provided in clause (1) above, to prepay any Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the order of the expiration dates of the Interest Periods applicable thereto).
(e) Interest Period Deferrals. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.07, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.07 prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.07 in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period 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 Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.07. 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 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 2.07.
Section 2.08 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The 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 one Business Day prior to the date of termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.
100
(b) Mandatory.
(i) The Initial Term Loan Commitment of each Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Lenders Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
(c) Effect of Termination or Reduction. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be permanent. Each reduction of Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share of Commitments of such Class.
Section 2.09 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders
(i) on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the second full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date) an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.07); provided that at the election of the Borrower (A) this clause (i) may be amended to increase the amortization in connection with the Borrowing of any Incremental Term Loans that constitute Pari Passu Lien Debt if and to the extent necessary so that such Incremental Term Loans and the applicable existing Term Loans form the same Class of Term Loans and to the extent possible, a fungible tranche, in each case, without the consent of any party hereto, and (B) such amendments shall not decrease any amortization payment to any Lender that would have otherwise been payable to such Lender prior thereto, and
(ii) on the Maturity Date for each Class of Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all such Term Loans outstanding on such date.
Section 2.10 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(a)(i),
(i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Eurocurrency 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.
(b) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(c) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders (or, after the occurrence of a Specified Event of Default, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender) such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
101
(d) Accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of all outstanding past due Obligations (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender).
(e) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable (i) with respect to Base Rate Loans, in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, at the end of each Interest Period, and, in any event, every three months. 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.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate and the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time when Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(g) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; provided that after the establishment of any new Class of Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment or Extension, the number of Interest Periods otherwise permitted by this Section 2.10(d) shall increase by three Interest Periods for each applicable Class so established.
Section 2.11 Fees.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including pursuant to any fee letter executed with the Agents in connection with the Facilities) in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).
(b) [Intentionally Omitted].
(c) [Intentionally Omitted].
(d) [Intentionally Omitted].
(e) The Borrower agrees to pay on the Closing Date to each Lender party to this Agreement on the Closing Date, as fee compensation for the funding of such Lenders Initial Term Loan, a closing fee (the Closing Fee) in an amount equal to 0.50% of the stated principal amount of such Lenders Term Loan made on the Closing Date. The Closing Fee will be in all respects fully earned, due and payable on the Closing Date and non-refundable and non-creditable thereafter and the Closing Fee shall be netted against Initial Term Loans (in the form of original issue discount) made by such Lender.
(f) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account the fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon.
102
(g) At the time of the effectiveness of any Repricing Event that is consummated during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the day immediately prior to the date that is six months after the Closing Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each Lender with Initial Term Loans that are either repaid, converted or subjected to a pricing reduction in connection with such Repricing Event (including each Lender that withholds its consent to such Repricing Event and is replaced as a Non-Consenting Lender under Section 3.07), a fee in an amount equal to 1.00% of (i) in the case of a Repricing Event described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans prepaid (or converted) in connection with such Repricing Event and (ii) in the case of a Repricing Event described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date that are subject to an effective pricing reduction pursuant to such Repricing Event. Such fees shall be earned, due and payable upon the date of the effectiveness of such Repricing Event.
Section 2.12 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans calculated by reference to the prime rate or Federal Funds Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 days or 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 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). 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 2.10(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Section 2.13 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) The Borrowings 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 this purpose, as an agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The Register maintained by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive evidence, and the accounts and records maintained by each Lender shall be prima facie evidence, absent manifest error, of the amount of the Borrowings made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
(b) Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence the relevant Class of such Lenders 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.
Section 2.14 Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made on the date when due, in immediately available funds without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office for payment and in Same Day Funds not later than
103
1:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. 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 Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(c) Unless the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of any Lender that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to such Lender. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then such Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.
(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 the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the Borrowing 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 make payments pursuant to Section 10.07 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan 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 9.03. 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 Lenders Pro Rata Share of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.
104
(h) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.15 or Section 10.07, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to satisfy such Lenders obligations to such Persons until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
Section 2.15 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on account of the Loans of a particular Class made by it (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, 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 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each relevant Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lenders ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lenders 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 provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including Section 2.07(a)(iv) and Section 11.07), (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder or (C) any payment received by such Lender not in its capacity as a Lender. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 11.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower 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 2.15 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.15 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 2.16 Incremental Borrowings.
(a) Notice. At any time and from time to time, on one or more occasions, the Borrower or, subject to the satisfaction of customary know your customer requests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility, any Co-Borrower, may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, increase the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding tranche of Term Loans or add one or more additional tranches of term loans under the Loan Documents (the Incremental Term Facilities and the term loans made thereunder, the Incremental Term Loans each such increase or tranche, an Incremental Facility and the loans or other extensions of credit made thereunder, the Incremental Loans).
(b) Ranking. Incremental Facilities (i) may rank either pari passu or junior in right of payment with any Class of Term Loans (including the Initial Term Loans), and (ii) may either be unsecured or secured by a Permitted Lien (including Pari Passu Lien Debt, secured by Liens that secure any of the Facilities on a pari passu basis, or Junior Lien Debt, secured by Liens that secure any of the Facilities on a junior basis).
105
(c) Size and Currency. The aggregate principal amount of Incremental Facilities on any date Indebtedness thereunder is first incurred (assuming in the case of Incremental Facilities in the form of delayed draw commitments, that such commitments were fully drawn on the date such commitments were provided), together with the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt and other Incremental Facilities outstanding on such date, will not exceed, an amount equal to,
(i) the Fixed Incremental Amount, plus
(ii) the Ratio Amount,
(as of any date of measurement, the sum of the Fixed Incremental Amount and the Ratio Amount on such date, the Incremental Amount). Calculation of the Incremental Amount shall be made on Pro Forma Basis and evidenced by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower demonstrating such calculation in reasonable detail. Each Incremental Facility will be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000 (or such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that such amount may be less than such minimum amount or integral multiple amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the Incremental Amount at such time. Any Incremental Facility may be denominated in Dollars or in any Alternative Currency (and in the case of any Alternative Currency, the Dollar Amount thereof as of the date of incurrence (or, in the case of an LCA Election, as of the applicable LCA Test Date) shall be controlling for purposes of determining compliance with the Incremental Amount, and the minimum amount and integral multiples shall be a Dollar Amount of $10,000,000 or $1,000,000, respectively (or, in each case, such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)).
(d) Incremental Lenders. Incremental Facilities may be provided by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender shall have an obligation to make, or provide commitments with respect to, an Incremental Loan) or by any Additional Lender. While existing Lenders may (but are not obligated to unless invited to and so elect) participate in any syndication of an Incremental Facility and may (but are not obligated to unless invited to and so elect) become lenders with respect thereto, the existing Lenders will not have any right to participate in any syndication of, and will not have any right of first refusal or other right to provide all or any portion of, any Incremental Facility or Incremental Loan except to the extent the Borrower and the arrangers thereof, if any, in their discretion, chose to invite or include any such existing Lender (which may or may not apply to all existing Lenders and may or may not be pro rata among existing Lenders). Final allocations in respect of Incremental Facilities will be made by the Borrower together with the arrangers thereof, if any, in their discretion, on the terms permitted by this Section 2.16; provided that the lenders providing the Incremental Facilities will be reasonably acceptable to (i) the Borrower and (ii) the Administrative Agent (except that, in the case of clause (ii), only to the extent the Administrative Agent otherwise would have a consent right to an assignment of such loans or commitments to such lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). For the avoidance of doubt, any Affiliated Lender that provides any Incremental Loans shall be subject to the limitations on Affiliated Lenders set forth in Section 11.07(h) (including the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap, as applicable).
(e) Incremental Facility Amendments; Use of Proceeds. Each Incremental Facility will become effective pursuant to an amendment (each, an Incremental Amendment) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Person providing such Incremental Facility. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender as
106
to the effectiveness of each Incremental Amendment. Incremental Amendments may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16 and, to the extent practicable, to make an Incremental Loan fungible (including for Tax purposes) with other Loans (subject to the limitations under sub-clauses ((g)) and (h) of this Section). Without limiting the foregoing, an Incremental Amendment may (i) extend or add call protection to any existing tranche of Term Loans and (ii) amend the schedule of amortization payments relating to any existing tranche of Term Loans, including amendments to Section 2.09(a) (provided that any such amendment shall not decrease any amortization payment to any Lender that would have otherwise been payable to such Lender prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Amendment), in the case of each clause (i) and (ii), so that such Incremental Term Loans and the applicable existing Term Loans form the same Class of Term Loans. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, will be amended to the extent necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Facility and the Incremental Term Loans evidenced thereby. This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.15 or Section 11.01 to the contrary. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Incremental Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.
(f) Conditions. The availability of Incremental Facilities under this Agreement will be subject solely to the following conditions, subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to Section 1.08, measured on the date of the initial borrowing under such Incremental Facility:
(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; provided that the condition set forth in this clause ((i)) may be waived or not required (other than with respect to Specified Events of Default) by the Persons providing such Incremental Facilities if the proceeds of the initial Borrowings under such Incremental Facilities will incurred in connection with a Permitted Investment; and
(ii) the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents will be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be true and correct in all respects) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Incremental Facility; provided that the condition set forth in this clause ((ii)) may be waived or not required by the Persons providing such Incremental Facilities if the proceeds of the initial Borrowings under such Incremental Facilities will be used to finance, in whole or in part, a Permitted Investment.
(g) Terms. Each Incremental Amendment will set forth the amount and terms of the relevant Incremental Facility. The terms of each Incremental Facility will be as agreed between the Borrower and the Persons providing such Incremental Facility; provided that:
(i) the scheduled final maturity date of any syndicated Incremental Term Facility (i) that is Pari Passu Lien Debt will be no earlier than the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans and (ii) that is Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral shall not mature prior to the date that is 91 days following the scheduled final maturity date for the Initial Term Loans; provided that this clause (i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
(ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any syndicated Incremental Term Facility will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans (without giving effect to any amortization or prepayment on the outstanding Initial Term Loans); provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
107
(iii) any mandatory prepayment of Incremental Term Loans (i) that comprise Pari Passu Lien Debt may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b), other than (A) any repayment of such Incremental Term Loans at maturity and (B) any greater than pro rata repayment of such Incremental Term Loans with the proceeds of a permitted refinancing thereof, including with Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and (ii) that comprise Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral may not be made unless, to the extent a corresponding mandatory prepayment is required hereunder with respect to Initial Term Loans, such mandatory prepayments are first made or offered to the Initial Term Loans; provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
(iv) (A) to the extent secured by a Lien on property or assets of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such Incremental Facility shall not be secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person that does not also secure the Collateral (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar fronting lender, (2) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, and (3) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Liens secure such Incremental Facility) and (B) to the extent guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such Incremental Facility shall not be guaranteed by any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for guarantees by other Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence, and (2) any such Person guaranteeing such Incremental Term Facilities that also guarantees the Initial Term Loans for so long as such Person guarantees such Incremental Facility); provided, if such Incremental Facility is secured and not incurred under the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent will enter into an applicable Intercreditor Agreement with respect thereto; and
(v) except as otherwise set forth herein, all terms of any Incremental Term Facility shall be on terms (including subordination terms, if applicable) and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrower and the providers of the Incremental Term Facility; provided that the operational and agency provisions contained in such documentation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
(h) Pricing. The interest rate, fees, OID and other economic terms applicable to Incremental Term Loans will be as determined by the Borrower and the Persons providing such Incremental Term Loans; provided that, in the event that the All-In Yield applicable to any Incremental Term Loans (other than any Excluded Incremental Facility) that are incurred during the first twelve months following the Closing Date exceeds the All-In Yield for the Initial Term Loans by more than 75 basis points, then the interest rate margins for the Initial Term Loans shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the All-In Yield for the Initial Term Loans is equal to the All-In Yield for such Incremental Term Loans minus 75 basis points.
(i) 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 this Section 2.16.
108
Section 2.17 Refinancing Amendments.
(a) Refinancing Loans. The Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of the Term Loans, in the form of Refinancing Loans or Refinancing Commitments made pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt Liens securing Refinancing Loans may be (and must only be) Permitted Liens.
(b) Refinancing Amendments. The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment will be subject only to the satisfaction on the date thereof of such conditions as may be requested by the providers of applicable Refinancing Loans. The Borrower will promptly notify the Administrative Agent (which will promptly notify each Lender) as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment. Upon effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement will be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Refinancing Loans incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Term Loans subject thereto as Refinancing Term Loans).
(c) Required Consents. Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any Person other than the Borrower and the Persons providing the applicable Refinancing Loans, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower and such Persons, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.17; provided that the operational and agency provisions contained in any Refinancing Amendment shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. This Section 2.17 supersedes any provisions in Section 2.15 or Section 11.01 to the contrary.
(d) Providers of Refinancing Loans. Refinancing Loans may be provided by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender shall have an obligation to make all or any portion of any Refinancing Loan) or by any Additional Lender (subject to Section 11.07(h)). The lenders providing the Refinancing Loans will be reasonably acceptable to (i) the Borrower and (ii) the Administrative Agent, only to the extent such Person otherwise would have a consent right to an assignment of such loans or commitments to such lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Section 2.18 Extensions of Loans.
(a) Extension Offers. Pursuant to one or more offers (each, an Extension Offer) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments of a particular Class with a like Maturity Date, the Borrower may extend such Maturity Date and otherwise modify the terms of such Loans and/or Commitments pursuant to the terms set forth in an Extension Offer (each, an Extension). Each Extension Offer will specify the minimum amount of Loans and/or Commitments with respect to which an Extension Offer may be accepted, which will be an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000, or, if less, (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Class of Loans outstanding or (ii) such lesser minimum amount as is approved by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Extension Offers will be made on a pro rata basis to all Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments of a particular Class with a like Maturity Date. If the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) and/or Commitments in respect of which Lenders have accepted an Extension Offer exceeds the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans and/or Commitments offered to be extended pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans and/or Commitments of such Lenders will be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer. There is no requirement that any Extension Offer or Extension Amendment (defined as follows) be subject to any most favored nation pricing provisions. The terms of an Extension Offer shall be determined by the Borrower, and Extension Offers may contain one or more conditions to their effectiveness as determined by the Borrower, including a condition that a minimum amount of Loans and/or Commitments of any or all applicable tranches be tendered.
109
(b) Extension Amendments. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (an Extension Amendment) as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate in order to establish new tranches in respect of Extended Loans and such amendments as permitted by clause ((c)) below as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, in connection with the establishment of such new tranches of Loans. This Section 2.18 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.15 or Section 11.01 to the contrary. Except as otherwise set forth in an Extension Offer, there will be no conditions to the effectiveness of an Extension Amendment. Extensions will not constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Terms of Extension Offers and Extension Amendments. The terms of any Extended Loans will be set forth in an Extension Offer and as agreed between the Borrower and the Extending Lenders accepting such Extension Offer; provided that:
(i) the final maturity date of such Extended Loans will be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date applicable to the Loans and/or Commitments subject to such Extension Offer;
(ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Loans that are Term Loans will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer; and
(iii) any Extended Loans that are Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any corresponding mandatory repayments or prepayments of Term Loans other than any repayment of such Extended Loans at maturity or with the proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.
Any Extended Loans will constitute a separate tranche of Term Loans from the Term Loans held by Lenders that did not accept the applicable Extension Offer.
(d) Required Consents. No consent of any Lender or any other Person will be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Borrower and each applicable Extending Lender. The transactions contemplated by this Section 2.18 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Loans on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) will not require the consent of any other Lender or any other Person, and the requirements of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.18 will not apply to any of the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.18.
Section 2.19 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:
110
(i) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.09 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; next, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing), 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; next, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a Cash Collateral Account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; next, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; next, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and next, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Article IV were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the applicable Commitments without giving effect to Section 3.01. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the applicable Commitments whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.
(c) Hedge Banks. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Lender shall not be a Hedge Bank with respect to any Secured Hedge Agreement entered into while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender.
Section 2.20 Judgment Currency.
(a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto (and by its acceptance of its appointment in such capacity, each Lead Arranger) agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction, the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
111
(b) The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the Applicable Creditor) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the Judgment Currency) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the Agreement Currency), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, agrees to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01 Taxes.
(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section, the term Applicable Law includes FATCA.
(b) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by such Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided that if the Loan Party reasonably believes that such Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the Administrative Agent or Lender, as applicable, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a refund of such Taxes (which shall be repaid to the Loan Party in accordance with Section 3.01(i)) so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, result in any additional costs or expenses not reimbursed by the Loan Party or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to it. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Loan Party by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
112
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. 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 no Loan party has already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.07(e) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) of this Section) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
113
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by
114
law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(h) On or before the date the Administrative Agent (or any successor or supplemental agent) becomes a party to this Agreement and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent) shall deliver to the Borrower either (i) a duly executed IRS Form W-9 or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY, in each case with the effect that the Loan Parties may make payments to the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent, as applicable), to the extent such payments are made to the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent, as applicable) as an intermediary, without any deduction or withholding of any Taxes imposed by the United States.
(i) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(j) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(b) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower in writing, use reasonable efforts to mitigate the effect of any such event, including by designating another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event and by completing and delivering or filing any Tax-related forms that such Lender is legally able to deliver and that would reduce or eliminate any amount of Taxes required to be deducted or withheld or paid by the Loan Parties.
(k) Survival. Each partys 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.
115
Section 3.02 Illegality. If any Lender reasonably 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 Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (A) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Dollars, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (B) [reserved] or (C) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate with respect to any Base Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
Section 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein; provided however, that if the Borrower
116
and the applicable Lenders cannot agree within a reasonable time on an alternative rate for such Loans, the Borrower may, at its discretion, either (A) prepay such Loans or (B) maintain such Loans outstanding, in which case, the interest rate payable to the applicable Lender on such Loans will be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent as its cost of funds to fund a Borrowing of such Loans with maturities comparable to the Interest Period applicable thereto plus the Applicable Rate.
Section 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;
(ii) subject any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender (other than with respect to Taxes) that is not otherwise accounted for in the definition of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or this clause ((a));
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate or, in the case of a Change in Law with respect to Taxes, making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) then, from time to time within ten days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent) (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. No Lender shall request that the Borrower pay any additional amount pursuant to this Section 3.04(a) unless it shall concurrently make similar requests to other borrowers similarly situated and affected by such Change in Law and from whom such Lender is entitled to seek similar amounts.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lenders holding company, if any, regarding liquidity or capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders capital or on the capital of such Lenders holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by it to a level below that which such Lender or such Lenders holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders policies and the policies of such Lenders holding company with respect to liquidity or capital adequacy), 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) (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lenders holding company for any such reduction suffered.
117
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection ((a)) or ((b)) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred and eighty days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency liabilities), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan made to the Borrower; provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
Section 3.05 Funding Losses. Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost, liability or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the 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 the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.07;
including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by reason of 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender may make any demand under this Section 3.05 (i) with respect to the floor specified in the parenthetical in the first sentence of the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or (ii) in connection with any prepayment of interest on Term Loans.
118
Section 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect.
(b) Suspension of Lender Obligations. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans from one Interest Period to another Interest Period, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(c) Conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lenders Eurocurrency Rate Loans no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lenders Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans of a given Class held by the Lenders of such Class holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.
Section 3.07 Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or ceases to make Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 3.01, (iii) any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, (iv) any Lender does not accept an Extension Offer, (v) (A) any Lender shall become and continue to be a Defaulting Lender and (B) such Defaulting Lender shall fail to cure the default pursuant to Section 2.19(b) within five Business Days after the Borrowers request that it cure such default or (vi) any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender (other than a Disqualified Lender) as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04) to one or more Eligible Assignees that shall assume such obligations (any of which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
119
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.07(b)(iv);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts payable under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) such Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lenders Commitment and outstanding Loans, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent (or a lost or destroyed note affidavit in lieu thereof); provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption or deliver such Notes shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and the Notes shall be deemed to be canceled upon such failure;
(d) the Eligible Assignee 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;
(e) 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 thereafter;
(f) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender being a Non-Consenting Lender, the Eligible Assignee shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Lender being replaced was a Non-Consenting Lender; and
(g) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 10.09.
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 each Lender, all affected Lenders or all the Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to a certain Class or Classes of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders or Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a Non-Consenting Lender.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
Section 3.08 Survival. All of the Borrowers obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
120
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
Section 4.01 Conditions to Initial Borrowing.
The obligation of each Lender to extend credit to the Borrower on the Closing Date is subject only to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 11.01, of each of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and in each case subject to the Certain Funds Provisions:
(a) The Administrative Agents receipt of the following, each of which may be originals, facsimiles or copies in .pdf format, unless otherwise specified:
(i) a Committed Loan Notice duly executed by the Borrower and delivered as forth in Section 2.01(b), which (if delivered prior to the Closing Date) shall be deemed to be conditioned on the consummation of the Transactions;
(ii) this Agreement duly executed by the Borrower and Holdings;
(iii) the Guaranty and the Security Agreement, in each case, duly executed by the Borrower and each other Loan Party;
(iv) the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement with acknowledgment pages thereto duly executed by the Borrower and each other Loan Party;
(v) original certificated securities (as defined in the UCC), if any, representing Pledged Equity issued by the Borrower and, if delivered to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement and constituting Collateral, the Pledged Equity of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, in each case, accompanied by undated stock powers or transfer power executed in blank;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attaching: (A) certificates of good standing from the secretary of state or other applicable office of the state of organization or formation of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, (B) resolutions or other applicable action of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, (C) an incumbency certificate and/or other certificate of Responsible Officers of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, 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 it is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date and (D) the Organization Documents of each Loan Party;
(vii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower that the conditions specified in clauses ((c)), ((e)) and (f) below have been satisfied or will be satisfied promptly upon the funding of the Initial Term Loans;
(viii) an opinion from Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties with respect to matters of New York and certain aspects of Delaware law; and
(ix) a certificate from the chief financial officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower as to the Solvency (after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date) of the Borrower, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I;
121
provided, for the avoidance of doubt (i) each reference to Loan Parties in this clause (a) shall include Nestle Waters North America Holdings Inc. and each of its Subsidiaries (the Target Loan Parties) that shall become, or are required to become, Loan Parties upon consummation of the Acquisition but (ii) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, certificates and resolutions by the Target Loan Parties is not a condition precedent under this Section 4.01; it being agreed that each Loan Document (and related authorizing resolutions) and certificates to be executed and/or delivered on the Closing Date by or on behalf of a Target Loan Party will be executed and delivered in escrow prior to the consummation of the Acquisition and automatically released from escrow upon funding of the Initial Term Loans and the consummation of the Acquisition, and upon such release each Target Loan Party will be deemed to have made the Specified Representations with respect to it;
(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder on the Closing Date (and all fees and expenses required to be paid under the Commitment Letter and any related fee letter on the Closing Date) to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least two Business Days before the Acquisition Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed to by the Borrower) shall have been paid in full, it being agreed that such fees and expenses may be paid with the proceeds of the initial funding of the Term Loans;
(c) Confirmation from the Borrower (in the form of an officers certificate) that prior to or substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date,
(i) each of the following shall have been or will be consummated: the Equity Contribution; the issuance of Senior Notes under the Notes Indenture; and the receipt of commitments under the ABL Credit Facility pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement;
(ii) the Acquisition shall have been or will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement; and
(iii) since its execution, the Acquisition Agreement has not been amended, supplemented, waived or modified pursuant to its terms and no express consent thereunder has been given by the Borrower in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders (taken as a whole), in their respective capacities as such, without the consent of the Commitment Parties (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that each Commitment Party shall be deemed to have consented to such amendment, supplement, waiver, modification or consent unless it shall object in writing thereto within five business days of receipt of being notified in writing of such amendment, waiver, modification or consent; provided further (A) an amendment, supplement, waiver or modification of the Acquisition Agreement that does not increase the cash purchase price thereunder to be paid on the Closing Date or that has the effect of reducing the purchase price thereunder, will, in each case, be deemed not to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and any such reduction will be allocated (1) first, to reduce the Equity Contribution until the Equity Contribution equals the Minimum Equity Contribution, (2) second, to the reduce the Senior Notes and the Initial Term Loans on a pro rata basis until the Senior Notes are reduced to $300,000,000, and (3) thereafter, to reduce the Initial Term Loans; (B) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification of the Acquisition Agreement that has the effect of increasing the purchase price thereunder will be deemed not to be materially adverse to the Lead Arrangers if such increase is not funded with indebtedness for borrowed money; (C) any change to the definition of Material Adverse Effect, Outside Date or the Xerox provisions contained in the Acquisition Agreement (in each case, as in effect on February 16, 2021) will be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lead Arrangers.
122
(d) The Commitment Parties will have received at least three Business Days (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) prior to the Closing Date (a) all outstanding documentation and other information about the Loan Parties required under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and (b) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a legal entity customer under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a customary FinCEN beneficial ownership certificate, that in each case has been requested in writing at least ten Business Days (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations shall be accurate in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date; provided that, a failure of an Acquisition Agreement Representation to be accurate will not result in a failure of a condition precedent under this Section 4.01, unless such failure results in a failure of a condition precedent to Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement or such failure gives Borrower the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligation to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement; provided further that to the extent that the Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be accurate in all material respects as of such earlier date.
(f) Since the date of the Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) that would result in the failure of a condition precedent to the Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition under the Acquisition Agreement or that would give it the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligations pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement.
(g) The Commitment Parties have received (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets, consolidated income statements, and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Acquired Business as of the last day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, (ii) for each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) ended on or after September 30, 2020 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Acquired Business as of the last day of such fiscal quarter, together with the related unaudited consolidated income statement and statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case, prior to giving effect to the Transactions (the financial statements described in this clause (ii), the Interim Financial Statements) and (iii) an unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related unaudited pro forma consolidated income statement of the Acquired Business as of, and for the twelve-month period ended, September 30, 2020 or such later balance sheet date delivered pursuant to the preceding clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, if any, prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such income statement), which need not be prepared in compliance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act or include adjustments for purchase accounting (including adjustments of the type contemplated by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (formerly SFAS 141R)).
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11.01, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement or funded Loans hereunder shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 4.01 to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
123
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants each of the following to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in each case, to the extent and, unless otherwise specifically agreed by the Borrower, only on the dates required by Section 2.16 or Article IV, as applicable.
Section 5.01 Organization, Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Material Subsidiary,
(a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (to the extent such concepts exist in such jurisdiction);
(b) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority to (i) own its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and consummate the Transactions;
(c) is duly qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concepts exist in such jurisdiction) 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 applicable Laws; and
(e) has all requisite governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted;
except in each case referred to in clauses ((c)), ((d)) or ((e)), to the extent that failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action.
(b) Neither the execution, delivery nor performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party nor the consummation of the Transactions will,
(i) contravene the terms of any of its Organization Documents;
(ii) result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any assets of such Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, under (A) any Contractual Obligation relating to Material Indebtedness of a Loan Party or (B) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Loan Party or its property is subject;
(iii) violate any applicable Law; or
(iv) require any approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation relating to Material Indebtedness, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date;
124
except with respect to any breach, contravention or violation (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clauses ((ii)), ((iii)) and ((iv)), to the extent that such breach, contravention or violation has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization. No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for,
(a) filings necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties;
(b) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings that have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral Documents); and
(c) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in 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 party hereto and thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and principles of good faith and fair dealing.
Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Annual Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with the Accounting Principles (as in effect on the Closing Date (or the date of preparation)) consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.
(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has resulted in, and is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and statements of comprehensive income (loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time the forecasts are delivered, it being understood that (i) no forecasts are to be viewed as facts, (ii) any forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties or the Sponsor, (iii) no assurance can be given that any particular forecasts will be realized and (iv) actual results may differ and such differences may be material.
Section 5.06 Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in Material Adverse Effect.
125
Section 5.07 Labor Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.07 or except as has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened and (b) hours worked by and payment made based on hours worked to employees of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary have not been in material violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws dealing with wage and hour matters.
Section 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary has good and valid record title in fee simple 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 Permitted Liens and except where the failure to have such title or other interest has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.08 sets forth all Material Real Property.
Section 5.09 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits (including having obtained and maintained all Environmental Permits required for the operation of their respective businesses) and (ii) none of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to any pending, or to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened Environmental Claim or any other Environmental Liability or is aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability or the revocation or modification of any Environmental Permit, and (iii) there are no agreements in which the Loan Parties or the Restricted Subsidiaries have assumed or undertaken responsibility for any known or reasonably likely material liability or material obligation of any other person arising under or relating to Environmental Laws.
(b) None of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has used, released, treated, stored, transported or disposed of Hazardous Materials, at or from any currently or formerly owned or operated real estate or facility relating to its business, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, currently owns or operates (or formerly owned or operated) any real estate or facility that is contaminated by any Hazardous Substances, in each case, in a manner that has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.10 Taxes. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so has not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11 [Reserved].
Section 5.12 Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully paid and (if applicable) non-assessable, and all Equity Interests owned by Holdings (in the Borrower), and by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any of their respective direct Material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all
126
Liens (other than Permitted Liens) of any Person. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.12 (i) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of each Subsidiary Guarantor and its respect direct Subsidiaries, (ii) sets forth the percentage ownership interest of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor in each such applicable Subsidiary, and (iii) identifies the Equity Interests which are required to be pledged on the Closing Date pursuant to the Collateral Documents.
Section 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) As of the Closing Date, none of the Collateral is Margin Stock. No Loan Party 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 FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor is an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 5.14 Disclosure. As of the Closing Date, none of the written information and written data heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party or the Sponsor to any Agent or any Lender on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document on or prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make such written information and written data taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which it was delivered, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all modifications and supplements to such written information and written data, in each case, furnished after the date on which such written information or such written data was originally delivered and prior to the Closing Date); it being understood that for purposes of this Section 5.14, such written information and written data shall not include projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts or other forward-looking information or information of a general economic or general industry nature or prepared by the Lead Arrangers.
Section 5.15 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries own or have a valid right to use, all the intellectual property necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such rights, has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, the operation of the respective businesses of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or violate any intellectual property rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations or violations that have not resulted in, or are not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any Intellectual Property owned by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that, has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.16 Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.
127
Section 5.17 USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and OFAC.
(a) To the extent applicable, each of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (b) the USA PATRIOT Act and other similar anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
(b) Each of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors and employees, and to the Borrowers knowledge, their respective agents, Affiliates and representatives, have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which they operate and the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures appropriate for their business designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws. The Borrower will not directly, or to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans in violation of the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
(c) None of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is, (a) the subject or target of any Sanctions, (b) included on OFACs List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMTs Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, the Investment Ban List or any other Sanctions list, or (c) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. The Borrower will not directly, or to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or otherwise knowingly make available such proceeds to any Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person that, at the time of such financing, is (a) the subject or target of any Sanctions, (b) included on OFACs List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMTs Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, the Investment Ban List or any other Sanctions list, or (c) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.
Section 5.18 Collateral Documents. Except as otherwise contemplated hereby or under any other Loan Documents, the provisions of the Collateral Documents, together with such filings and other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Collateral Documents or contemplated by the Collateral Documents (including the delivery to Collateral Agent of any Pledged Debt and any Pledged Equity required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Collateral Documents), are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on all right, title and interest of Holdings, the Borrower and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in the Collateral described therein.
Section 5.19 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower has used the proceeds of the Loans only in compliance (and not in contravention of) applicable Laws and each Loan Document.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:
Section 6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender each of the following:
(a) Audited Annual Financial Statements. Within one hundred and twenty days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date) or, in the case of the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date, one hundred and fifty days after the end of such fiscal year (subject for any fiscal year to a 30-day extension in the reasonable discretion of the
128
Administrative Agent), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), stockholders equity and cash flows for such fiscal year together with related notes thereto, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (if ending after the Closing Date), prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of any accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any qualification as to the Borrowers ability to continue as a going concern, other than any such qualification resulting from or relating to (i) an actual or anticipated breach of a Financial Covenant, (ii) an upcoming maturity date or (iii) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Person other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iv) changes in accounting principles or practices.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event within sixty days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021), or in the case of the first three such fiscal quarters ending after the Closing Date, within seventy-five days after the end of each such fiscal quarter, (i) a condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, (ii) the related condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (iii) the related condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth, in each case of clauses (ii) and (iii), in comparative form, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, in each case if ended after the Closing Date, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in material compliance with the Accounting Principles, subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(c) Budget; Projections. Prior to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, on or prior to the date financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date), a consolidated budget for the following fiscal year on an annual basis in form and substance consistent with the budget customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use.
(d) Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b), such supplemental financial information (which need not be audited) as is 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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (i) the applicable financial statements of any Person of which the Borrower is a Subsidiary (such Person, a Parent Entity) or (ii) the Borrowers or a Parent Entitys Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to each of clauses (i) and (ii), (A) to the extent such information relates to a Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by such supplemental financial information (which need not be audited) as is necessary to eliminate the accounts of such Parent Entity and each of its Subsidiaries, other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (B) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of any accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any qualification as to the Borrowers ability to continue as a going concern, other than any such qualification resulting from or relating to (i) an actual or anticipated
129
breach of a Financial Covenant, (ii) an upcoming maturity date or (iii) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Person other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iv) changes in accounting principles or practices or Subsidiaries of the Parent Entity (other than Holdings and its Subsidiaries). Any financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall not be required to contain purchase accounting adjustments to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such financial statements.
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender each of the following:
(a) Compliance Certificate. No later than five Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate.
(b) SEC Filings. Promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports, proxy statements and registration statements which Holdings or the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), 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 to any other clause of this Section 6.02; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 6.02(b) may be satisfied by causing such information to be publicly available on the SECs EDGAR website or another publicly available reporting service.
(c) Information Regarding Collateral. The Borrower agrees to notify the Collateral Agent (within 30 calendar days) after the occurrence of such event (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) of any change,
(i) in the legal name of any Person required to be a Loan Party;
(ii) in the identity or type of organization of any Person required to be a Loan Party;
(iii) in the jurisdiction of organization of any Person required to be a Loan Party; or
(iv) in the location (within the meaning of Section 9-307 of the UCC) of any Person (to the extent not a registered organization (as defined in Section 9-102 of the UCC)) required to be a Loan Party.
(d) Other Information. Such additional information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent 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 or Section 6.02 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on the Borrowers website on the Internet at the website addresses listed on Schedule 11.02, or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers behalf on Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak 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: (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the 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
130
(B) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, Borrower Materials) by posting the Borrower Materials on Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak or another similar electronic system (the Platform) and (b) certain of the Lenders may have personnel who do not wish to receive any information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, that is not Public-Side Information, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (i) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked PUBLIC which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word PUBLIC shall appear prominently on the first page thereof (and by doing so shall be deemed to have represented that such information contains only Public-Side Information); (ii) by marking Borrower Materials PUBLIC, the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as containing only Public-Side Information (provided however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.08); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated Public-Side Information; and (iv) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public-Side Information.
For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
Section 6.03 Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for prompt further notification by the Administrative Agent to each Lender of:
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;
(b) (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation or proceeding between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any arbitrator or Governmental Authority or (ii) the filing or commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, in any such case referred to in clause (i) through (iii), has resulted, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) (i) any notice of any Environmental Claim, or (ii) any unpermitted release of Hazardous Materials at any real property or facility owned or operated by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that, in the case of either of the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth a summary description of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
131
Section 6.04 Payment of Certain Taxes. Pay all federal, state and other Taxes levied or imposed upon it or upon its properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in 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 incorporation or organization, as applicable; and
(b) take all reasonable action to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect those of its rights (including with respect to Intellectual Property and Spring Water Property), licenses, permits, privileges, and franchises, that are material to the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties taken as a whole;
except in the case of clause (a) or (b), (i) in connection with a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents (including transactions permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05), (ii) with respect to any Immaterial Subsidiary, or (iii) to the extent that failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted), except to the extent the failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.
(a) Except when the failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, maintain or cause to be maintained with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of its management) are financially sound and reputable at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed or with a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, 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 and of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, and furnish to the Administrative Agent, which, absent a continuing Event of Default, shall not be made more than once in any twelve month period, upon reasonable written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.
(b) Subject to Section 6.15, each such policy of insurance shall as appropriate and is customary and, with respect to jurisdictions outside the United States, to the extent available in such jurisdiction without undue cost or expense,
(i) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder (with respect to liability insurance), and
(ii) to the extent covering Collateral in the case of property insurance, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the loss payee thereunder;
132
provided that (A) absent a Specified Event of Default that is continuing, any proceeds of any such insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to Holdings, the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and may be applied in accordance with (or, if this Agreement does not provide for application of such proceeds, in a manner that is not prohibited by) this Agreement and (B) this Section 6.07(b) shall not be applicable to (1) business interruption insurance, workers compensation policies, employee liability policies or directors and officers policies, (2) policies to the extent the Collateral Agent cannot have an insurable interest therein or is unable to be named as an additional insured or loss payee thereunder or (3) the extent unavailable from the relevant insurer after the Borrowers use of its commercially reasonable efforts.
Section 6.08 Compliance with Laws. (a) Comply with the requirements of all Laws (including applicable Environmental Laws and the maintenance, continuation or acquisition of all required licenses and permits) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or to its business or products or property, except to the extent the failure to comply therewith has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) comply with the requirements of USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA, OFAC, UK Bribery Act of 2010 and other anti-terrorism, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering Laws; provided that the requirements set forth in this Section 6.08, as they pertain to compliance by any Foreign Subsidiary with the USA PATRIOT ACT, FCPA, OFAC and UK Bribery Act of 2010 are subject to and limited by any Law applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary in its relevant local jurisdiction.
Section 6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects shall be made of all material financial transactions and material matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that Foreign Subsidiaries may maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization or operations and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder), in each case, to the extent necessary to prepare the financial statements described in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b).
Section 6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives of the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired but subject to any restrictions in leases, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that (a) 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 under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year absent the continuation of an Event of Default and only one such time shall be at the Borrowers expense and (b) when an Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or any of their respective representatives) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrowers independent public accountants. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
Section 6.11 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.
(a) Personal Property. Subject to any applicable limitation in any Loan Document (including Section 6.12), at the Borrowers expense, take the following actions within ninety days of the occurrence of any Grant Event (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion):
133
(i) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto), which may be accomplished by executing a Guaranty Supplement;
(ii) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver the Security Agreement (or a supplement thereto), which may be accomplished by executing a Security Agreement Supplement;
(iii) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver any applicable Intellectual Property Security Agreements with respect to registered Intellectual Property that it owns and that constitutes Collateral;
(iv) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver an acknowledgement of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or a supplement thereto, including a Security Agreement Supplement);
(v) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event (and any Loan Party of which such Restricted Subsidiary is a direct Subsidiary) to (A) if such Restricted Subsidiary has opted into Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, deliver any and all certificates representing its Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that constitute, or are required to be, Collateral and are required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Agreement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank (or any other documents customary under local law), (B) execute and deliver a counterparty signature to the Global Intercompany Note (or joinder thereto) and (C) deliver all instruments evidencing Indebtedness held by such Restricted Subsidiary that constitute Collateral and are required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Agreement, endorsed in blank, to the Collateral Agent;
(vi) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, take and cause the Restricted Subsidiary the subject of the Grant Event and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Agreement that directly holds Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary to take such customary actions as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) perfected Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary and the personal property and fixtures of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by the Loan Documents, 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);
provided that (A) without limiting the obligations set forth above, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will consult in good faith with the Borrower to reduce any stamp, filing or similar taxes imposed as a result of the actions described in the foregoing provisions and (B) actions relating to Liens on real property or water rights are governed by Section 6.11(b) and Section 6.11(c) and not this Section 6.11(a).
(b) Material Real Property.
(i) Notice.
134
(A) Within ninety days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) after the occurrence of a Grant Event, the Borrower will, furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of any Material Real Property (other than any Excluded Asset) owned by the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event, including the street address (or legal description) and owner entity.
(B) Within ninety days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) after the acquisition of any Material Real Property by a Loan Party after the Closing Date, the Borrower will furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of such Material Real Property including the street address (or legal description) and owner entity.
(ii) Mortgages of Material Real Property. The Borrower will, or will cause the applicable Loan Party to, provide the Collateral Agent with a Mortgage with respect to Material Real Property that is the subject of a notice delivered pursuant to Section 6.11(b)(i), within one hundred twenty days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) of the event that triggered the requirement to give such notice, together with:
(A) evidence that counterparts of such Mortgage have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by each Loan Party that is the owner or holder of any fee-owned interest in such Mortgaged Property, and otherwise in a form suitable for filing or recording in the recording office of each applicable jurisdiction where each such Mortgaged Property is situated, in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on such Material Real Property in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or are otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; provided that to the extent any Material Real Property to be subject to a Mortgage is located in a jurisdiction which imposes mortgage recording taxes, intangibles tax, documentary tax or similar recording fees or taxes, the relevant Mortgage shall not secure an amount in excess of the fair market value of such property subject thereto;
(B) fully paid Mortgage Policies or signed commitments in respect thereof together with such affidavits, certificates, and instruments of indemnification (including a so-called gap indemnification) as shall be required to induce the title insurance company to issue the Mortgage Policies and endorsements contemplated above and evidence of payment of title insurance premiums and expenses and all recording, mortgage, transfer and stamp taxes and fees payable in connection with recording the Mortgage;
(C) customary opinions, addressed solely to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of local counsel for such Loan Party in the state in which such Material Real Property is located to the enforceability of the Mortgage and any related fixture filings;
(D) 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
(E) a Flood Insurance Certificate; provided however, that in the event any improvements on such property is located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) to be located in special flood hazard area, that property shall be excluded and any Mortgages thereon shall automatically be released.
135
For the avoidance of doubt, Liens and notices with respect to water rights (including Spring Water Collateral) shall be governed by Section 6.11(c) and not any other provision of this Section 6.11.
(c) Spring Water Collateral.
(i) Notice.
(A) Within ninety days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) after the occurrence of a Grant Event, the Borrower will, furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of any Spring Water Collateral (other than any Excluded Asset) owned by the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event.
(B) Within ninety days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) after the acquisition of any Spring Water Collateral by a Loan Party after the Closing Date, the Borrower will furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of such Spring Water Collateral.
(ii) Mortgages of Spring Water Collateral. The Borrower will, or will cause the applicable Loan Party to, provide the Collateral Agent with a Mortgage with respect to Spring Water Collateral that is the subject of a notice delivered pursuant to Section 6.11(b)(i), within one hundred twenty days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) of the event that triggered the requirement to give such notice, together with evidence that counterparts of such Mortgage have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by each Loan Party that is the owner or holder of any fee-owned interest in such Mortgaged Spring Water Collateral, and otherwise in a form suitable for filing or recording in the recording office of each applicable jurisdiction where each such Mortgaged Spring Water Collateral is situated, in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on such Spring Water Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or are otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; provided that to the extent any Spring Water Collateral to be subject to a Mortgage is located in a jurisdiction which imposes mortgage recording taxes, intangibles tax, documentary tax or similar recording fees or taxes, the relevant Mortgage shall not secure an amount in excess of the fair market value of such property subject thereto.
Section 6.12 Further Assurances. Subject to Section 6.11 and any applicable limitations in any Collateral Document, and in each case at the expense of the Borrower, promptly upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (a) 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 (b) 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents (but in no event broader than the deliverables contemplated under Section 6.11). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, neither Holdings, the Borrower, nor any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to, nor will the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent be authorized to take any Prohibited Perfection Action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in the event that a Foreign Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the proviso to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary, such Loan Party shall grant a perfected lien on substantially all of its assets pursuant to
136
arrangements reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, subject to customary limitations in such jurisdiction as may be reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, and nothing in the definition of Excluded Assets or Excluded Equity Interests or other limitation in this Agreement (other than as set forth in this paragraph) shall in any way limit or restrict the pledge of assets and property by any such Foreign Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.
Further, the Loan Parties shall not be required to perform any periodic collateral reporting, if any, with any frequency greater than once per fiscal year (provided that this clause shall not limit the obligation of the Loan Parties to comply with Section 6.02(c) or Section 6.11).
Section 6.13 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or designate (or re-designate, as the case may be) any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:
(a) immediately before and after such designation (or re-designation), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the Investment resulting from the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as described above is permitted by Section 7.02; and
(c) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless it is also designated as an unrestricted subsidiary under the Notes Indenture and the ABL Credit Agreement.
The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value as of such date of the Borrowers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment(s) to date therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and a return on any Investment by the Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Borrowers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. Except as set forth in this paragraph, no Investment will be deemed to exist or have been made, and no Indebtedness or Liens shall be deemed to have been incurred or exist, by virtue of a Subsidiary becoming an Excluded Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. For all purposes hereunder, the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to constitute a concurrent designation of any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 6.14 Maintenance of Ratings. Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (a) a public corporate credit rating or public corporate family rating, as applicable, from any two of S&P, Moodys and Fitch, in each case, in respect of the Borrower (but not a specific rating), and (b) a public rating in respect of the Initial Term Loans from S&P and Moodys (but not a specific rating).
Section 6.15 Change in Nature of Business. Engage only in material lines of business that are substantially consistent with those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and lines of business that are reasonably similar, corollary, ancillary, incidental, synergistic, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
137
Section 6.16 Post-Closing Matters. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take each of the actions set forth on Schedule 6.15 within the time period prescribed therefor on such schedule (as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent).
Section 6.17 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans will be used on the Closing Date to finance, in part, the Transactions.
Section 6.18 Company Specified Representations. On the Closing Date, upon the release of each Loan Document executed and delivered in escrow by the Target Loan Parties in accordance with Section 4.01, each Target Loan Party will make the Specified Representations with respect to it.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as the Termination Conditions are not satisfied, the Borrower shall not (and, with respect to Section 7.10 only, Holdings shall not), nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to:
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, that secures Indebtedness other than the following:
(a) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(a), including obligations under any Loan Document, Incremental Loans and Extended Loans;
(b) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(b)(i), including the ABL Obligations, in each case, subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) Liens existing on the Closing Date or incurred pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Closing Date; provided that such Liens are set forth on Schedule 7.01(c) if such Liens secure obligations in excess of $10,000,000 on the Closing Date; provided further than such Liens shall not include Liens incurred under Sections 7.01(a) and 7.01(b);
(d) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(d), including in respect of Attributable Indebtedness, Capitalized Lease Obligations, and Indebtedness financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within two hundred and seventy days after completion of the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens and (ii) 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, or acquired, constructed, repaired, replaced or improved with the proceeds of such Indebtedness; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender or its affiliates;
(e) Liens in favor of a Loan Party securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03;
(f) Liens securing Obligations in respect of any Hedge Agreement and other Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(f);
(g) (i) Liens on assets of Non-Loan Parties and (ii) Liens on Excluded Assets;
138
(h) Liens securing obligations in respect of Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(h);
(i) Liens securing obligations in respect of Incremental Equivalent Debt (with the lien priority permitted in such definition and other than to the extent such Indebtedness is only permitted to be incurred as unsecured Indebtedness) and other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(i); provided that such Liens securing such other Indebtedness are permitted by Section 7.01(mm)(i);
(j) Liens securing obligations in respect of Permitted Ratio Debt (with the lien priority permitted in such definition and other than to the extent such Indebtedness is only permitted to be incurred as unsecured Indebtedness) and other Indebtedness permitted by Sections 7.03(j); provided that such Liens securing such other Indebtedness are permitted by Section 7.01(mm)(i);
(k) Liens on property or assets contributed to the equity capital of the Borrower or a Loan Party or received in exchange for Equity Interests of the Borrower or a Parent Entity made after the Closing Date solely to the extent Not Otherwise Applied;
(l) (i) Liens existing on property at the time of (and not in contemplation of) its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person or on Equity Interests of any Person, in each case, at the time such Person becomes (and not in contemplation of such Person becoming) a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Closing Date; provided that (A) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than (1) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (2) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (3) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens) and (B) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03, (ii) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to an Investment and (iii) Liens incurred in connection with escrow arrangements or other agreements relating to an Acquisition Transaction or Investment permitted hereunder;
(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 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (ii) consisting of or created by an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition or created in connection with a Disposition, to the extent such Investment or Disposition would have been permitted on the date of creation of such Lien;
(n) (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, health, disability or employee benefits, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or similar legislation or regulation or other insurance-related obligations (including in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) 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 Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries;
(o) (i) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto and (ii) deposits and Liens on cash securing obligations to insurance companies with respect to insurable liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(p) 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;
139
(q) Liens on Securitization Assets or otherwise arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;
(r) Liens in respect of the cash collateralization of letters of credit;
(s) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on the 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 not for speculative purposes 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 setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(t) Liens securing Cash Management Obligations;
(u) Liens that are customary contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions in the ordinary course of business (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness), (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(v) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens, or other customary Liens (other than in respect of Indebtedness) in favor of landlords, so long as, in each case, such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than sixty days or, if more than sixty days overdue, are unfiled and that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with the Accounting Principles;
(w) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessors, sublessors, licensors or sublicensors interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as lessee or licensee in the ordinary course of business;
(x) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located;
(y) 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 Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(z) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiarys obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;
(aa) (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than thirty days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with the Accounting Principles or that are not expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) Liens for property taxes on property the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has decided to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment or charge is to such property;
140
(bb) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning and building code restrictions and plan agreements, development agreements and contract zoning agreements), encroachments, survey exceptions, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph and telephone and cable television lines, gas and oil pipelines and other similar purposes, reservations of rights, servitudes, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and title defects affecting real property that, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the use of the property for its intended purpose, and any other exceptions to title on the Mortgage Policies provided in accordance with this Agreement;
(cc) Liens arising from judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(g);
(dd) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business (including any other agreement under which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has granted rights to end users to access and use the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys products, technologies, facilities or services) which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ee) Liens (i) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and (ii) on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or documentary letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or such other goods in the ordinary course of business;
(ff) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods and services entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(gg) Liens imposed by law or incurred pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title (including contractual Liens in favor of sellers and suppliers of goods) incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not constituting borrowed money that are not overdue for a period of more than sixty days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with the Accounting Principles (if so required);
(hh) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements 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;
(ii) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents earmarked to be used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness where such satisfaction or discharge of such Indebtedness is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement;
(jj) servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements and other agreements with governmental authorities pertaining to the use or development of any of the assets or properties of the Person; provided that the same do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the affected properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
141
(kk) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;
(ll) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (B) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (C) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens, and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03;
(mm) Liens securing:
(i) a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness; provided that:
(A) such Indebtedness was permitted by Section 7.03 and was secured by a Permitted Lien;
(B) such Permitted Refinancing is permitted by Section 7.03; and
(C) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (B) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (C) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens; and
(nn) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03 to the extent that the underlying Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is permitted to be secured by a Lien;
(oo) Liens securing Pari Passu Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt; provided that:
(i) such Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Ratio Debt; and
(ii) such Liens (other than with respect to purchase money and similar obligations) are, in each case, subject to an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable; and
(pp) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred not to exceed the greater of (i) $536,000,000 (i.e approximately 100.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 100.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, in each case, determined as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred (or commitments with respect thereto are received); provided that it is agreed that Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (pp) may be made pari passu with or junior to the Liens securing the Facilities under this Agreement and, in each case, Liens that are pari passu with such Liens.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, in the event that any Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies
142
with this covenant on the date such Lien is incurred or such later time, as applicable; provided that all Liens securing Indebtedness under (a) the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.01((a)) and (b) the ABL Credit Agreement on the Closing Date will be deemed incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.01(b), and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph. With respect to any Liens securing Indebtedness that was permitted to be incurred hereunder on the date of such incurrence, any Lien securing the Increased Amount of such Indebtedness shall also be permitted hereunder after the date of such incurrence.
Any Lien incurred in compliance with this Section 7.01 that secures any Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b) will be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement any Liens incurred in compliance with this Section 7.01 after the Closing Date that is intended by the Borrower to be contractually secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations will be subject to an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement, and any Lien incurred in compliance with this Section 7.01 on or after the Closing Date that is intended by the Borrower to be secured on a contractually junior basis will be subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Section 7.02 Investments. Make or hold any Investments, except:
(a) Investments,
(i) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
(ii) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(b) Investments existing on the Closing Date or made pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.01(c) (to the extent in excess of $10,000,000 on the Closing Date) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any of the foregoing; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(b) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment or such legally binding contracts as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by another clause of this Section 7.02;
(c) Permitted Acquisitions;
(d) Investments (i) held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary (or committed to be made by any such Person) to the extent that, in each case, such Investments or any such commitments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (ii) held by Persons that become Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, including Investments by Unrestricted Subsidiaries made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired), to the extent that such Investments were not made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired) in contemplation of, or in connection with, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;
143
(e) Investments in Similar Businesses that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $161,000,000 (i.e. approximately 30.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 30.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(f) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $134,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 25.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(g) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with, or such Investment was received in exchange for, Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings (or any Parent Entity), or the proceeds from the issuance thereof that such proceeds are Not Otherwise Applied, or Excluded Assets;
(h) Joint Venture Investments;
(i) loans and advances to Holdings (or any Parent Entity) 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 permitted to be made to Holdings (or such Parent Entity) in accordance with Section 7.06;
(j) loans or advances to any Company Person;
(i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;
(ii) in connection with such Persons purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings (or any Parent Entity); provided that, to the extent such loans or advances are made in cash, the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Equity Interests shall be contributed to Holdings in cash; and
(iii) for any other purpose; provided that either (A) no cash or Cash Equivalents are advanced in connection with such Investment or (B) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under this clause (iii)(B) shall not exceed the greater of (1) $27,000,000 (i.e. approximately 5.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (2) 5.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(k) Investments in Hedge Agreements;
(l) Investments consisting of promissory notes, equity securities (including rollover equity) and other Investments (including earnouts and purchase price adjustments) received in connection with Dispositions or any other transfer of assets not constituting a Disposition and Investments made with the proceeds of Dispositions or such other transfers to the extent not required to be applied to a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii);
(m) Investments in assets that are cash or Cash Equivalents or were Cash Equivalents when made;
(n) Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit or otherwise made in the ordinary course of business, including Investments consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and trade arrangements with customers, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees;
144
(o) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness (including Guarantees), fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments (other than by reference to this Section 7.02) by Sections 7.01, 7.03, 7.04, 7.05 and 7.06, respectively;
(p) Investments (i) received in connection with the bankruptcy, workout, recapitalization or reorganization of, or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, any other Person, (ii) received in connection with the foreclosure of any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment, (iii) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons, (iv) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolutions of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons and (v) received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of trade credit and other credit extended in the ordinary course of business, including to vendors and suppliers;
(q) advances of payroll or other payments to any Company Person;
(r) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons or related activities in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Investments made in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees;
(t) Guarantees of leases or of other obligations;
(u) (i) Investments in connection with any Permitted Reorganization and the transactions relating thereto or contemplated thereby and (ii) Investments received as Designated Non-Cash Consideration;
(v) Investments in connection with any deferred compensation plan or arrangement or other compensation plan or arrangement, including to a rabbi trust or to any grantor trust claims of creditors;
(w) so long as no Restricted Payment has been made in reliance on such amount under the Available Amount, in the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary makes any Investment after the Closing Date in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary and such Person subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, additional Investments in an amount equal to the fair market value of such Investment as of the date on which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;
(x) Investments made in connection with or to effect the Transactions;
(y) unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that such obligations and/or liabilities, as applicable, are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law;
(z) (i) Investments in connection with intercompany cash management services, treasury arrangements and any related activities and (ii) Investments constituting intercompany cost-plus or transfer pricing transactions in connection with the ongoing business operations of Subsidiaries of Holdings;
(aa) Investments consisting of (i) the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, collaborations or other similar arrangements with other Persons and/or (ii) minority equity interests in customers received as part of fee arrangements or other commercial arrangements;
145
(bb) (i) Investments consisting of the acquisition of debt securities issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the conversion to Qualified Equity Interests of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(cc) (i) Investments in a Securitization Subsidiary or any Investment by a Securitization Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided however, that any such Investment in a Securitization Subsidiary is of Securitization Assets or equity, and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;
(dd) Investments made by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party with the cash or other assets received by it pursuant to a substantially concurrent Investment made in such Subsidiary that was permitted by this Section 7.02; provided that this clause (dd) shall not be used for any Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(ee) Investments in Immaterial Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such entity remains an Immaterial Subsidiary after pro forma effect of such Investment and (ii) such Investments do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $81,000,000 (i.e. approximately 15.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 15.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(ff) Investments; provided that the Total Net Leverage Ratio (after giving Pro Forma Effect to the making of such Investment) for the Test Period immediately preceding the making of such Investment shall be less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio less 0.25 to 1.00 (i.e. 5.75 to 1.00) or the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the making of such Investment; provided that no Specified Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom;
(gg) Investments that do not exceed in the aggregate the sum of:
(i) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied measured immediately prior to the making of such Investment; and
(ii) the greater of (A) $536,000,000 (i.e. approximately 100.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 100.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination.
If any Investment is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the date of such Investment and such Person subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall thereupon be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 7.02(a)(i) and to not have been made pursuant to any other clause set forth above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, in the event that any Investment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time such Investment is made, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Investment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Investment is made or such later time, as applicable.
The amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value of such Investment, at the Borrowers option, net of any return, whether a return of capital, interest, dividend or otherwise, with respect to such Investment. To the extent any Investment in any Person
146
is made in compliance with this Section 7.02 in reliance on a category above that is subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction on the making of Investments and, subsequently, such Person returns to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary all or any portion of such Investment (in the form of a dividend, distribution, liquidation or otherwise, but excluding intercompany Indebtedness), such return shall be deemed to be credited to the Dollar-denominated category against which the Investment is then charged. To the extent the category subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction is also subject to a percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA restriction which, at the date of determination, produces a numerical restriction that is greater than such Dollar Amount, then such Dollar equivalent shall be deemed to be substituted in lieu of the corresponding Dollar Amount in the foregoing sentence for purposes of determining such credit.
For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction on the making of Investments, the Dollar equivalent amount of the Investment denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Investment was made.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Loan Party be permitted to make Investments constituting Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur or assume any Indebtedness, other than:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents (including Incremental Loans and Extended Loans);
(b) Indebtedness in respect of or under,
(i) (A) one or more Credit Facilities, including the ABL Loan Documents 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), up to an aggregate principal amount as of any date not to exceed 120% of the greater of (I) $350,000,000, plus the amount of any Incremental ABL Credit Facility permitted to be incurred under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date) and (II) the Borrowing Base as of the applicable date of determination, and (B) any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing;
(ii) (A) one or more Credit Facilities, including the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $770,000,000 and (B) any Permitted Refinancing in respect of the foregoing;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness under the Notes Indenture and the ABL Credit Agreement) and set forth on Schedule 7.03 if the principal amount of such Indebtedness on the Closing Date is in excess of $10,000,000 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, including any intercompany Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Closing Date; provided, that all Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Non-Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Term Loans on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than those subordination terms contained in the Global Intercompany Note;
(d) (i) (A) Attributable Indebtedness relating to any transaction, (B) Capitalized Leases and other Indebtedness financing the use, acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed, real or capital assets, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets, so long as such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with, or within two-
147
hundred and seventy days after, the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement and (C) Indebtedness arising from the conversion of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any synthetic lease transactions to Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at the time any such Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to this Section 7.03(d) shall not exceed the greater of (I) $161,000,000 (i.e. approximately 30.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 30.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, (ii) Attributable Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Sale Leaseback Transaction otherwise permitted hereunder and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness incurred under this Section 7.03(d); provided that for the purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03(d), any lease that is not treated under the Accounting Principles (with giving effect to any right of use leases) as a capital lease at the time such lease is executed but is subsequently treated under the Accounting Principles as a capitalized lease as the result of a change in the Accounting Principles (or interpretations thereof) after the Closing Date shall not be treated as Indebtedness;
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that all Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Non-Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Term Loans on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than those subordination terms contained in the Global Intercompany Note;
(f) Indebtedness in respect of (i) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and (ii) Hedge Agreements designed to hedge against Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), incurred not for speculative purposes, and Guarantees thereof;
(g) (i) Indebtedness incurred by a Non-Loan Party which does not exceed the greater of (A) $134,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 25.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination and (ii) Indebtedness that is recourse only to Excluded Assets;
(h) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(i) Incremental Equivalent Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(j) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(k) Contribution Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(l) Indebtedness,
(i) of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date pursuant to an Investment or other Acquisition Transaction permitted hereunder, which Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and is not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary that is non-recourse to (and is not assumed by any of) the Borrower, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary of such Person that is a Subsidiary on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date) and is either (A) unsecured or (B) secured only by the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary by Liens permitted under Section 7.01; and
(ii) any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing;
148
(m) Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, Acquisition Transaction or Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs and seller notes) or other similar adjustments;
(n) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements with employees incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions, Permitted Acquisitions, Acquisition Transaction or any Investment expressly permitted hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 7.02(e), 7.02(o) or 7.02(p));
(p) 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 Holdings (or any Parent Entity) permitted by Section 7.06;
(q) Indebtedness 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 such Indebtedness that is consistent with past practices 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 and letters of credit that are cash collateralized;
(r) Indebtedness 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;
(s) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the 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 practices;
(t) any Qualified Securitization Financing that is not recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Borrower or any other Loan Party;
(u) (i) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as (A) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien on Collateral other than Permitted Liens and (B) the aggregate face amount of such letters of credit does not exceed the greater of (I) $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, determined at the time of issuance of such letter of credit and (ii) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit that are fully cash collateralized;
(v) (i) obligations in respect of Cash Management Obligations and (ii) other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and other cash management and similar arrangements, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices and any Guarantees thereof;
(w) Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) no Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Junior Financing 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 and (B) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guaranty in right of payment on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination terms with respect to such Indebtedness;
149
(x) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness of, any Joint Ventures in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $134,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 25.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, determined at the time of incurrence, and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing;
(y) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $536,000,000 (i.e. approximately 100.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 100.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, determined at the time of incurrence less the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness then outstanding that was incurred in reliance upon clause (c) of the definition of Fixed Incremental Amount, and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing (this Section 7.03(y), the General Debt Basket); and
(z) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses ((a)) through ((y)) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Indebtedness is incurred or such later time, as applicable; provided that all Indebtedness under (a) the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.03((a)) and (b) each of the Notes Indenture and the ABL Credit Agreement on the Closing Date will be deemed incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.03(b), and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph.
For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) 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 or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses in connection therewith).
The accrual of interest and 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 or any other provision of a Loan Document. With respect to any Indebtedness and any related Liens that were permitted to be incurred under the Loan Documents on the date of such incurrence, any Increased Amount with respect to such Indebtedness after the date of such incurrence shall also be permitted under the Loan Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
150
Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate or amalgamate with or into another Person, or effect a Division, except that:
(a) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
(ii) such merger or consolidation does not result in the Borrower ceasing to be organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and
(iii) in the case of a merger or consolidation of Holdings with and into the Borrower, (A) no Event of Default shall exist at such time or after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, (B) after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, the direct parent of the Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (C) such direct parent of the Borrower shall concurrently become a Guarantor and pledge 100% of the Equity Interest of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary or liquidate or dissolve;
(c) any merger the purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize a Restricted Subsidiary in another jurisdiction shall be permitted;
(d) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form; provided (i) no Event of Default shall result therefrom and (ii) the surviving Person (or the Person who receives the assets of such dissolving or liquidated Restricted Subsidiary) shall be a Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that:
(i) the 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 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 or the District of Columbia;
(B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
151
(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 of the Obligations shall apply to the Successor Borrowers 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 Borrowers obligations under this Agreement;
(E) if requested by the Collateral Agent, each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property or of Mortgaged Spring Water Collateral, 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 Collateral Agent) confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrowers obligations under this Agreement; and
(F) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement, and, with respect to such opinion of counsel only, including customary organization, due execution, no conflicts and enforceability opinions to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
it being agreed that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement;
(f) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment, Acquisition Transaction or other transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents (other than by Section 7.02(o) or 7.02(p));
(g) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary may conduct a Division that produces two or more surviving or resulting Persons; provided that
(i) if a Division is conducted by the Borrower, then each surviving or resulting Person shall constitute a Borrower for all purposes of the Loan Documents (unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents in its reasonable discretion) and shall remain jointly and severally liable for all Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations, where applicable) of the Borrower immediately prior to such Division and otherwise comply with Section 7.04(e);
(ii) if a Division is conducted by Holdings, then all of the Equity Interests of the Borrower must be owned by only one Person that survives or results from such Division, and such Person owning such Equity Interests in the Borrower shall otherwise comply with Section 7.10(b), become a Guarantor and pledge 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower to the Collateral Agent; and
(iii) if a Division is conducted by a Loan Party other than the Borrower or Holdings, then each surviving or resulting Person of such Division shall also be a Loan Party unless and to the extent any such surviving or resulting Loan Party is the subject of a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(e)) or otherwise would constitute an Excluded Subsidiary; provided further that such surviving or resulting Person not becoming a Loan Party and the assets and property of such surviving or resulting Person not becoming Collateral shall, in each case, be treated as an Investment and shall be permitted under this Section 7.04(g)(i)(iii) solely to the extent permitted under Section 7.02;
152
(h) as 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)); and
(i) the Transactions may be consummated.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, amalgamation or Division of any Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary effected in accordance with this Section 7.04, the Borrower shall or shall cause, with respect to each surviving Restricted Subsidiary (or new direct Parent Entity) (a) to promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (i) such information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and (ii) a Beneficial Ownership Certification and (b) to 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 6.11 and as promptly as practicable.
Section 7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out, used or surplus property (including for purposes of recycling), whether now owned or hereafter acquired and Dispositions of property of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business or economically practicable or commercially desirable to maintain;
(b) Dispositions of property 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 or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property; provided that to the extent the property being transferred constitutes Collateral such replacement property shall constitute Collateral;
(d) Dispositions of property to or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)), Section 7.04 (other Section 7.04(g)(i)) and Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(d)) and Permitted Liens;
(f) Dispositions of property pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions; provided that (i) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists) and (ii) such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
153
(h) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(i) Dispositions of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event;
(j) Dispositions; 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) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of the greater of $134,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and 25.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.00% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided however, that for the purposes of this clause (ii) each of the following shall be deemed to be cash;
(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the 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 Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing;
(B) any securities received by such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within one hundred and eighty 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 the greater of (I) $188,000,000 (i.e. approximately 35.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 35.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and
(iii) such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition
(this clause (j), the General Asset Sale Basket);
(k) 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;
(l) Dispositions or discounts of accounts receivable and related assets in connection with the collection, compromise or factoring thereof;
154
(m) Dispositions (including issuances or sales) of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owing to, or of other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary the assets of which consist primarily (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) of cash and Cash Equivalents received from an Investment by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary into it);
(n) Dispositions to the extent of any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon permitted by such provision) for use in any business conducted by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code (or comparable or successor provision);
(o) Dispositions in connection with the unwinding of any Hedge Agreement;
(p) Dispositions by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets in connection with the closing or sale of a facility in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which consist of fee or leasehold interests in the premises of such facility, the equipment and fixtures located at such premises and the books and records relating exclusively and directly to the operations of such facility; provided that as to each and all such sales and closings, (i) no Event of Default shall result therefrom and (ii) such sale shall be on commercially reasonable prices and terms in a bona fide arms-length transaction;
(q) Dispositions (including bulk sales) of the inventory of a Loan Party not in the ordinary course of business in connection with facility closings, at arms length;
(r) Disposition of Securitization Assets to a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(s) the lapse, abandonment or discontinuance of the use or maintenance of any Intellectual Property if previously determined by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in its reasonable business judgment that such lapse, abandonment or discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business;
(t) Disposition of any property or asset with a fair market value not to exceed with respect to any transaction the greater of (i) $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition;
(u) Disposition of assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder that the Borrower determines will not be used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and
(v) Dispositions of Excluded Assets by Non-Loan Parties and Dispositions of Excluded Assets by Loan Parties for fair market value.
To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, and without limiting the provisions of Section 10.11 the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to, and shall, take any actions reasonably requested by the Borrower in order to effect the foregoing (and the Lenders hereby authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to conclusively rely on any such certification by the Borrower in performing its obligations under this sentence). The amount of any Disposition shall equal the fair market value of the assets that were disposed, and the proceeds (including all Proceeds) of any Disposition shall be the cash and Cash Equivalents and the fair market value of other property received in connection with such Disposition.
155
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Loan Party be permitted to Dispose of any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 7.06 Restricted Payments. Make any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and to any other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrower or any such other Restricted Subsidiaries and to each Person that owns Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary ratably according to their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests or as otherwise permitted by or required by the applicable Organization Documents of such non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary);
(b) the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries may declare and make Restricted Payments payable in the form of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 7.03) of such Person;
(c) Restricted Payments made in connection with the Transactions;
(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)), 7.04 (other than a merger or consolidation involving the Borrower) or 7.07 (other than Section 7.07(a), ((j)) or ((k)) or (o));
(e) Restricted Payments that occur upon or in connection with the exercise of stock options or warrants or similar rights if such Restricted Payments represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or similar rights or tax withholding obligations with respect thereto;
(f) Restricted Payments of Equity Interests in, Indebtedness owing from and/or other securities of or Investments in, any Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiaries the assets of which consist primarily (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) of cash or Cash Equivalents received from an Investment by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary into it);
(g) the Borrower may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow Holdings or any Parent Entity to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of Holdings (or of any Parent Entity) held by any Management Stockholder, including pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any separation, stock subscription, shareholder or partnership agreement) with any employee, director, consultant or distributor of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity) or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, the aggregate Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 7.06(g) after the Closing Date together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to Holdings made pursuant to Section 7.02(j) in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause ((g)) shall not exceed:
(i) the greater of (A) $54,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 10.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of measurement in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years; plus
(ii) an amount not to exceed the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; plus
156
(iii) to the extent contributed in cash to the common Equity Interests of the Borrower and Not Otherwise Applied, the proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity, in each case to a Person that is or becomes a Management Stockholder that occurs after the Closing Date; plus
(iv) the amount of any cash bonuses, nonqualified deferred compensation or other compensation otherwise payable to any future, present or former Company Person that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests of Holdings or a Parent Entity, Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(v) payments made in respect of withholding or other similar taxes payable upon repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests of Holdings or a Parent Entity or its Subsidiaries or otherwise pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement;
(h) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to Holdings or to any Parent Entity:
(i) the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or make dividends or distributions to allow any direct or indirect corporate parent (or entity treated as a corporation for Tax purposes) thereof to pay) the Tax liability (including estimated Tax payments) to each foreign, federal, state or local jurisdiction in respect of which a Tax return is filed by Holdings (or such direct or indirect corporate parent) that includes the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries (including in the case where the Borrower and any Subsidiary is a disregarded entity for income Tax purposes), to the extent such Tax liability does not exceed the lesser of (A) the Taxes (including estimated Tax payments) that would have been payable by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries as a stand-alone Tax group (assuming that the Borrower was classified as a corporation for income Tax purposes) and (B) the actual Tax liability (including estimated Tax payments) of the Tax group that includes the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries and Holdings (or such direct or indirect corporate parent), reduced in the case of clauses (A) and (B) by any such Taxes paid or to be paid directly by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided that any such distributions attributable to Tax liability in respect of income of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted only to the extent that cash distributions were made by such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or another Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for such purpose in an aggregate amount that the Borrower determines in its reasonable discretion is necessary to pay such Tax liability on behalf of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(ii) the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay) operating costs and expenses (including, following the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, Public Company Costs) of Holdings or any Parent Entity incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(iii) the proceeds of which will be used to pay franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of such Parent Entitys) corporate or legal existence;
157
(iv) to finance any Investment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) Holdings and the Borrower shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (which shall be a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o))) or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in order to consummate such Investment;
(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay) costs, fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any successful or unsuccessful equity or debt offering permitted by this Agreement; and
(vi) the proceeds of which (A) will be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of Holdings or any Parent Entity to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) will be used to make payments permitted under Sections 7.07(e), ((h)), ((k)) and ((q)) (but only to the extent such payments have not been and are not expected to be made by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary);
(i) Restricted Payments (i) made in connection with the payment cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted by the Loan Documents or (ii) to honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and to make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection therewith;
(j) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Borrowers, Holdings or a Parent Entitys common stock following the first public offering of the Borrowers common stock or the common stock of any Parent Entity after the Closing Date, of up to the sum of (A) 6.00% per annum of the net proceeds received by or contributed to the Borrower in or from any such public offering, other than public offerings with respect to the Borrowers common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8, and (B) an amount equal to 7.00% of the Market Capitalization at the time of such public offering;
(k) repurchases of Equity Interests (i) deemed to occur on the exercise of options by the delivery of Equity Interests in satisfaction of the exercise price of such options or (ii) in consideration of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director or officer (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing), including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options or the vesting of any equity awards;
(l) payments or distributions to satisfy dissenters rights (including in connection with or as a result of the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions, whether actual, contingent or potential) pursuant to or in connection with a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer of assets or other transaction permitted by the Loan Documents;
(m) payments or distributions of a Restricted Payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if at the date of declaration such Restricted Payment would have been permitted hereunder;
(n) Restricted Payments (not consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents) made in lieu of fees or expenses (including by way of discount), in each case in connection with any receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing) permitted under Section 7.03;
158
(o) the Borrower may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity to) (i) redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire in whole or in part any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Equity Interests of any Parent Entity (Treasury Equity Interests), in exchange for, or with the proceeds (to the extent contributed to Holdings or the Borrower substantially concurrently) of the sale or issuance (other than to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of, other Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests (Refunding Equity Interests) that are Not Otherwise Applied and (ii) declare and pay dividends on any Treasury Equity Interests out of any such proceeds;
(p) redemptions in whole or in part of any of its Equity Interests for another class of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, except to the extent issued by the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary) or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests (and in no event shall such contribution or issuance so utilized increase the Available Amount) (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, except to the extent issued by the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary);
(q) Restricted Payments constituting or otherwise made in connection with or relating to any Permitted Reorganization; provided that if immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Permitted Reorganization and the transactions to be consummated in connection therewith, any distributed asset ceases to be owned by the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary (or any entity ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary), the applicable portion of the Borrower or such Restricted Payment must be otherwise permitted under another provision of this Section 7.06 (and constitute utilization of such other Restricted Payment exception or capacity);
(r) Restricted Payments; provided that the Total Net Leverage Ratio (after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Restricted Payment) for the Test Period immediately preceding the making of such Restricted Payment shall be less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio less 0.50 to 1.00 (i.e. 5.50 to 1.00); provided further that no Specified Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom;
(s) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments (the proceeds of which may be utilized by Holdings to make additional Restricted Payments) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of,
(i) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied measured immediately prior to the making of such Restricted Payment; provided that, to the extent such Restricted Payment is funded in reliance on clause (b) of the definition of Available Amount, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(ii) the greater of (A) $268,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 50.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination; and
(t) Restricted Payments not to exceed (in aggregate with any amounts under Section 7.09(a)(xi)) the Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds.
The amount set forth in Section 7.06(s)(i) may, in lieu of Restricted Payments, be utilized by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) make or hold any Investments without regard to Section 7.02 or (ii) prepay, repay redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof any Junior Financing without regard to Section 7.09(a).
159
The amount of any Restricted Payment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property subject to the Restricted Payment at the time such Restricted Payment is made. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, in the event that any Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time such Restricted Payment is made, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify, or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Restricted Payment is made or such later time, as applicable.
Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, other than:
(a) transactions between or among the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;
(b) transactions on terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate (as determined by the Borrower in good faith);
(c) the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses (including the Transaction Expenses) related to the Transactions;
(d) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity to any Affiliate of the Borrower or any former, current or future officer, director, manager, employee or consultant (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity;
(e) (i) the payment of indemnities and expenses (including reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses) to the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements and (ii) so long as no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the payment of (A) management, consulting, monitoring, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses to the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, advisory and other fees accrued in any prior year) and (B) any Sponsor Termination Fees pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements; provided that payments that would otherwise be permitted to be made under this Section 7.07(e) but for a Specified Event of Default may accrue during the continuance of such Event of Default and be paid when such Event of Default is no longer continuing;
(f) employment and severance arrangements and confidentiality agreements among Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option, profits interest and other equity plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;
(g) the licensing of trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property in the ordinary course of business to permit the commercial exploitation of Intellectual Property between or among Affiliates and Subsidiaries of the Borrower;
(h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
160
(i) any agreement, instrument or arrangement as in effect as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 to the extent the amount of consideration payable per fiscal year thereunder exceeds $10,000,000 or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Closing Date);
(j) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(d)) and Investments permitted under Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)) and Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05 (including transition service agreements and other agreements executed in connection therewith);
(k) so long as no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, customary payments by the Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith; provided that payments that would otherwise be permitted to be made under this Section 7.07(k) but for a Specified Event of Default may accrue during the continuance of such Event of Default and be paid when such Event of Default is no longer continuing;
(l) transactions in which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause ((b)) of this Section 7.07 (without giving effect to the parenthetical phrase at the end thereof);
(m) any transaction with consideration valued at less than the greater of (i) $108,000,000 (i.e. approximately 20.00% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 20.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of measurement;
(n) investments by the Sponsor in securities of Holdings or Indebtedness of Holdings, Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms;
(o) payments to or from, and transactions with, Joint Ventures;
(p) any Disposition of Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing;
(q) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to shareholders of Holdings or any Parent Entity pursuant to the stockholders agreement or the registration and participation rights agreement entered into on the Closing Date in connection therewith;
(r) the payment of any dividend or distribution within sixty days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration (i) such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) no Event of Default occurred and was continuing;
(s) transactions between the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity of the Borrower; provided however, that (i) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Borrower or such direct or indirect Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other person and (ii) such Person is not an Affiliate of Holdings for any reason other than such directors acting in such capacity;
161
(t) payments, loans (or cancellation of loans) or advances to employees or consultants that are (i) approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Holdings or either Borrower in good faith, (ii) made in compliance with applicable law and (iii) otherwise permitted under this Agreement; and
(u) transactions (i) with Holdings in its capacity as a party to any Loan Document or to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to (A) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03 (including Permitted Refinancings thereof) or (B) the Acquisition Agreement, any other agreements contemplated thereby or any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Permitted Acquisition (whether or not consummated) and (ii) with any Affiliate in its capacity as a Lender party to any Loan Document or party to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03 (including Permitted Refinancings thereof) to the extent such Affiliate is being treated no more favorably than all other Lenders or lenders thereunder.
Section 7.08 Negative Pledge. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that prohibits any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) (i) that is not a Loan Party, to pay dividends or distributions to (directly or indirectly), or to make or repay loans or advances to, any Loan Party or (ii) that is (or is required to be) a Loan Party, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person (other than Excluded Assets) for the benefit of the Lenders to secure the Obligations under the Loan Documents (other than Incremental Facilities that are not intended to be secured on a first lien basis);
provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that:
(a) (i) exist on the Closing Date, including Contractual Obligations governing Indebtedness incurred on the Closing Date to finance the Transactions, (ii) any other Contractual Obligations executed on the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of Contractual Obligations described in clauses (i) or (ii);
(b) 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 or binding with respect to any asset at the time such asset was acquired;
(c) are Contractual Obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or to the extent applicable only to Excluded Assets;
(d) are restrictions that arise in connection with (A) any Lien permitted by Section 7.01 and relate to the property subject to such Lien or (B) any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05 applicable pending such Disposition;
(e) are joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to Joint Ventures and applicable solely to such Joint Venture;
(f) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of or that secures such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof;
162
(g) are restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or agreements governing a disposition of assets, trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto;
(h) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(i) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;
(j) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(k) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or trade counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(l) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 7.01;
(m) comprise restrictions that are, taken as a whole, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower (i) no more restrictive with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than customary market terms for Indebtedness of such type, (ii) no more restrictive than the restrictions contained in this Agreement, or not reasonably anticipated to materially and adversely affect the Loan Parties ability to make any payments required hereunder;
(n) apply by reason of any applicable Law, rule, regulation or order or are required by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(o) customary restrictions contained in Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g), ((h)), ((i)), ((j)), ((k)), ((l)), ((m)), ((x)) or ((y));
(p) Contractual Obligations that are subject to the applicable override provisions of the UCC;
(q) customary provisions (including provisions limiting the Disposition, distribution or encumbrance of assets or property) included in sale leaseback agreements or other similar agreements;
(r) net worth provisions contained in agreements entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to meet its ongoing obligations;
(s) restrictions arising in any agreement relating to (i) any Cash Management Obligation to the extent such restrictions relate solely to the cash, bank accounts or other assets or activities subject to the applicable Cash Management Services, (ii) any treasury arrangements and (iii) any Hedge Agreement;
(t) restrictions on the granting of a security interest in Intellectual Property contained in non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Intellectual Property, which licenses, sublicenses and cross-licenses were entered into in the ordinary course of business; and
163
(u) other restrictions or encumbrances imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section; provided that no such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing is, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those in effect prior to the relevant amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Section 7.09 Junior Debt Prepayments; Amendments to Junior Financing Documents.
(a) Prepayments of Junior Financing. Prepay, repay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the date that is one year before the scheduled maturity thereof any Junior Financing (any such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction, a Junior Debt Repayment), except:
(i) Junior Debt Repayments with the proceeds of, or in exchange for, any (A) Permitted Refinancing or (B) other Junior Financing or Junior Lien Debt;
(ii) Junior Debt Repayments (A) made with Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity, with the proceeds of an issuance of any such Equity Interests or with the proceeds of a contribution to the capital of the Borrower after the Closing Date that is Not Otherwise Applied or (B) consisting of the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests;
(iii) Junior Debt Repayments of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owed to Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(iv) Junior Debt Repayments of Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date in connection with a transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents;
(v) Junior Debt Repayments within 60 days of giving notice thereof if at the date of such notice, such payment would have been permitted hereunder;
(vi) Junior Debt Repayments made in connection with the Transactions;
(vii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of the payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments, payments of fees, expenses, penalty interest and indemnification obligations when due, other than payments prohibited by any applicable subordination provisions;
(viii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of a payment to avoid the application of Section 163(e)(5) of the Code (an AHYDO Catch Up Payment);
(ix) Junior Debt Repayments; provided that the Total Net Leverage Ratio (after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Junior Debt Repayment) for the Test Period immediately preceding the making of such Junior Debt Repayment shall be less than or equal to the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio less 0.50 to 1.00 (i.e. 5.50 to 1.00); provided further that no Specified Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would result therefrom;
(x) Junior Debt Repayments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of:
164
(A) the Available Amount that is Not Otherwise Applied measured immediately prior to the making of such Junior Debt Repayment; provided that, to the extent such Junior Debt Repayment is funded in reliance on clause (b) of the definition of Available Amount, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and
(B) the greater of ((A)) 75.00% of Closing Date EBITDA (i.e. $402,000,000) and (B) 75.00% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower on a Pro Forma Basis as of the applicable date of determination;
(xi) Junior Debt Repayments not to exceed (in aggregate with any amounts under Section 7.06(t)) the Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds; and
(xii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of mandatory prepayments of Junior Financing with Excess Cash Flow and/or the proceeds of asset sales or casualty events, including pursuant to provisions of the type set forth in Section 2.07(b); provided that either (a) all required mandatory payments have been made to the Lenders pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.07(b) or (b) one or more Lenders has declined its pro rata share of such mandatory prepayment, and in either such case, such Junior Debt Repayments are only made with cash or cash equivalents that are not required to be applied to the repayment of Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents.
provided however, that each of the following shall be permitted: payments of closing and consent fees related to Junior Financing, indemnity and expense reimbursement payments in connection with Junior Financing, and mandatory prepayments, mandatory redemptions and mandatory purchases, in each case pursuant to the terms of Junior Financing Documentation.
The amount set forth in Section 7.09(a)(x)(A) may, in lieu of Junior Debt Repayments be utilized by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) make or hold any Investments without regard to Section 7.02 or (ii) make any Restricted Payments without regard to Section 7.06.
The amount of any Junior Debt Repayment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property used to make the Junior Debt Repayment at the time such Junior Debt Repayment is made. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.09(a), in the event that any prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction is made, divide, classify, or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date it was made or such later time, as applicable.
(b) Amendments to Junior Financing Documents. Amend, modify or change in any manner without the consent of the Administrative Agent, any Junior Financing Documentation unless (i) such amendment, modification or change is permitted pursuant to any applicable intercreditor or subordination agreement or (ii) the Borrower determines in good faith that the effect of such amendment, modification or waiver is not, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, in each case, other than as a result of a Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that, in each case, a certificate of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to such amendment or other modification, together with a reasonably detailed description of such amendment or modification, stating that the Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy such foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonably detailed description of the basis upon which it disagrees).
165
Section 7.10 Passive Holding Company.
(a) In the case of Holdings, engage in any active trade or business, it being agreed that the following activities (and activities incidental thereto) will not be prohibited:
(i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Borrower;
(ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance);
(iii) the performance of its obligations and payments with respect to (i) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03, any Qualified Holding Company Debt or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing, or (ii) the Acquisition Agreement and the other agreements contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement;
(iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance of its Equity Interests (including Qualified Equity Interests);
(v) making (i) payments or Restricted Payments to the extent otherwise permitted under this Section 7.10 and (ii) Restricted Payments with any amounts received pursuant to transactions permitted under, and for the purposes contemplated by, Section 7.06;
(vi) the incurrence of Qualified Holding Company Debt;
(vii) making contributions to the capital of its Subsidiaries;
(viii) guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in each case solely to the extent such obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not prohibited hereunder;
(ix) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group that includes Holdings and the Borrower;
(x) holding any cash or property received in connection with Restricted Payments made by the Borrower in accordance with Section 7.06 pending application thereof by Holdings;
(xi) providing indemnification to officers and directors;
(xii) making Investments in assets that are Cash Equivalents; and
(xiii) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) to (xii) of this Section 7.10(a).
(b) Holdings may not merge, amalgamate dissolve, liquidate or consolidated with or into any other Person; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person if the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or
(ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not Holdings or is a Person into which Holdings has been liquidated,
166
(A) the Successor Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia,
(B) the Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
(C) the Successor Holdings shall pledge 100% of the Equity Interest of the Borrower to the Collateral Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
(D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement and, with respect to such opinion of counsel only, including customary organization, due execution, no conflicts and enforceability opinions to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
it being agreed that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, amalgamation or Division of Holdings effected in accordance with this Section 7.10, the Borrower shall or shall cause, with respect to the surviving Person (or new direct Parent Entity or Successor Holdings) (x) promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (1) such information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and (2) a Beneficial Ownership Certification and (y) 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents as promptly as practicable.
Section 7.11 Amendments to Organizational Documents and Changes to Fiscal Year.
(a) amend, supplement, waive or otherwise modify any provision of its Organization Documents in a manner that would be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole); or
(b) make any change in its fiscal year.
167
ARTICLE VIII.
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE IX.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 9.01 Events of Default. Each of the events referred to in clauses ((a)) through (j) of this Section 9.01 constitutes an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any fee payable pursuant to the terms of a Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of Section 7.10, Holdings, fails to perform or observe any covenant contained in,
(i) Section 6.03(a), Section 6.05(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower), Section 6.18 or Article VII;
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted]; or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other covenant (not specified in Section 9.01(a) or Section 9.01((b)) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made or deemed by any Loan Party in any Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of a Loan Document shall be untrue in any material respect (or, with respect to any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be untrue in any respect) when made or deemed made; and in the case of any representation and warranty made or deemed made after the Closing Date, such representation or warranty shall remain untrue (in any material respect or in any respect, as applicable) or uncorrected for a period of thirty days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; provided that (i) this clause (d) shall be limited on the Closing Date to the Specified Representations and (ii) any breach of a representation or warranty relating to a matter described in Section 9.01(i) shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default under this Section 9.01(d) or any other provision of a Loan Document; or
(e) Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor:
(i) fails to make any payment of any principal beyond the applicable grace period, if any, whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, in respect of its Material Indebtedness; or
(ii) fails to perform or observe any other covenant contained in an agreement governing its Material Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, the effect of which failure or other event is to cause, or permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice, if required, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity, in each case pursuant to its terms;
provided that (A) this Section 9.01(e) shall not apply to any failure if it has been remedied, cured or waived, or is capable of being cured, in accordance with the terms of such Material Indebtedness and (B) Section 9.01(e)(ii) shall not apply (1) to any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; (2) to the failure to observe or perform any covenant, including any covenant in the ABL Credit Facility, that requires compliance with any measurement of financial or operational performance (including any leverage, interest coverage or fixed charge ratio or minimum EBITDA, a Financial Covenant) unless and until the holders of such Indebtedness have terminated all commitments (if any) and accelerated all obligations with respect thereto; (3) to the conversion of, or the satisfaction of any condition to the conversion of, any Indebtedness that is convertible or exchangeable for Qualified Equity Interests; (4) to a customary change of control put right in any indenture governing any such Indebtedness in the form of notes; or (5) to a refinancing of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement; or
168
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. (i) Any Loan Party (A) institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (B) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or (C) applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; (ii) any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed for a Loan Party without the application or consent of such Loan Party and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty calendar days; (iii) any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to a Loan Party is instituted without the consent of such Loan Party and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty calendar days; or (iv) an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Judgments. There is entered against a Loan Party a final, enforceable and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction 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 its obligation) or another indemnity obligation) and such judgment or order is not satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded for a period of sixty consecutive days; or
(h) Invalidity of Loan Documents. The material provisions of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, at any time after their execution and delivery and for any reason cease to be in full force and effect, except (i) as permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05), (ii) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions or (iii) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
(i) Collateral Documents and Guarantee. Any:
(i) Collateral Document with respect to a material portion of the Collateral with a fair market value exceeding the Threshold Amount after its execution and delivery shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, except (A) as otherwise permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents, (B) resulting from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or any of their agents or bailees to maintain possession or control of Collateral, (C) resulting from the making of a filing, or the failure to make a filing, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, (D) as to Collateral consisting of real property to the extent that (1) such losses are covered by a lenders title insurance policy or (2) a deficiency arose through no fault of a Loan Party and such deficiency is corrected with reasonable diligence upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof, (E) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions or (F) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
(ii) Guarantee with respect to a Guarantor that is Holdings or a Material Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect, except (A) as otherwise permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents, (B) upon the satisfaction in full of the Obligations or Termination Conditions, (C) upon the release of such Guarantor as provided for under the Loan Document or in accordance with its terms or (D) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
169
(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any Default or Event of Default occurs resulting from any action or the occurrence of any event reported publicly or otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders do not exercise any of their remedies under the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document for the two year period following the date of such Default or Event of Default has been reported publicly or otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent (an Uncalled Default), such Uncalled Default and any other Default or Event of Default which would not have arisen had such Uncalled Default not occurred shall be deemed not to be continuing automatically at the end of such two year period (regardless of whether such Default or Event of Default was still continuing at such time).
Section 9.02 Remedies upon Event of Default.
(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02(c) below, if (and only if) any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions upon written notice to the Borrower:
(i) declare the Commitments of each Lender to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments shall be terminated; and
(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest and premium 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 and each Guarantor; and
(iii) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents and/or under applicable Law;
provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law, the Commitments of each Lender 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, in each case, without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
(b) [Intentionally Omitted].
(c) Limitations on Remedies; Cures.
(i) Net Short Representations. Any notice of Default, Event of Default or acceleration provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent on behalf of or at the required or direction of one or more Lenders must be accompanied by a written Net Short Representation from each such Lender (other than an Unrestricted Lender) delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent); provided that (A) in the absence of any such written Net Short Representation, each such Lender shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on each such representation and deemed representation) and (B) no Net Short Representation shall be required to be delivered during the pendency of an Event of Default caused by a bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding. The Administrative Agent shall deliver a list of each such Lender concurrently with delivery of any such notice.
170
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted].
(iii) Continuing Defaults. Any Default or Event of Default resulting from or arising in connection with a failure to provide notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a), to deliver financial statements, certificates or other information pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.02, or to take any other action required by Article VI or any other provision of a Loan Document shall be deemed not to be continuing or existing and shall be deemed cured upon delivery of such notice, financial statement, certificate or other information or the taking of such action (without, for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to any deadline or temporal limitation applicable to such action); provided that the foregoing shall not apply (A) to the willful failure to provide notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a), (B) following the acceleration of the Obligations pursuant to Section 9.02(a)(ii) or (C) following receipt by the Borrower of written notice from the Required Lenders of any Default or Event of Default in respect of which the Required Lenders have expressly reserved their rights. Any Default or Event of Default resulting from or arising in connection with the taking of any action or the consummation of any transaction that is, in either case, prohibited by Article VII or any other provision of a Loan Document shall be deemed not to be continuing or existing and shall be deemed cured upon a Loan Party remedying (or causing to be remedied) such action or upon the unwinding of such transaction; provided that the foregoing shall not apply following the acceleration of the Obligations pursuant to Section 9.02(a)(ii) or following receipt by the Borrower of written notice from the Required Lenders of any Default or Event of Default in respect of which the Required Lenders have expressly reserved their rights.
(iv) Administrative Agent Notice. Upon, or prior to, taking any of the actions set forth in Section 9.02(a) or (b), the Administrative Agent shall, on behalf of the Required Lenders deliver a notice of Default, Event of Default or acceleration, as applicable, to the Borrower.
For the avoidance of doubt, unless a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent (and each other Secured Party) agrees that it shall not take any of the actions described in this Section 9.02 or bring any other action or proceeding under the Loan Documents or with respect to the Obligations.
Section 9.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 9.02(a)), 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 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in their capacities as such;
Next, to payment in full of Unfunded Advances/Participations (the amounts so applied to be distributed between or among, as applicable, the Administrative Agent pro rata in accordance with the amounts of Unfunded Advances/Participations owed on the date of any such distribution);
Next, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III) ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause payable to them;
171
Next, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause held by them;
Next, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and the Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause held by them; provided that that Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 9.03;
Next, to the payment of all other Obligations that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE X.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 10.01 Appointment and Authority of the Administrative Agent.
(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article X (other than Section 10.09, Section 10.11, Section 10.13, Section 10.14 and Section 10.16) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any Loan Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provision.
(b) Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. shall irrevocably act as the collateral agent under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Hedge Bank and/or 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 in 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 10.05 and Section 10.12 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 X (including Section 10.07, 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders and each other Secured Party hereby expressly
172
authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto (including the Intercreditor Agreements), as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders and each other Secured Party.
Section 10.02 Rights as a Lender. Any Lender that is also serving as an Agent (including as Administrative Agent) hereunder shall have the same rights and powers (and no additional duties or obligations) in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each Lender (if any) serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Any Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders, and may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.
Section 10.03 Exculpatory Provisions. None of the Administrative Agent, any of the other Agents, any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of the officers, partners, directors, employees or agents of the foregoing shall have any duties or obligations to the Lenders except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, an Agent (including the Administrative Agent) or any of their respective officers, partners, directors, employees or agents:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, 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 any agency doctrine of any applicable Law and 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) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary actions and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that, notwithstanding any direction by the Required Lenders to the contrary, no Agent shall be required to take any such discretionary action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt refraining from any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
173
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity; and
(d) shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents except to the extent caused by such Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct, or a breach by such Agent of its obligations under the Loan Documents as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders, in each case, provided in compliance with this Agreement (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02 and Section 11.01) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or the Required Lenders in writing.
No Agent-Related Person shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any recital, statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report, statement or agreement or other document delivered pursuant to a Loan Document thereunder or in connection with a Loan Document or referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in a Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders, Affiliated Lenders or Net Short Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender, an Affiliated Lender or a Net Short Lender or (b) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender, Affiliated Lender or Net Short Lender.
Section 10.04 Reliance by the Agents. The Agents shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, each Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable to any Lender for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
174
Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any discretionary action under any Loan Document for the benefit of the Lenders unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders 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. The Agents shall in all cases be fully protected in taking any discretionary action, or in refraining from taking any discretionary action for the benefit of the Lenders, under any Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders; provided that the Agents shall not be required to take any discretionary action that, in their opinion or in the opinion of their counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not act (or refrain from acting, as applicable) upon any direction from the Required Lenders (or other requisite percentage of Lenders) that would cause the Administrative Agent to be in breach of any express term or provision of this Agreement. The Lenders and each other Secured Party agree not to instruct the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Agent to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that would, in each case, cause it to violate an express duty or obligation under this Agreement.
Section 10.05 Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article X shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Agents and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Agents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub agent appointed by an Agent, (i) such sub agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Loan Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub agent, and (iii) such sub agent shall only have obligations to the Agent that appointed it as sub agent and not to any Loan Party, Lender or any other Person and no Loan Party, Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub agent. Each Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub agents.
Section 10.06 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders; Disclosure of Information by Agents.
(a) 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
175
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, any other Lender or 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.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement or an Assignment and Assumption and funding its Term Loan on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Required Lenders or Lenders, as applicable on the Closing Date.
(c) Each Lender acknowledges that certain Affiliates of the Loan Parties, including the Sponsor or entities controlled by the Sponsor, are Eligible Assignees hereunder and may purchase Loans and/or Commitments hereunder from the Lenders from time to time, subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 10.07 Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Administrative Agent, each Agent and each other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of any Agent, as applicable) (without limiting any indemnification obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, each Agent and each other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of any Agent) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it (including, without limitation, any action taken in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of principal, interest and fees); provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Persons own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that, no action taken (or any action not taken) in accordance with the terms of a Loan Document or 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) and no Release Action taken by an Agent or Agent-Related Person shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 10.07. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided, in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any Indemnified Liabilities in excess of such Lenders pro rata share thereof; and provided further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any Indemnified Liabilities described in the first proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 10.07 applies whether any such
176
investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that such Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrowers continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto; provided further that the failure of any Lender to indemnify or reimburse such Agent shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation in respect thereof. The undertaking in this Section 10.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and other Agents.
Section 10.08 No Other Duties; Other Agents, Lead Arrangers, Managers, Etc. Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC are each hereby appointed as Lead Arrangers hereunder, and each Lender hereby authorizes each of Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Jefferies Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC to act as Lead Arrangers in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents.
Each Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and the other Loan Documents, as applicable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers or the other Agents listed on the cover page hereof (or any of their respective Affiliates) shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except (a) in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or a Lender hereunder (or in the Administrative Agents and/or Collateral Agents capacity as a Debt Representative under any applicable Intercreditor Agreement) and (b) as provided in Section 11.01(b)(iv), and such Persons shall have the benefit of this Article X. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any agency or fiduciary or trust relationship with any Lender, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries. 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. Any Agent may resign from such role at any time, with immediate effect, by giving prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and Borrower.
Section 10.09 Resignation of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default, to appoint a successor, which shall be a Lender or a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such Lender or bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, which shall be a Lender or a bank with an office in the United States, subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default; provided that if the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be discharged
177
from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor of such Agent is appointed) and (b) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or retired Administrative Agents, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If neither the Required Lenders nor the Administrative Agent have appointed a successor Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders shall be deemed to have succeeded to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent (subject to the proviso in the sentence above). Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder 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 appropriate, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or retired Administrative Agent), and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 10.09). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article X, Section 11.04 and Section 11.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Agent-Related Persons in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable.
Section 10.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated), by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file a verified statement pursuant to Rule 2019 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that, in its sole opinion, complies with such rules disclosure requirements for entities representing more than one creditor;
(b) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.11 and Section 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
178
(c) 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 Section 2.11 and Section 11.04. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 2.11 and Section 11.04 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 Lenders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a strict foreclosure, a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (i) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (ii) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (A) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (B) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 11.01 of this Agreement), (C) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action and (D) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.
179
Section 10.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters; Exercise of Remedies.
(a) Each Agent, each Lender (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and each other Secured Party irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to be the agent for and representative of the Lenders with respect to the Guaranty, the Collateral and the Collateral Documents and agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document:
(i) Liens on any property granted to or held by an Agent or in favor of any Secured Party under any Loan Document or otherwise will be automatically and immediately released, and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and directs the Agents to enter into, and each agrees that it will enter into, the necessary or advisable documents requested by the Borrower and associated therewith, upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a Lien Release Event),
(A) the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations (other than Cash Management Obligations, Obligations in respect of Secured Hedge Agreements and contingent obligations in respect of which no claim has been made);
(B) a transfer of the property subject to such Lien as part of, or in connection with, a transaction that is permitted (or not prohibited) by the terms of the Loan Documents to any Person that is not (and is not required to be) a Loan Party;
(C) with respect to property owned by any Guarantor or with respect to which any Guarantor has rights, the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to a Guaranty Release Event;
(D) the approval, authorization or ratification of the release of such Lien by the Required Lenders or by such percentage of the Lenders as may be required pursuant to Section 11.01;
(E) such property becoming an Excluded Asset, Excluded Equity Interest or an asset owned by an Excluded Subsidiary;
(F) [reserved];
(G) any such Securitization Assets or other property becoming subject to a Securitization Financing to the extent required by the terms of such Securitization Financing; and/or
(H) in accordance with Section 6.11(b)(ii)(E) with respect to any Mortgaged Property;
(ii) upon the request of the Borrower (such request, the Release/Subordination Event) it will 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 (or not prohibited) by Section 7.01(d);
180
(iii) a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically and immediately released from its obligations under the Guaranty upon (A) such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (B) such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to be a Material Subsidiary, or (C) such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary (clauses (A)-(C), each a Guaranty Release Event), and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and directs the Agents to enter into, and each Agent agrees it will enter into, the necessary and advisable documents requested by the Borrower to (1) release (or acknowledge the release of) such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and (2) release (or acknowledge the release of) any Liens granted by such Subsidiary or Liens on the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary; it being agreed that, without affecting the timing of any such release and without it being a condition thereto, such release shall be effective at the consummation of one or more of the events described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) above;
(iv) the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will exclusively exercise all rights and remedies under the Loan Documents or with respect to the Obligations created thereunder, and neither the Lenders nor any other Secured Party will exercise such rights and remedies (other than the Required Lenders exercising such rights and remedies through the Administrative Agent); provided that the foregoing shall not preclude any Lender from exercising any right of set-off in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.09, enforcing compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 11.01(b) or filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and
(v) the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall, and the Lenders and other Secured Parties irrevocably authorize and instruct the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to, from time to time on and after the Closing Date, without any further consent of any Lender counterparty to any Cash Management Obligation or Secured Hedge Agreement or other Secured Party, enter into any Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement with the collateral agent or other representative of the holders of Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on Collateral that is not prohibited (including with respect to priority) under this Agreement.
(b) Each Agent, each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that it will promptly take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower (such actions and such execution, the Release Actions), at the Borrowers sole cost and expense, in connection with a Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or Guaranty Release Event and that such actions are not discretionary. Without limitation, the Release Actions may include, as applicable, (a) executing (if required) and delivering to the Loan Parties (or any designee of the Loan Parties) any such lien releases, mortgage releases or assignments of mortgages, discharges of security interests, pledges and guarantees and other similar discharge or release documents, as are reasonably requested by a Loan Party in connection with the release or assignment, as of record, of the Liens (and all notices of security interests and Liens previously filed) the subject of a Lien Release Event or Release/Subordination Event or the release of any applicable Guarantee in connection with a Guaranty Release Event and (b) delivering to the Loan Parties (or any designee of the Loan Parties) all instruments evidencing pledged debt and all equity certificates and any other collateral previously delivered in physical form by the Loan Parties to a Secured Party.
In connection with any Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event, Guaranty Release Event or Release Action, each of the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely and shall rely exclusively on an officers certificate of the Borrower (the Release Certificate) confirming that (a) such Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or a Guaranty Release Event, as applicable, has occurred or will upon consummation of one or more identified transactions (an Identified Transaction) occur, (b) the conditions to any such Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or
181
Guaranty Release Event have been satisfied or will be satisfied upon consummation of an Identified Transaction, and (c) that any such Identified Transaction is permitted by (or not prohibited by) the Loan Documents. The Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent will be fully exculpated from any liability and shall be fully protected and shall not have any liability whatsoever to any Secured Party as a result of such reliance or the consummation of any Release Action. A Release Certificate may be delivered in advance of the consummation of any applicable Identified Transaction.
Each Lender and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and irrevocably directs the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent to take the Release Actions and consents to reliance on the Release Certificate. The Secured Parties agree not to give any Agent any instruction or direction inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 10.11. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for, or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into, any statement in a Release Certificate, the compliance of any Identified Transaction with the terms of a Loan Document, any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral Agents Lien thereon, or contained in any certificate prepared or delivered by any Loan Party in connection with the Collateral or compliance with the terms set forth above or in a Loan Document, nor shall the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
Each relevant Agent, each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that following its receipt of an applicable Release Certificate it will take all Release Actions promptly upon request of the Borrower and in any event not later than the date that is (i) the third Business Day following the date Release Certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the date any applicable Identified Transaction described in the Release Certificate is consummated (such later date, the Release Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this Section 10.11 shall relieve or release any Loan Party from any liability resulting from a Default or Event of Default that results from an Identified Transaction or misrepresentation or omission in any Release Certificate.
(c) Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Agent, each Lender and each Secured Party hereby agree that:
(i) the authority to enforce rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law or in equity in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent or (with respect to the Collateral Documents) the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Article X for the benefit of all the Lenders and no Lender or other Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under this Agreement and under any of the other Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and all powers, rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] (iii) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.09 (subject to the terms of Section 2.15), (iv) any Lender from enforcing compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 11.01(b) or (v) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; in the event of a foreclosure or similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or
182
private sale or other disposition (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code), only the Collateral Agent (except with respect to a credit bid pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code) may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities), shall be entitled, upon instructions from the Required Lenders, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale or disposition, to use and apply any of the Loan Document Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition;
(ii) no provision of any Loan Documents shall require the creation, perfection or maintenance of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or abstracts with respect to, any Excluded Assets and any other particular assets, if and for so long as, in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent, the cost of creating, perfecting or maintaining such pledges or security interests in such other particular assets or obtaining title insurance or abstracts in respect of such other particular assets is excessive in view of the fair market value of such assets or the practical benefit to the Lenders afforded thereby; and
(iii) the Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the creation or perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that creation or 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.
Section 10.12 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 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
183
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 X, Section 11.04 and Section 11.05 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 or Holdings, as applicable, 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 10.13 Intercreditor Agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any Loan Document, to the extent the Administrative Agent enters into an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or any other Intercreditor Agreement, this Agreement will be subject to the terms and provisions of such Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or other Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and any such Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or any other Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or such other Intercreditor Agreement govern and control. The Lenders acknowledge and agree that each Agent is (i) authorized and instructed to enter into the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) authorized to, and each Agent agrees that, with respect to any secured Indebtedness, upon request by the Borrower, it shall, enter into an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or any other Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other Debt Representative of the holders of such Indebtedness unless such Indebtedness and any related Liens (including the priority of such Liens) are prohibited by Section 7.01 and Section 7.03. The Lenders hereby authorize and instruct the Administrative Agent to (a) enter into the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, any such Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement or any such other Intercreditor Agreement, (b) bind the Lenders on the terms set forth in the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any such Intercreditor Agreement and (c) perform and observe its obligations under the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any such Intercreditor Agreement. The Agents and each Secured Party agree that the Agents shall be entitled to rely and shall rely exclusively on an officers certificate of the Borrower in determining whether it is authorized or instructed to enter into an Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to this Section. Each Secured Party covenants and agrees not to give the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent any instruction that is not consistent with the provisions of this Section 10.13. In furtherance of the foregoing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, to the extent that any Loan Party is required to give physical possession or control over or with respect to any Collateral to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any other Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, such requirement to give possession or control shall be satisfied if such possession or control is given to a Debt Representative for any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien that is either pari passu or senior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations, in each case, in accordance with an Intercreditor Agreement.
Section 10.14 Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Guaranty or any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 9.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or
184
otherwise in respect of the Collateral or any Guaranty (including the release or impairment of any Collateral or Guaranty) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Cash Management Obligations or such Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.
Section 10.15 Certain ERISA Matters.
Each Lender, represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and 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 each other Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, 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:
(a) such Lender is not using plan assets (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement;
(b) 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 Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(c) (i) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a Qualified Professional Asset Manager (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (ii) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (iii) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (iv) 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 Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
(d) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
In addition, unless either Section 10.15(a) is true with respect to a Lender or a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with Section 10.15(d), such Lender further (1) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, and (2) 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 each other Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent or any other Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a
fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).
185
Section 10.16 Return of Certain Payments.
(a) Each Lender (and each Participant of the foregoing, by its acceptance of a Participation) hereby acknowledges and agrees that if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds (or any portion thereof) received by such Lender (any of the foregoing, a Recipient) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Recipient (whether or not known to such Recipient) (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a Payment) and demands the return of such Payment, such Recipient shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment as to which such a demand was made. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Recipient under this Section shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Without limitation of clause (a) above, each Recipient further acknowledges and agrees that if such Recipient receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (i) that is in an amount, or on a date different from the amount and/or date specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a Payment Notice), (ii) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, or (iii) that such Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part), in each case, it understands and agrees at the time of receipt of such Payment that an error has been made (and that it is deemed to have knowledge of such error) with respect to such Payment. Each Recipient agrees that, in each such case, it 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.
(c) Any Payment required to be returned by a Recipient under this Section shall be made in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Overnight Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. Each Recipient hereby agrees that it shall not assert and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, permitted by applicable law, hereby waives, any right to retain such Payment, and any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment or similar right to any demand by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payment received, including without limitation any defense based on discharge for value or any similar doctrine.
(d) The 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 Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds of the Borrower or any other Loan Party.
186
ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Amendments, Waivers, Etc.
(a) General Rule. 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent or ratification of the Required Lenders or such other number or percentage of Lenders may be specified herein) and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
(b) Specific Lender Approvals. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.01(a), no such amendment waiver or consent shall:
(i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender, without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that the waiver of any Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender; or
(ii) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce the amount of, any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Loan without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such payment of principal or interest, it being understood that (A) the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest, (B) the agreement, consent or waiver by the Required Facility Lenders of interest with respect to any Initial Term Loans as set forth in the paragraph immediately succeeding the table in the definition of Applicable Rate in Section 1.01 and the Required Facility Lenders of interest with respect to any other Facility from time to time subject to a similar paragraph relating to a pricing step-down, in any such case, shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of interest or any payment of fees and (C) a waiver of the waiver of any Default (other than a Default under Section 9.01(a)), Event of Default or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of interest or any payment of fees; or
(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (except as set forth in Section 11.01(e)) without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such principal or interest or Person entitled to such fee or other amount, as applicable, it being understood that (A) any change to the definitions of First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest, (B) agreements, consents, or waivers described in Section 11.01(b)(ii)(B) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest specified herein or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and (C) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of Default Rate and with respect to any Facility, only the consent of the Required Facility Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate with respect to such Facility; or
(iv) change any provision of this Section 11.01 (except as expressly set forth herein) or the definition of Required Lenders, Required Facility Lenders or Pro Rata Share or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender; or
187
(v) other than in connection with a transfer or other transaction permitted (or not prohibited) under the Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;
(vi) other than in connection with a transfer or other transaction permitted (or not prohibited) under the Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty or all or substantially all of the Guarantors, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(vii) modify Section 2.15 and 9.03 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
provided, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Designated Asset Sale will not constitute a release of substantially all assets or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty or all or substantially all of the Guarantors for any purpose under this Agreement.
(c) Other Approval Requirements. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.01(a) or Section 11.01(b);
(i) [Intentionally Omitted];
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted];
(iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, adversely affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(iv) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, adversely affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(v) Section 11.07(g) 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;
(vi) the consent of Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of Lenders under such Facility in respect of payments hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Facilities as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
(vii) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED];
(viii) the Borrower may amend or otherwise modify any provision of the Loan Documents in a manner that is more favorable to the Lenders at any time without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; provided that such amendment or modification shall not be effective until the Borrower delivers such amendment or modification to the Administrative Agent; and
188
(ix) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended (or amended and restated) to effect an Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment and/or Refinancing Amendment, in each case in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement with respect thereto.
(d) Intercreditor Agreement. No Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to an Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that is,
(i) for the purpose of adding the holders of Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt, Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt, or other Indebtedness unless such other Indebtedness and any related Liens (including the priority of such Liens) are prohibited by Section 7.01 and Section 7.03 (or a Debt Representative with respect to any such Indebtedness with respect to which it is a representative or agent) as parties thereto, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such intercreditor agreement (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), or
(ii) expressly contemplated by the Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement;
(e) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED],
(f) Additional Facilities and Replacement Loans.
(i) Additional Facilities. This Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (I) 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 Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (II) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.
(ii) Replacement Loans. The Loan Documents may be amended with the written consent of the Borrower and the Lenders providing Replacement Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing, replacement or exchange of all outstanding Term Loans of any Class (Refinanced Loans) with replacement term loans (Replacement Loans) hereunder; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Refinanced Loans plus (1) the amount of all unpaid, accrued, or capitalized interest, penalties, premiums (including tender premiums), and other amounts payable with respect to any such Refinanced Loans and (2) underwriting discounts, fees, commissions, costs, expenses and other amounts payable with respect to such Replacement Loans.
(g) Benchmark Replacement.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if:
189
(A) (x) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and (y) a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred prior to the Reference Time in connection with any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then, then:
(I) 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and under any other Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and
(II) 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and under any other 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 requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by 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 Lenders; or
(B) (I) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto has already occurred prior to the Reference Time for any setting of the then-current Benchmark and as a result the then-current Benchmark is being determined in accordance with clauses (2) or (3) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement; and
(II) (y) the Administrative Agent subsequently determines, in its sole discretion, that (w) Term SOFR and a Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto is or has becomes available and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto has occurred, (x) there is currently a market for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities utilizing Term SOFR as a Benchmark and for determining the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto, (y) Term SOFR is being recommended as the Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities by the Relevant Government Authority and (z) in any event, Term SOFR, the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto and the application thereof is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), then
then clause (1) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement will, without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, replace such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings on and from the beginning of the next Interest Period or, as the case may be, Available Tenor so long as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders prior to the commencement of such next Interest Period or, as the case may be, Available Tenor.
190
(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. 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 requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of (A) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and (B) the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto, (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 (d) 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, 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 11.01(g).
(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. 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 or LIBOR) 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.
(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrowers receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. 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 ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR.
191
(vi) Definitions. For the avoidance of doubt, any Swap Obligation shall be deemed not to be a Loan Document for purposes of this Section 11.01(g).
(h) Certain Amendments to Guaranty and Collateral Documents. The Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and related documents executed by Holdings, the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or (iii) to cause such Guaranty, Collateral Document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(i) Defaulting Lenders and Disqualified Lenders. No Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders, the Required Lenders, the Required Facility Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders or Disqualified Lender), except that (A) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender. Disqualified Lenders shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.27.
Section 11.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.02(b)), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax as follows, 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 Holdings, the Borrower the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent, to the address, fax number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, fax number, electronic mail addresses or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient); and notices deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed shall be deemed to have been given within three Business Days of such deposit; provided that no notice to any Agent shall be effective until received by such Agent. Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.02(b) shall be effective as provided in such subsection ((b)).
(b) Electronic Communication. Notices and other communications to any Agent and the Lenders may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites, including the Platform) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent;
192
provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Agent, or Lender pursuant to Article II if such Person, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
(c) Receipt. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(d) Risks of Electronic Communications. Each Loan Party understands that the distribution of materials through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution and agrees and assumes the risks associated with such electronic distribution, except to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent or any Lender as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR IN THE PLATFORM. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons or any Lead Arranger (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agents transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages). Each Loan Party, each Lender and each Agent agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, store any Borrower Materials on the Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agents customary document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Change of Address. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, fax number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
193
(g) Reliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and each Agent-Related Person from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(h) Private-Side Information Contacts. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the Private-Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lenders compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to information that is not made available through the Public-Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain Private-Side Information with respect to Holdings, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws. In the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself to not access any information disclosed through the Platform or otherwise, such Public Lender acknowledges that (i) other Lenders may have availed themselves of such information and (ii) neither the Borrower nor the Administrative Agent has (A) any responsibility for such Public Lenders decision to limit the scope of the information it has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) any duty to disclose such information to such Public Lender or to use such information on behalf of such Public Lender, and shall not be liable for the failure to so disclose or use, such information.
Section 11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No forbearance, failure or delay by any Lender or any 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 impair such right, remedy, power or privilege or 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 independent of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law. The authority to enforce rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents and with respect to the Obligations shall be limited as set forth in Section 10.11(c)(i).
Section 11.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents for all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail out-of-pocket expenses incurred on or after the Closing Date in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration 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), limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the Attorney Costs of one primary counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material
194
jurisdictions), and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents and the Lenders for all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or protection 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, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents and the Lenders taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material jurisdictions) and, solely in the event of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents and the Lenders, where the Person or Persons affected by such conflict of interest inform the Borrower in writing of such conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Persons similarly situated taken as a whole)). The agreements in this Section 11.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 11.04 shall be paid promptly following 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. Expenses shall be deemed to be documented in reasonable detail only if they provide the detail required to enable the Borrower, acting in good faith, to determine that such expenses relate to the activities with respect to which reimbursement is required hereunder. The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender may receive a benefit, including a discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with the Administrative Agent and/or such Lender, including fees paid pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Section 11.05 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, any Supplemental Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender, each Lead Arranger, each Joint Bookrunner and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, partners, shareholders, trustees, controlling persons, and other representatives (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) 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 (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the Attorney Costs of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interest of such Indemnitees (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material jurisdictions), and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between Indemnitees (where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict of interest informs the Borrower in writing of such conflict of interest), one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole),
(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 (including the reliance in good faith by any Indemnitee on any notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Loan Party),
(b) the Transaction,
(c) any Commitment, Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom,
195
(d) any actual or alleged presence or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability arising out of the activities or operations of or otherwise related to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or
(e) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether brought by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, equity holders, creditors or security holders or any other Person and any Indemnitee is a party thereto;
(all the foregoing, collectively, the Indemnified Liabilities); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that any such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (i) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any Related Indemnified Person of such Indemnitee, (ii) a material breach of any obligations of such Indemnitee under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or Related Indemnified Person including the failure to fund a Loan upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent or to take a Release Action required to be taken by the terms of this Agreement, or (iii) any dispute solely among Indemnitees or of any Related Indemnified Person of such Indemnitee other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or a Lead Arranger (or other Agent role) under a Facility and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the extent that the undertakings to indemnify and hold harmless set forth in this Section 11.05 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any applicable law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnified Person (as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), nor shall any Indemnitee 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) (other than, in the case of any Loan Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 11.05 (after the determination of a court of competent jurisdiction, if required pursuant to the terms of this Section 11.05) shall be paid within twenty Business Days after written demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 11.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 11.05 shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the foregoing obligations in any manner, neither the Sponsor, nor any other Affiliate of the Borrower (other than Holdings, the Borrower, and its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall have any liability under this Section 11.05, and each is hereby released from any liability arising from the Transactions or any transaction explicitly permitted (or not prohibited) by the Loan Documents.
196
Section 11.06 Marshaling; Payments Set Aside. None of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Loan Parties or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender (or to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender), or any Agent or any Lender enforces any security interests or exercises its right of setoff, and such payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/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 and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.
Section 11.07 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 Holdings nor the Borrower may, except as permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.10(a)(i), assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except,
(i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(b);
(ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(d) of this Section;
(iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.07(f); or
(iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(g) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Agent-Related Persons of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time upon no less than ten Business Days advance notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, unless a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, such shorter period as the Borrower may agree in its sole discretion) assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it; provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
197
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Term Loans at the time held by it, or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) with respect to any assignment not described in Section 11.07(b)(i)(A), such assignment shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than with respect to the assigning Lenders Term Loans, $1,000,000, unless in each case, each of the Administrative Agent, and so long as no Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, the Borrower otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment of Term Loans shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Term Loans assigned, except that this clause ((ii)) 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.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment, except to the extent required by Section 11.07(b)(i)(B) and the following:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is made (a) with respect to Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided however, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans if the Borrower does not respond within ten Business Days of a written request for its consent with respect to such assignment;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund; provided however, that the consent of the Administrative Agent shall not be required for any assignment to an Affiliated Lender or a Person that upon effectiveness of an assignment would be an Affiliated Lender, except for the separate consent rights of the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.07(h)(v);
(C) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]; and
(D) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The Eligible Assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required under Sections 3.01(b) through (f), as applicable. Upon receipt of the processing and recordation fee and any written consent to assignment required by Section 11.07(b)(iii), the Administrative Agent shall promptly accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register.
198
(v) No Assignments to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made,
(A) to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Borrowers or Holdings Restricted Subsidiaries except as permitted under Section 2.07(a)(iv) or under Section 11.07(l);
(B) subject to Section 11.07(h) below, any of the Borrowers Affiliates (other than Holdings or any of the Borrowers or Holdings Restricted Subsidiaries);
(C) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing persons described in this clause;
(D) to a natural person;
(E) to a Net Short Lender; or
(F) to a Disqualified Lender or Lender who has become a Disqualified Lender.
To the extent that any assignment is purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender, such transaction shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 11.27. Lenders shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Net Short Representation made (or deemed made) to it in any agreement or instrument documenting or otherwise evidencing such assignment and shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Net Short Representation therein or provided in connection with such assignment.
(vi) Defaulting Lenders Assignments. 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 sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable Pro Rata Share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full Pro Rata Share of all Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.07(c) (and, in the case of an Affiliated Lender or a Person that, after giving effect to such assignment, would become an Affiliated Lender, subject to the requirements of Section 11.07(h)), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement (except in the case of an assignment to or purchase by Holdings, the Borrower or any of Holdings Subsidiaries) and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption and as permitted by this Section 11.07, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
199
Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders 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, 11.04 and 11.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its applicable Notes, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.07(d).
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts and stated interest of the Loans owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, 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. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 11.07(c) and Section 2.13 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in registered form within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury regulations).
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Person sell participations (a Participation) to any Person (other than to (1) a natural person, a Disqualified Lender, (2) the Borrower or any of the Borrowers or Holdings Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (3) any Person described in the proviso to the definition of Eligible Assignee) (each, a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans, and other Obligations owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders 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 Lenders 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 any other Loan Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 11.01(b)(i) or Section 11.01(b)(ii) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to Section 11.07(e), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)), 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 11.07(b). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender. To the extent that any participation is purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender, such transaction shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 11.27. Lenders shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Net Short Representation made (or deemed made) to it in any agreement or instrument documenting or otherwise evidencing such Participation and shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Net Short Representation therein or provided in connection with such Participation.
200
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, Section 3.04 or Section 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent that such entitlement to a greater payment results from a change in law that occurs after the Participant acquired the participation. Each Lender that sells a participation or has a loan funded by an SPC shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant or SPC and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants or SPCs interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the Participant Register), provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participants interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to establish that any Loan 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 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 Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(f) Liens on Loans. Any Lender may, at any time without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Notes, 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.
(g) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. 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 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 (A) 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 Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05), (B) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (C) 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. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (1) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500 (which processing fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (2) 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.
201
(h) Affiliated Lenders. Any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Loans and Commitments under this Agreement (including under Incremental Term Facilities) to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender (including any Affiliated Debt Fund) through (i) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders in accordance with the procedures set forth on Exhibit L or (ii) open market purchases (including pursuant to bilateral negotiated arrangements) on a non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations applicable to Affiliated Lenders that are not Affiliated Debt Funds:
(i) Such Affiliated Lenders (A) will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender except to the extent such materials are made available to the Borrower and will not be permitted to attend or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Term Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II, (B) will not receive the advice of counsel provided solely to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, and (C) may not challenge the attorney-client privilege between the Administrative Agent and counsel to the Administrative Agent or between the Lenders and counsel to the Lenders;
(ii) the Assignment and Assumption will include either (A) a representation by the applicable Affiliated Lender acquiring or disposing of Term Loans in such assignment that, as of the date of any such purchase or sale, it is not in possession of material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities or (B) a statement by the applicable Affiliated Lender acquiring or disposing of Term Loans in such assignment that it cannot make the representation set forth in the foregoing clause (A);
(iii) (A) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held by all Affiliated Lenders that are not Affiliated Debt Funds shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans at the time of purchase or assignment (such percentage, the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap), (B) unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Required Facility Lenders, regardless of whether consented to by the Administrative Agent or otherwise, no assignment which would result in Affiliated Lenders that are not Affiliated Debt Funds holding Term Loans with an aggregate principal amount in excess of the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap, shall in either case be effective with respect to such excess amount of the Term Loans (and such excess assignment shall be and be deemed null and void); provided that each of the parties hereto agrees and acknowledges that the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by any Person in connection with any compliance or non-compliance with this Section 11.07(h)(iii) or any purported assignment exceeding the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap limitation or for any assignment being deemed null and void hereunder and (C) in the event of an acquisition pursuant to the last sentence of this clause (h) which would result in the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap being exceeded, the most recent assignment to an Affiliated Lender involved in such acquisition shall be unwound and deemed null and void to the extent that the Affiliated Lender Term Loan Cap, would otherwise be exceeded;
(iv) [Intentionally Omitted];
202
(v) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this clause ((h)), (A) the Administrative Agent shall have been provided a notice in the form of Exhibit D-2 to this Agreement in connection with each assignment to an Affiliated Lender or an Affiliated Debt Fund or a Person that upon effectiveness of such assignment would constitute an Affiliated Lender or an Affiliated Debt Fund, and (without limitation of the provisions of clause ((iii)) above) shall be under no obligation to record such assignment in the Register until three Business Days after receipt of such notice and (B) the Administrative Agent shall have consented to such assignment (which consent shall not be withheld unless the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that such assignment would violate Section 11.07(h)(iii)).
Each Affiliated Lender and each Affiliated Debt Fund agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender or an Affiliated Debt Fund. Such notice shall contain the type of information required and be delivered to the same addressee as set forth in Exhibit D-2.
(i) Voting Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in Section 11.01 or the definition of Required Lenders to the contrary for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have
(A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, or subject to Section 11.07(j), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, in each case, that does not require the consent of a specific Lender, each Lender or each affected Lender, or does not affect such Affiliated Lender that is not an Affiliated Debt Fund in a disproportionately adverse manner as compared to other Lenders holding similar obligations,
(i) Affiliated Lenders that are not Affiliated Debt Funds will be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as non-affiliated Lenders voting on such matters; and
(ii) Affiliated Debt Funds may not in the aggregate account for more than 49.9% in any calculation of Required Lenders, and any amount in excess of 49.9% will be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.07(i) above.
(j) Insolvency Proceedings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender that is not an Affiliated Debt Fund hereby agrees that, if a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be commenced by or against the Borrower or any other Loan Party at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agents sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Term Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliates of the Borrower. The Lenders and each Affiliated Lender that is not an Affiliated Debt Fund agree and acknowledge that the provisions set forth in this Section 11.07(j) and the related provisions set forth in each Assignment and Assumption entered into by an Affiliated Lender constitute a subordination agreement as such term is contemplated by, and utilized in, Section 510(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, and, as such, would be enforceable for all purposes in any case where Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has filed for protection under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors applicable
203
to Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable. Each Affiliated Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Affiliated Lenders attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Affiliated Lender and in the name of such Affiliated Lender (solely in respect of Term Loans and participations therein and not in respect of any other claim or status such Affiliated Lender may otherwise have), from time to time in the Administrative Agents discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender as set forth in this Section 11.07(j).
(k) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
(l) Assignments to Borrower, etc.
(i) Any Lender may, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to the Term Loans and the Term Loan Commitments under this Agreement to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries through (i) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with the procedures set forth on Exhibit L or (ii) open market purchases on a non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations; provided that:
(A) if the assignee is Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, upon such assignment, transfer or contribution, the applicable assignee shall automatically be deemed to have contributed or transferred the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrower for cancellation as contemplated by clause (B) below; or
(B) if the assignee is the Borrower (including through contribution or transfers set forth in clause ((A)) above or Section 11.07(l)(ii)), (1) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to the Borrower shall be deemed automatically cancelled and extinguished on the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer and (2) the 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; and
(C) the proceeds of any ABL Loans may not be used to finance any purchase or assignment pursuant to this Section 11.07(l).
(ii) Any Affiliated Lender may, in its discretion (but is not required to), assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to the Term Loans and the Term Loan Commitments under this Agreement to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (regardless of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom), on a non-pro rata basis, for purposes of cancelling such Term Loans or Term Loan Commitments, which may include contribution (with the consent of the Borrower) to the Borrower (whether through any Parent Entity or otherwise) in exchange for (A) debt on a dollar-for-dollar basis or (B) Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity) that are otherwise permitted to be incurred or issued by the Borrower (or such direct or indirect Parent Entity) at such time.
204
Section 11.08 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information in accordance with its customary procedures (as set forth below), except that Information may be disclosed,
(a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (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 and in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender (other than a Net Short Lender (x) that provides a Net Short Representation at the time of such disclosure or (y) as to which the disclosing party does not have actual knowledge that such Person is a Net Short Lender) pursuant to this clause ((a)) but only to the extent that a list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request);
(b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including the Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank or any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners);
(c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, provided that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Lead Arranger or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation;
(d) to any other party hereto (it being understood that in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender (other than a Net Short Lender (x) that provides a Net Short Representation at the time of such disclosure or (y) as to which the disclosing party does not have actual knowledge that such Person is a Net Short Lender) pursuant to this clause ((d)) but only to the extent the list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request);
(e) 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;
(f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those of this Section 11.08 (it being understood that in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender (other than a Net Short Lender (x) that provides a Net Short Representation at the time of such disclosure or (y) as to which the disclosing party does not have actual knowledge that such Person is a Net Short Lender) pursuant to this clause ((f)) but only to the extent that a list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request), to (i) any bona fide assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be an Additional Lender or (ii) any actual or prospective direct or indirect counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective obligations;
(g) with the prior written consent of the Borrower;
(h) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); or
205
(i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 11.08 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lead Arranger, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, and which source is not known by such Person to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower.
In addition, each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans, market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
For purposes of this Section 11.08, Information means all information received from or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; it being understood that all information received from Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so in accordance with its customary procedures if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders acknowledges that (A) the Information may include Private-Side Information concerning Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (B) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of Private-Side Information and (C) it will handle such Private-Side Information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, nothing in any Loan Document shall require Holdings or any of their subsidiaries to provide information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by applicable Law, (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) the disclosure of which is restricted by binding agreement not entered into primarily for the purpose of qualifying for the exclusion in this clause (iv).
Section 11.09 Set-off. If a Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, without notice to any Loan Party or to any other Person (other than the Administrative Agent), any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (other than those in a special purpose account, such as a payroll, trust, tax and fiduciary account) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to Article II and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such
206
deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (i) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.19 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 and the Lenders, and (ii) 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. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
Section 11.10 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 with respect to any of the Obligations, 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 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. If the rate of interest under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Maximum Rate, the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Maximum Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Maximum Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.
Section 11.11 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging (including in.pdf or .tif format) means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 11.12 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption, in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including 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; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.
207
Section 11.13 Survival. 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 the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of each Loan Party set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 11.04, 11.05 and 11.09 and the agreements of the Lenders set forth in Sections 2.15, 10.03 and 10.07 shall survive the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions, and the termination hereof.
Section 11.14 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
Section 11.15 GOVERNING LAW.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER (INCLUDING ANY CLAIMS SOUNDING IN CONTRACT LAW OR TORT LAW ARISING OUT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND ANY DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST) AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; provided that (i) the interpretation of the definition of Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) and whether or not such a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) has occurred for purposes of Section 4.01, (ii) the determination of the accuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation and whether as a result of any inaccuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation there has been a failure of a condition precedent set forth in Section 4.01 and (iii) the determination of whether the Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement will, in each case, be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
208
(b) BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (OTHER THAN WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS BY ANY AGENT IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT GOVERNED BY A LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL SUBJECT THERETO), OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT.
(c) EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH ((b)) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
Section 11.16 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER
209
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 11.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THE LEAD ARRANGERS), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
Section 11.17 Limitation of Liability. The Loan Parties agree that no Indemnitee shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective equity holders or creditors for or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other Loan Documents, except to the extent such liability is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnitees gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith or breach by such Indemnitee of its obligations under this Agreement. In no event, shall any party hereto, any Loan Party or any Indemnitee be liable on any theory of liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) (other than, in the case of the Borrower, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party). Each party hereto (and by its acceptance of its appointment in such capacity, each Lead Arranger and Agent) hereby waives, releases and agrees (each for itself and on behalf of its Subsidiaries) not to sue upon any such claim for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor. Each of the Secured Parties hereby releases, waives and discharges and agrees not to assert or support any other Person in respect of any claim against the Sponsor, any other direct or indirect holder of an Equity Interest in Holdings and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, partners, shareholders, trustees, controlling persons and other representatives in respect of the Obligations, the Loan Documents or any transaction (or series of related transactions) that are permitted by the Loan Documents.
Section 11.18 Use of Name, Logo, Etc. Each Loan Party consents to the publication in the ordinary course by the Administrative Agent or any Lead Arranger of customary advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using such Loan Partys name, product photographs, logo or trademark; provided that any such trademarks or logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the reputation or goodwill of any of them. Such consent shall remain effective until revoked by such Loan Party in writing to the Administrative Agent and such Lead Arranger, as applicable.
Section 11.19 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Loan Party 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 or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party 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 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.
210
Section 11.20 Service of Process. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 11.21 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates understanding that: (a) (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arms-length commercial transactions between the Agents, the Lenders and the Lead Arrangers on the one hand, and the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (ii) each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Agents and the Lead Arrangers are and have been, and each Lender is and has been, acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, have or has not been, are or is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties, its stockholders or its Affiliates (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 Person and (ii) none of the Agents, the Lead Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Agents the Lead Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve economic interests that conflict with those of the Loan Parties, their stockholders and/or their affiliates, and none of the Agents the Lead Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective 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. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 11.22 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, Holdings and the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, Holdings, each Agent, each Lender and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 11.23 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitments of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
211
Section 11.24 Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.
Section 11.25 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 the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender 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 undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
Section 11.26 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs.
(a) To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise (including the Guaranty), for any Hedge Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, QFC Credit Support, and each such QFC, a Supported QFC), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(b) 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
212
a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
Section 11.27 Disqualified Lenders.
(a) Replacement of Disqualified Lenders.
(i) To the extent that any assignment or participation is made or purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender (notwithstanding the other restrictions in this Agreement with respect to Disqualified Lenders), or if any Lender or Participant becomes a Disqualified Lender, in each case, without limiting any other provision of the Loan Documents,
(A) upon the request of the Borrower, such Disqualified Lender shall be required immediately (and in any event within five Business Days) to assign all or any portion of the Loans and Commitments then owned by such Disqualified Lender (or held as a participation) to another Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender or another Disqualified Lender), Eligible Assignee or the Borrower, and
(B) the Borrower shall have the right to prepay all or any portion of the Loans and Commitments then owned by such Disqualified Lender (or held as a participation), and if applicable, terminate the Commitments of such Disqualified Lender, in whole or in part.
(ii) Any such assignment or prepayment shall be made in exchange for an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the face principal amount of the Loans so assigned, (B) the amount that such Disqualified Lender paid to acquire such Commitments and/or Loans, and (C) the then quoted trading price for such Loans or participations, in each case without interest thereon (it being understood that if the effective date of any such assignment is not an interest payment date, such assignee shall be entitled to receive on the next succeeding interest payment date interest on the principal amount of the Loans so assigned that has accrued and is unpaid from the interest payment date last preceding such effective date (except as may be otherwise agreed between such assignee and the Borrower)).
(iii) The Borrower shall be entitled to seek specific performance in any applicable court of law or equity to enforce this Section 11.27. In addition, in connection with any such assignment, (A) if such Disqualified Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Assignment and Assumption and/or any other documentation necessary or appropriate (in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, which determination shall be conclusive) to reflect such replacement by the later of (1) the date on which the replacement Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation and (2) the date as of which such Disqualified Lender shall be paid by the assignee Lender (or, at its option, the Borrower) the amount required pursuant to this section, then such Disqualified Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation as of such date and the Borrower shall be entitled (but not obligated) to
213
execute and deliver such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation on behalf of such Disqualified Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall record such assignment in the Register, (B) each Lender (whether or not then a party hereto) agrees to disclose to the Borrower the amount that the applicable Disqualified Lender paid to acquire Commitments and/or Loans from such Lender and (C) each Lender that is a Disqualified Lender agrees to disclose to the Borrower the amount it paid to acquire the Commitments and/or Loans held by it.
(b) Amendments, Consents and Waivers under the Loan Documents. No Disqualified Lender shall have the right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or under any Loan Document. In connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders (including whether the Required Lenders or Required Facility Lenders) have provided any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or under any other Loan Document:
(i) Disqualified Lenders shall not be considered, and
(ii) Disqualified Lenders shall be deemed to have consented to any such amendment, waiver or consent with respect to its interest as a Lender in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Disqualified Lenders;
provided that (A) the Commitment of any Disqualified Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Disqualified Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Disqualified Lender (other than any Disqualified Lender described in clause (d) of the definition thereof) more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Disqualified Lender.
Each Lender that is not an Unrestricted Lender that delivers a written consent to any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or under any other Loan Document shall concurrently deliver (or in the absence of any written Net Short Representation will be deemed to have delivered, concurrently with providing such consent) to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a Net Short Representation.
(c) Limitation on Rights and Privileges of Disqualified Lenders. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.27(b)(ii), no Disqualified Lenders shall have the right to, and each such Person covenants and agrees not to, instruct the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Person in respect of the exercise of remedies with respect to the Loans or other Obligations. Further, no Disqualified Lender that purports to be a Lender or Participant (notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement that may have prohibited such Disqualified Lender from becoming Lender or Participant) shall be entitled to any of the rights or privileges enjoyed by the other Lenders with respect to voting (other than to the extent provided in Section 11.27(b)), and shall be deemed for all purposes to be, at most, a Defaulting Lender until such time as such Disqualified Lender no longer owns any Loans or Commitments.
(d) Survival. The provisions of this Section 11.27 shall apply and survive with respect to each Lender and Participant notwithstanding that any such Person may have ceased to be a Lender or Participant hereunder or this Agreement may have been terminated.
(e) Administrative Agent.
(i) Reliance. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Net Short Representation delivered, provided or made (or deemed delivered, provided or made) to it in accordance with this Agreement, shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Net Short Representation, verify any statements in any officers certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make any calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to any Derivative Instruments or Net Short Positions or any Person. The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person in acting in good faith on any notice of Default or acceleration.
214
(ii) Disqualified Lender Lists. The Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for monitoring or enforcing the list of Disqualified Lenders or for any assignment or participation to a Disqualified Lender or Net Short Lender.
(iii) Liability Limitations. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders or Net Short Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (A) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or Net Short Lender or (B) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information (including Information), to any Disqualified Lender or Net Short Lender.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
215
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
TRITON WATER INTERMEDIATE, INC., | ||
as Holdings | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT]
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as | ||
Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as | ||
Collateral Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT]
MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as Initial Term | ||
Loan Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Initial Term Loan | ||
Lender | ||
By: | /s/ John McDowell | |
Name: | John McDowell | |
Title: | Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT]
Exhibit 10.8
Execution Version
FIRST AMENDMENT TO FIRST LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 9, 2021 (this Amendment), among Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Holdings), Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Subsidiary Guarantors listed in the signature pages hereto, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, including any successor and permitted assigns thereto, the Administrative Agent), the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders (as defined below) party hereto and each of Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., RBC Capital Markets and BofA Securities, Inc., as joint lead arranger with respect to the 2021 Incremental Term Loans.
Introductory Statements
The Borrower, Holdings, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto are parties to that certain First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021 (as mended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meaning assigned to such term therein).
Pursuant to Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has requested $250,000,000 in additional Term Loans (the 2021 Incremental Term Loans and the Lenders listed on Schedule 1 hereto as providing a 2021 Incremental Term Loan on the First Amendment Effective Date, the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders) on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below), which will be added to (and form part of) the existing Initial Term Loans and (b) will be used to finance a Restricted Payment and to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith. The 2021 Incremental Term Loans are referred to herein, collectively, as the 2021 Incremental Term Facility.
Pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 11.01 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended as set forth in Section 1 below (the Credit Agreement, as so amended, the Amended Credit Agreement) to provide for the 2021 Incremental Term Facility thereunder.
The 2021 Incremental Term Lenders have agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to make the 2021 Incremental Term Loans on the First Amendment Effective Date in the amount set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (the 2021 Incremental Term Commitment).
Accordingly, pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 2.16 and 11.01 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower, Holdings, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders, in each case in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
Section 1. Amendments. The parties hereto agree that, on the First Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:
(a) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding in the appropriate alphabetical order the following new definitions:
2021 Incremental Term Lenders as defined in the First Amendment.
2021 Incremental Term Loans as defined in the First Amendment.
First Amendment means that certain First Amendment to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2021, among Holdings, the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Administrative Agent and the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders.
First Amendment Effective Date as defined in the First Amendment.
(b) Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following clause (d):
(d) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the First Amendment, each 2021 Incremental Term Lender severally agrees to make the 2021 Incremental Term Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrower, in a principal amount not to exceed the 2021 Incremental Term Commitment, on the First Amendment Effective Date. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans may not be reborrowed. The 2021 Incremental Term Loans will be deemed to be Term Loans and Initial Term Loans for all purposes under this Agreement and any Loan Documents and shall constitute a single Class with the Initial Term Loans.
(c) Section 2.07(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following clause (E), deleting the word and at the end of clause (C) and replacing the period at the end of clause (D) with ; and
(E) any prepayment of Initial Term Loans made on or prior to the date that is six months after the First Amendment Effective Date in connection with a Repricing Event shall be accompanied by the payment of the fee described in Section 2.11(g), if applicable.
(d) Clause (i) of Section 2.09(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the first fiscal quarter ending after the First Amendment Effective Date) an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.2506% of the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans (including all 2021 Incremental Term Loans) outstanding on the First Amendment Effective Date (which payments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.07); provided that at the election of the Borrower (A) this clause (i) may be amended to increase the amortization in connection with the Borrowing of any Incremental Term Loans that constitute Pari Passu Lien Debt if and to the extent necessary so that such Incremental Term Loans and the applicable existing Term Loans form the same Class of Term Loans and to the extent possible, a fungible tranche, in each case, without the consent of any party hereto, and (B) such amendments shall not decrease any amortization payment to any Lender that would have otherwise been payable to such Lender prior thereto, and
(e) Section 2.11(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (x) adding (i) at the beginning thereof and (y) adding the following at the end thereof:
(ii) The Borrower agrees to pay on the First Amendment Effective Date to each 2021 Incremental Term Lender party to the First Amendment on the First Amendment Effective Date, as fee compensation for the funding of such 2021 Incremental Term Lenders 2021 Incremental Term Commitment (as defined in the First Amendment), a closing fee (the First Amendment Closing Fee) in an amount equal to 1.44% of the stated principal amount of such 2021
2
Incremental Term Lenders 2021 Incremental Term Loan made on the First Amendment Effective Date. The First Amendment Closing Fee will be in all respects fully earned, due and payable on the First Amendment Effective Date and non-refundable and non-creditable thereafter and the First Amendment Closing Fee shall be netted against 2021 Incremental Term Loans (in the form of original issue discount) made by such 2021 Incremental Term Lender.
(f) Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following clause (h):
(h) At the time of the effectiveness of any Repricing Event that is consummated during the period commencing on the First Amendment Effective Date and ending on the day immediately prior to the date that is six months after the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each Lender with Initial Term Loans that are either repaid, converted or subjected to a pricing reduction in connection with such Repricing Event (including each Lender that withholds its consent to such Repricing Event and is replaced as a Non-Consenting Lender under Section 3.07), a fee in an amount equal to 1.00% of (i) in the case of a Repricing Event described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans prepaid (or converted) in connection with such Repricing Event and (ii) in the case of a Repricing Event described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date that are subject to an effective pricing reduction pursuant to such Repricing Event. Such fees shall be earned, due and payable upon the date of the effectiveness of such Repricing Event.
(g) Section 6.17 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following clause sentence at the end of such Section:
The Borrower will use the proceeds of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans to finance a Restricted Payment, to pay costs and expenses associated therewith and for other working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Section 2. Incremental Term Loans.
(a) Effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date and as indicated in the Amended Credit Agreement, 2021 Incremental Term Commitments shall be in the amount set forth on Schedule 1 hereto and the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders shall make the 2021 Incremental Term Loans on such First Amendment Effective Date. The 2021 Incremental Term Loans shall be deemed to be Initial Term Loans and Term Loans for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, constituting the same Class with, and having terms and provisions identical to the 2021 Term Loans made pursuant thereto (including interest rate margins), and the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders shall be Term Lenders.
(b) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Amendment constitutes an Incremental Amendment and (ii) the 2021 Incremental Term Facility constitutes an Incremental Facility in accordance with Section 2.16 of the Amended Credit Agreement.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party hereto as of the First Amendment Effective Date that:
(a) Each Loan Party has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and to perform its obligations hereunder;
3
(b) This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Loan Party hereto and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and principles of good faith and fair dealing;
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of this Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or other action by, any Governmental Authority or third party, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) will not violate (x) the Organizational Documents of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or (y) any applicable Law applicable to Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party, (iii) will not result in any breach or contravention of any Contractual Obligation relating to Material Indebtedness of a Loan Party; and (iv) will not result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries.
(d) All representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) as of such earlier date, and except that, the representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement, respectively, prior to the First Amendment Effective Date;
(e) No Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date or, after giving effect hereto, would result from the application of the proceeds from the 2021 Incremental Term Facility; and
(f) As of the First Amendment Effective Date (and after giving effect to the incurrence of the 2021 Incremental Term Facility and the application of the proceeds thereof), the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be and will continue to be, Solvent.
Section 4. Conditions.
(a) The effectiveness of this Amendment and the agreements hereunder of the Lenders party hereto shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (the date upon which this Amendment becomes effective, the First Amendment Effective Date):
(i) Certain Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following, each dated the First Amendment Effective Date unless otherwise indicated or agreed to by the Administrative Agent and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(1) counterparts of this Amendment that, when taken together, bear the signatures of (A) Holdings, (B) the Borrower, (C) each other Guarantor, (D) the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, and (E) the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders, in their capacity as such;
4
(2) a written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders and dated the First Amendment Effective Date) of Latham & Watkins LLP, New York counsel for the Loan Parties;
(3) a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower certifying that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent (after giving effect to the incurrence of the 2021 Incremental Term Facility and the application of the proceeds thereof);
(4) a certificate of Holdings, the Borrower and each other Loan Party, dated the First Amendment Effective Date, executed by any Responsible Officer (A) either (x) confirming that there have been no changes to the Organizational Documents of the Loan Parties since March 31, 2021 or such later date that such organizational documents were provided as a condition to accession to the Credit Agreement, or (y) if there have been changes to the such Organizational Documents since such date, attaching such Organizational Documents, (B) attaching signature and incumbency certificates of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (C) attaching resolutions of the Loan Parties approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of Loan Documents, to which it is a party, certified as of the First Amendment Effective Date and (D) attaching a copy of a good standing certificate (to the extent such concept exists) from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Loan Partys jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation;
(5) a Borrowing Request requesting the 2021 Incremental Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.01(b) of the Amended Credit Agreement;
(6) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that each of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.16(f) of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied; and
(ii) Fees and Expenses Paid. The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the First Amendment Effective Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Fried, Frank Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
(iii) Compliance with Credit Agreement. The conditions precedent set forth in Section 2.16 of the Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied both before and after giving effect to the incurrence of the 2021 Incremental Term Facility and the use of proceeds thereof.
(iv) No Event of Default. Prior to and immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Amendment, no Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing.
5
(v) Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) as of such earlier date, and except that, the representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement, respectively, prior to the First Amendment Effective Date.
Section 5. Expenses; Indemnity; Fiduciary Duty. As and to the extent provided in Section 11.04 of the Credit Agreement, each Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with this Amendment, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Fried, Frank Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent. Sections 11.04 and 11.21 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated by reference herein as if such Sections appeared herein, and shall apply to the activities of Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc. (together with its affiliates) in its capacity as arranger in connection with this Amendment, mutatis mutandis.
Section 6. Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Amendment may be delivered by facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signature and Records Act or other electronic transmission of the relevant signature pages hereof, and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing also applies to any modification or supplement to this Amendment and to each document delivered in connection herewith. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other parties that it has the corporate capacity and authority to execute this Amendment through electronic mean and that there are no restrictions for doing so in that partys constitutive documents.
Section 7. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Amendment and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.
Section 8. Headings. The headings of this Amendment are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section 9. Effect of Amendment. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to this Agreement, hereunder, hereof, herein, or words of like import, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, by means of words like thereunder, thereof and words of like import), shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement
6
as amended hereby, and this Amendment and the Credit Agreement shall be read together and construed as a single instrument. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document. The parties hereto hereby consent to the incurrence of the Loans contemplated herein upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Upon the First Amendment Effective Date, all conditions and requirements set forth in the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents relating to the effectiveness of this Amendment and the incurrence of the Loans contemplated herein shall be deemed satisfied.
Section 10. Acknowledgement and Affirmation. Each of the Loan Parties hereby (i) acknowledges and agrees that the 2021 Incremental Term Loans are Term Loans and each 2021 Incremental Term Lender is a Term Lender, and that all of the obligations of the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the Collateral Agreement and any other Security Documents) to which they are a party are reaffirmed and remain in full force and effect on a continuous basis, (ii) reaffirms its prior grant and the validity of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Security Documents for the benefit of the Secured Parties (including the 2021 Incremental Term Lenders), (iii) affirms, acknowledges and confirms that, notwithstanding the effectiveness of this Amendment, after giving effect to this Amendment, the Guaranty and the Liens created pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement and the Security Documents for the benefit of the Secured Parties continue to be in full force and effect after giving effect to this Amendment and shall extend to secure and guarantee (as the case may be) the Obligations under (and as defined in) the Amended Credit Agreement and (iv) agrees that the Obligations include, among other things and without limitation, the prompt and complete payment and performance by each Borrower when due and payable (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of principal and interest on, and premium (if any) on, the 2021 Incremental Term Facility under the Amended Credit Agreement and that the Obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are included in the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement and the other Security Documents). Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the terms of this Amendment do not constitute a novation but, rather, an amendment of the terms of a pre-existing Indebtedness and related agreement, as provided herein. The execution of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or Lenders, constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents or serve to effect a novation of the Obligations, nor in any way limit, impair or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle Holdings or the Borrower to a further consent to, or a further waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Amended Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances.
[signature pages follow]
7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this First Amendment as of the date first above written.
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
TRITON WATER INTERMEDIATE, INC., as Holdings | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: Tony W. Lee | ||
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Triton First Amendment]
BLUETRITON BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
BLUETRITON BRANDS INC. , as | ||
Subsidiary Guarantor | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
BLUETRITON BRANDS SERVICES, INC., as | ||
Subsidiary Guarantor | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Triton First Amendment]
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as | ||
Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as | ||
Collateral Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature page to Triton First Amendment]
MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as 2021 Incremental Term Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Brendan MacBride | |
Name: | Brendan MacBride | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature page to Triton First Amendment]
Exhibit 10.9
EXECUTION VERSION
PROJECT TRITON
ABL REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of March 31, 2021, by and among
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Borrower
THE OTHER BORROWERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
TRITON WATER INTERMEDIATE, INC.,
as Holdings
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO
BOFA SECURITIES, INC., MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., RBC CAPITAL
MARKETS1, MIZUHO BANK, LTD. AND CREDIT SUISSE LOAN FUNDING LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners and
US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and TRUIST BANK
as Co-Documentation Agents
1 | RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets business of Royal Bank of Canada and its Affiliates. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I. |
| |||||
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
| |||||
Section 1.01 |
Defined Terms | 2 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 87 | ||||
Section 1.03 |
Accounting and Finance Terms; Accounting Periods; Unrestricted Subsidiaries; Determination of Fair Market Value | 88 | ||||
Section 1.04 |
Rounding | 89 | ||||
Section 1.05 |
References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. | 89 | ||||
Section 1.06 |
Times of Day | 89 | ||||
Section 1.07 |
[Reserved] | 89 | ||||
Section 1.08 |
Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Acquisitions; Basket and Ratio Compliance | 89 | ||||
Section 1.09 |
Currency Equivalents Generally | 93 | ||||
Section 1.10 |
[Reserved] | 93 | ||||
Section 1.11 |
Benchmark Replacement | 94 | ||||
ARTICLE II. |
| |||||
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS |
| |||||
Section 2.01 |
Revolving Loans | 94 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Protective Advances | 96 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Swing Line Loans | 96 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Issuance of Letters of Credit and Purchase of Participations Therein | 99 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Conversion/Continuation | 107 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Availability | 108 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Prepayments | 109 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 111 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Repayment of Loans | 112 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Interest | 112 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Fees | 113 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 114 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Evidence of Indebtedness | 115 | ||||
Section 2.14 |
Payments Generally | 115 | ||||
Section 2.15 |
Sharing of Payments, Etc. | 117 | ||||
Section 2.16 |
Incremental Borrowings | 118 | ||||
Section 2.17 |
[Reserved] | 120 | ||||
Section 2.18 |
Extensions of Loans | 120 | ||||
Section 2.19 |
Defaulting Lenders | 122 | ||||
Section 2.20 |
Judgment Currency | 126 | ||||
Section 2.21 |
Reserves; Changes to Eligibility Criteria | 126 | ||||
Section 2.22 |
Currency Equivalents | 126 |
ARTICLE III. |
| |||||
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
| |||||
Section 3.01 |
Taxes | 127 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Illegality | 131 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 131 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans | 132 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Funding Losses | 133 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation | 134 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances | 135 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Survival | 136 | ||||
ARTICLE IV. |
| |||||
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS |
| |||||
Section 4.01 |
Conditions to Initial Borrowing | 136 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Conditions to All Borrowings After the Closing Date | 139 | ||||
ARTICLE V. |
| |||||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
| |||||
Section 5.01 |
Organization, Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws | 140 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention | 140 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Governmental Authorization | 141 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Binding Effect | 141 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 141 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Litigation | 142 | ||||
Section 5.07 |
Labor Matters | 142 | ||||
Section 5.08 |
Ownership of Property; Liens | 142 | ||||
Section 5.09 |
Environmental Matters | 142 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Taxes | 143 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
[Reserved] | 143 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Subsidiaries | 143 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 143 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Disclosure | 143 | ||||
Section 5.15 |
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 144 | ||||
Section 5.16 |
Solvency | 144 | ||||
Section 5.17 |
USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and OFAC | 144 | ||||
Section 5.18 |
Collateral Documents | 144 | ||||
Section 5.19 |
Use of Proceeds | 145 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. |
| |||||
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 6.01 |
Financial Statements | 145 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information | 146 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Notices | 149 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Payment of Certain Taxes | 149 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 149 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties | 150 |
ii
Section 6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance | 150 | ||||
Section 6.08 |
Compliance with Laws | 150 | ||||
Section 6.09 |
Books and Records | 151 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Inspection Rights | 151 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security | 152 | ||||
Section 6.12 |
Further Assurances | 153 | ||||
Section 6.13 |
Designation of Subsidiaries | 153 | ||||
Section 6.14 |
Cash Receipts | 154 | ||||
Section 6.15 |
Change in Nature of Business | 156 | ||||
Section 6.16 |
Post-Closing Matters | 156 | ||||
Section 6.17 |
Use of Proceeds | 156 | ||||
Section 6.18 |
Company Specified Representations | 157 | ||||
Section 6.19 |
Designation of Borrowers | 157 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. |
| |||||
NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 7.01 |
Liens | 158 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Investments | 163 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
Indebtedness | 167 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Fundamental Changes | 171 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Dispositions | 174 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Restricted Payments | 176 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 180 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Negative Pledge | 182 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
Junior Debt Prepayments; Amendments to Junior Financing Documents | 184 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Passive Holding Company | 186 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Amendments to Organizational Documents and Changes to Fiscal Year | 187 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. |
| |||||
FINANCIAL COVENANT |
| |||||
Section 8.01 |
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | 188 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Borrowers Right to Cure | 188 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. |
| |||||
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
| |||||
Section 9.01 |
Events of Default | 189 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Remedies upon Event of Default | 192 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Application of Funds | 192 | ||||
ARTICLE X. |
| |||||
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS |
| |||||
Section 10.01 |
Appointment and Authority of the Administrative Agent | 194 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Rights as a Lender | 195 | ||||
Section 10.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 195 | ||||
Section 10.04 |
Reliance by the Agents | 196 | ||||
Section 10.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 197 |
iii
Section 10.06 |
Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders; Disclosure of Information by Agents | 197 | ||||
Section 10.07 |
Indemnification of Agents | 198 | ||||
Section 10.08 |
No Other Duties; Other Agents, Lead Arrangers, Managers, Etc. | 199 | ||||
Section 10.09 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent | 199 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding | 200 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters; Exercise of Remedies | 202 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents | 206 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Intercreditor Agreements | 206 | ||||
Section 10.14 |
Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements | 207 | ||||
Section 10.15 |
Certain ERISA Matters | 207 | ||||
Section 10.16 |
Return of Certain Payments | 208 | ||||
ARTICLE XI. |
| |||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
| |||||
Section 11.01 |
Amendments, Waivers, Etc. | 209 | ||||
Section 11.02 |
Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies | 215 | ||||
Section 11.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies | 218 | ||||
Section 11.04 |
Attorney Costs and Expenses | 218 | ||||
Section 11.05 |
Indemnification by the Borrower | 219 | ||||
Section 11.06 |
Marshaling; Payments Set Aside | 220 | ||||
Section 11.07 |
Successors and Assigns | 221 | ||||
Section 11.08 |
Confidentiality | 226 | ||||
Section 11.09 |
Set-off | 227 | ||||
Section 11.10 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 228 | ||||
Section 11.11 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 228 | ||||
Section 11.12 |
Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents | 228 | ||||
Section 11.13 |
Survival | 229 | ||||
Section 11.14 |
Severability | 230 | ||||
Section 11.15 |
GOVERNING LAW | 230 | ||||
Section 11.16 |
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY | 231 | ||||
Section 11.17 |
Limitation of Liability | 232 | ||||
Section 11.18 |
Use of Name, Logo, Etc. | 232 | ||||
Section 11.19 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 232 | ||||
Section 11.20 |
Service of Process | 232 | ||||
Section 11.21 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 232 | ||||
Section 11.22 |
Binding Effect | 233 | ||||
Section 11.23 |
Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights | 233 | ||||
Section 11.24 |
Headings | 233 | ||||
Section 11.25 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 233 | ||||
Section 11.26 |
Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 234 | ||||
Section 11.27 |
Disqualified Lenders | 234 |
iv
SCHEDULES
2.01 | Commitments | |
2.04 | Existing Letters of Credit | |
5.06 | Litigation | |
5.07 | Labor Matters | |
5.08 | [Reserved] | |
5.12 | Subsidiaries | |
6.14 | Cash Receipts | |
6.16 | Post-Closing Matters | |
7.01 | Existing Liens | |
7.02 | Existing Investments | |
7.03 | Existing Indebtedness | |
7.07 | Existing Agreements, Instruments or Arrangements with Affiliates | |
11.02 | Administrative Agents Office, Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
Form of
A-1 | Committed Loan Notice | |
A-2 | Conversion/Continuation Notice | |
A-3 | Issuance Notice | |
A-4 | Swing Line Request | |
B-1 | Revolving Loan Note | |
B-2 | Swing Line Note | |
C | Compliance Certificate | |
D-1 | Assignment and Assumption | |
D-2 | [Reserved] | |
E | Guaranty | |
F | Security Agreement | |
G-1 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-2 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-3 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
G-4 | Non-Bank Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships or Pass-Thru Entities For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes) | |
H | Global Intercompany Note | |
I | Solvency Certificate | |
J | Prepayment Notice | |
K | Form of Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement | |
L | [Reserved] | |
M | Borrowing Base Certificate | |
N | Borrower Joinder |
ABL REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
This ABL REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 31, 2021, by and among Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), each other Borrower from time to time party hereto, Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Holdings), Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the Administrative Agent), Bank of America, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, including any successor thereto, the Collateral Agent) and Swing Line Lender, each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as an agent, BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (collectively, the Lead Arrangers), each Issuing Bank from time to time party hereto, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the Lenders and, individually, a Lender). Capitalized terms used herein are defined as set forth in Section 1.01.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
The Borrower has requested that from time to time (including on the Closing Date upon satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV), the Revolving Lenders make Revolving Loans, the Swing Line Lender make Swing Line Loans and the Issuing Banks issue Letters of Credit, in each case, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Borrower will directly or indirectly acquire (the Acquisition) the Acquired Business (as defined below).
On or prior to the Closing Date, the Sponsor, Co-Investors and Company Persons will, directly or indirectly, contribute (the Equity Contribution) to the Borrower (or a Parent Entity of the Borrower) an aggregate amount of cash and/or rollover equity that represents not less than 27.0% (the Minimum Equity Contribution) of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date, (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes (as defined below) issued on the Closing Date and (c) the amount of such cash and fair market value of rollover equity contributed, in each case, on the Closing Date; provided that the amount of any Indebtedness incurred for the following purposes will be excluded: (i) Indebtedness incurred to finance any original issue discount or upfront fees in connection with the Transactions from the exercise of any market flex or securities demand provisions applicable to the Borrower and (ii) any Revolving Loans (as defined below) borrowed on the Closing Date; provided further, following the consummation of the Transactions, the Sponsor will control a majority of the voting Equity Interests of the Borrower.
On the Closing Date, the Borrower, as issuer, will enter into the Notes Indenture pursuant to which the Borrower will issue Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $770,000,000.
On the Closing Date, the Borrower enter into the Term Loan Credit Agreement pursuant to which certain financial institutions have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower, including in the form of term loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount of $2,550,000,000.
The proceeds of any Initial Revolving Loans will be used to finance the Transactions, for payment of Transaction Expenses, for working capital purposes and general corporate purposes and to finance transactions not prohibited by this Agreement. The applicable Lenders have indicated their willingness to make Loans, and each Issuing Bank has indicated its willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject only 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 have the meanings set forth below:
ABL Priority Collateral has the meaning assigned to such term in the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement.
Account has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.
Account Debtor means any Person obligated on an Account, including, without limitation, a credit card or debit card issuer and a credit card or debit card processor.
Accounting Principles means:
(a) with respect to financial statements of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business prepared prior to the Closing Date, that such statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS; and
(b) with respect to financial statements of the Borrower prepared after the Closing Date, that such statements are prepared in accordance with (i) IFRS or (ii) upon notification to the Administrative Agent, GAAP; provided that, once made, such election shall be irrevocable until the Maturity Date.
If the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision of a Loan Document to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in IFRS or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of GAAP, or a change 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 IFRS or in the application thereof (or such adoption of GAAP, or change thereto or in the application thereof), then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of IFRS (or GAAP, as applicable) 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. As used herein, Accounting Principles shall also refer to either IFRS or GAAP as the accounting standard in effect at such time or at the time such financial statements were prepared, as applicable, pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, as context shall require.
Accounts Receivable Component means:
(a) with respect to all Eligible Accounts Receivable owed by any Account Debtor whose securities have an Investment Grade Rating, the Book Value of such Eligible Accounts Receivable multiplied by 90.0%;
(b) with respect to all Eligible Accounts Receivable owed by any Account Debtor whose securities do not have an Investment Grade Rating, the Book Value of Eligible Accounts Receivable multiplied by 85.0%;
(c) with respect to all Eligible Unbilled Accounts Receivable, the Book Value of Eligible Unbilled Accounts Receivable multiplied by 80.0%; and
2
(d) with respect to all Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables, the Book Value of Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables multiplied by 90.0%.
Acquired Accounts Receivable Component means the net Book Value of Eligible Accounts Receivable acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition multiplied by 70.0%.
Acquired Borrowing Base Component means, with respect to any Permitted Investment, (i) until the earlier of (x) the date on which the Administrative Agent receives a Report in respect of the Accounts and Inventory of the target of such acquisition showing results reasonably satisfactory to it and (y) the date that is 120 days after such acquisition, the sum of the Acquired Accounts Receivable Component and the Acquired Inventory Component and (ii) thereafter, $0; provided that, subject to the immediately following proviso, during such period, such Accounts and such Inventory shall constitute Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory, respectively, for all purposes under this Agreement other than for purposes of clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Borrowing Base; provided, further, if the inclusion of all such Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory acquired pursuant to any Permitted Investment in the Acquired Borrowing Base Component, would, in the aggregate, cause the Borrowing Base calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such acquisition (the Post-Acquisition Borrowing Base) to exceed the Borrowing Base in existence at such time prior to giving effect to such acquisition (the Pre- Acquisition Borrowing Base) by more than 15.0%, then the Acquired Borrowing Base Component shall exclude all such Accounts and Inventory to the extent such Accounts and Inventory would cause the Post- Acquisition Borrowing Base to exceed the Pre-Acquisition Borrowing Base by more than 15.0%; provided, the Administrative Agent shall take such actions as are reasonably required to obtain or prepare a Report within 120 days of such acquisition of such Accounts and such Inventory (which Report shall be at the expense of the Borrower and shall not be considered a limitation on field examinations or inventory appraisals at the expense of the Borrower provided in Section 6.10(b)) promptly upon the request of the Borrower.
Acquired Business means all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Nestlé Waters North America Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries and certain related assets.
Acquired Inventory Component means the net Book Value of Eligible Inventory acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition multiplied by 50.0%.
Acquisition has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
Acquisition Agreement means the Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2021, by and among NESTLÉ S.A. and the Borrower (and any other parties from time to time party thereto).
Acquisition Agreement Representations means such of the representations and warranties made with respect to the Acquired Business in the Acquisition Agreement to the extent a breach of such representations and warranties is material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such).
Acquisition Date means the date or time that the Acquisition is required to be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement.
Acquisition Transaction means the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions, including by merger or otherwise) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all the property, assets or business of another Person, or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of, any Person, or of a majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of any Person (including any Investment which serves to increase the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys
3
respective equity ownership in any Joint Venture or other Person to an amount in excess (or further in excess) of the majority of the outstanding Equity Interests of such Joint Venture or other Person).
Additional Lender means, at any time, any bank, other financial institution or institutional investor that, in any case, is not an existing Lender and that agrees to provide any portion of any Incremental Loan in accordance with Section 2.16; provided that each Additional Lender (other than any Person that is an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund of a Lender at such time) shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and/or the Issuing Banks (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), in each case to the extent any such consent would be required from the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and/or the Issuing Banks under Section 11.07(b)(iii)(B), (C), and/or (D), respectively, for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Lender.
Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate means, with respect to any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, the Eurocurrency Rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Eurocurrency Rate based on clause (b) of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall in no event be less than 0.00% per annum with respect to (a) Initial Revolving Loans made to the Borrower or any Co-Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and (b) all other Revolving Loans unless an alternate Eurocurrency Rate floor is specifically noted in the documentation with respect to such other Revolving Loans or such documentation with respect to such other Revolving Loans specifically provides that there shall be no Eurocurrency Rate floor. The Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate will be adjusted automatically as to all Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Statutory Reserve Rate.
Adjustment Date means the first day of each month, as applicable.
Administrative Agent has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Administrative Agents Office means the Administrative Agents address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, 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 U.K. 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. Controlled has the meaning correlative thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Lead Arrangers, the Agents, or their respective lending affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.
Agent Parties has the meaning specified in Section 11.02(e).
4
Agent-Related Persons means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, attorney-in-fact, partners, trustees, advisors and other representatives of such Persons and of such Persons Affiliates.
Agents means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any), the Joint Bookrunners and the Lead Arrangers.
Aggregate Commitments means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
Agreement means this ABL Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
Agreement Currency has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(a).
AHYDO Catch Up Payment has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(a)(viii).
Alternative Currencies means, in the case of Revolving Loans, Incremental Facilities, Extended Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit, any currency agreed to by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and (i) each Revolving Lender providing such Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Facilities, Extended Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit and (ii) solely in the case of Letters of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank; provided, in each case, that each such currency is a lawful currency that is readily available, freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, not restricted and available in the London interbank market.
Ancillary Fees has the meaning specified in Section 11.01(b)(viii).
Annual Financial Statements means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business as of December 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in parent company net investment and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, in each case, prior to giving effect to the Transactions.
Applicable Commitment Fee means a percentage per annum that shall be equal to,
(a) for each day from the Closing Date until the last day of the first full fiscal quarter completed after the Closing Date, 0.375% per annum, and
(b) thereafter, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption Applicable Commitment Fee based upon the average daily Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments for the immediately preceding month then-ended, expressed as a percentage of the Aggregate Commitments:
Category |
Total Utilization of
Revolving |
Applicable | ||
Category 1 |
Greater than or equal to 50.0% | 0.25% | ||
Category 2 |
Less than 50.0% | 0.375% |
provided that the Applicable Commitment Fee shall be adjusted monthly on each Adjustment Date based upon the average daily Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments in accordance with the table above.
5
Applicable Decimal Place has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
Applicable Indebtedness has the meaning specified in the definition of Weighted Average Life to Maturity.
Applicable Law means, as to any Person, all applicable Laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.
Applicable Rate means a percentage per annum equal to the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption Alternate Base Rate Spread or Eurocurrency Rate Spread, respectively, based upon the Average Historical Excess Availability as of the most recent Adjustment Date prior to such day, expressed as a percentage of the Maximum Borrowing Amount:
Category |
Average Historical Excess |
Alternate Base |
Eurocurrency Rate | |||
Category 1 |
Above 66.7% | 0.50% | 1.50% | |||
Category 2 |
Equal to or below 66.7% and above 33.3% |
0.75% | 1.75% | |||
Category 3 |
Equal to or below 33.3% | 1.00% | 2.00% |
The Applicable Rate shall be adjusted monthly on a prospective basis on each Adjustment Date based upon the Average Historical Excess Availability in accordance with the table above; provided that if a Borrowing Base Certificate is not delivered when required pursuant to Section 6.02(e), the Applicable Rate shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth above in Category 3 until a Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered in compliance with Section 6.02(e).
Appropriate Lender means, at any time, with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class.
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.
Assignment and Assumption means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Attorney Costs means all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail fees, expenses, charges 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 the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles).
Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b)(iii).
6
Available Equity Amount means, at any time (the Available Equity Amount Reference Time), an amount equal to, without duplication, the sum of the following (but only to the extent Not Otherwise Applied):
(a) | the amount of any capital contributions to Net Cash Proceeds from Permitted Equity Issuances by Holdings that are received in cash by Holdings and, in each case, contributed in cash to the Borrower and applied for usage as Available Equity Amount no later than 365 days after receipt of such amounts in cash to the extent not otherwise applied, but excluding all proceeds from the issuance of Disqualified Equity Interests and Specified Equity Contributions, plus |
(b) | to the extent not reflected as a return on Investment for the purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, the aggregate amount of all dividends, returns, interests, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts (in each case, to the extent paid in cash or Cash Equivalents) received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Borrower on Investments made using the Available Equity Amount during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date through and including the Available Equity Amount Reference Time and applied for usage as Available Equity Amount no later than 365 days after receipt of such amounts in cash (not to exceed the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such Investment at the time of the receipt of such cash dividend, return, interest, profit, distribution, income or other amount and (y) the fair market value of such Investment at the time it was invested), minus |
(c) | the sum, without duplication, and, without taking into account the proposed portion of the Available Equity Amount calculated above to be used at the applicable Available Equity Amount Reference Time, of: |
(i) | the aggregate amount of any Investments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary using the Available Equity Amount after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time; |
(ii) | the aggregate amount of any Restricted Payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary using the Available Equity Amount after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time; and |
(iii) | the aggregate amount Junior Debt Repayments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary using the Available Equity Amount after the Closing Date and prior to the Available Equity Amount Reference Time; |
provided that during a Cash Dominion Period, (A) the Available Equity Amount shall not be available to be used and (B) the period of time for use set forth in clause (a) above shall be tolled until after such Cash Dominion Period.
Available Equity Amount Reference Time has the meaning specified in the definition of Available Equity Amount.
Available Tenor means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark or (y) otherwise, any 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, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any tenor for such Benchmark that is removed from the definition of Interest Period pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 11.01(g).
7
Average Historical Excess Availability means, at any Adjustment Date, the average daily Excess Availability for the period immediately preceding such Adjustment Date (with the Borrowing Base at such time for any such date used to determine Excess Availability, calculated by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to such day pursuant to Section 6.02(e)).
Bail-In Action means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of any 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 of America means Bank of America, N.A.
Bank Products Reserves means all reserves established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion for Cash Management Obligations and Secured Hedge Agreements then outstanding.
Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate on such day for an Interest Period of one month plus 1.00% (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Base Rate with respect to any Initial Revolving Loans shall in no event be less than 1.00% per annum and shall not be available as to any Alternative Currency.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
Benchmark means, initially, LIBOR; provided that, if a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred with respect to LIBOR 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 (i) of Section 11.01(g).
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) | the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
(2) | the sum of: (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
(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 |
8
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 U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto; |
provided that, in the case of clause (1) of this definition, 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.
If at any time the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) of this definition 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 that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement; |
(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 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark; and |
(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 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date 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 Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; |
provided that, (x) 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 and (y) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, more than one tenor of such Benchmark is available as of the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date
9
and the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement that will replace such Benchmark in accordance with Section 11.01(g) will not be a term rate, the Available Tenor of such Benchmark for purposes of this definition of Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall be deemed to be, with respect to each Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement having a payment period for interest calculated with reference thereto, the Available Tenor that has approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustments) as such payment period.
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of ABR, 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 the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the 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 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. |
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 the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
10
(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 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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), 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 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 11.01(g) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 11.01(g).
Beneficial Ownership Certification means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan means any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such employee benefit plan or plan.
BHC Act Affiliate of 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.
Blocked Account has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b).
11
Blocked Account Agreement has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b).
Board of Directors means, as to any Person, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such entity, and the term directors means members of the Board of Directors.
Book Value means the book value as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
Borrower (i) means, as of the Closing Date, Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and (ii) from and after the date of joinder of any Co-Borrower pursuant to Section 6.19, shall (x) constitute a collective reference to all Borrowers and Co-Borrowers that are party to the Credit Agreement as of such date, (y) constitute a reference to each such Borrower or Co-Borrower individually or (z) refer to such applicable Borrower, in each case, as the context may require.
Borrower Materials has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Borrowing means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.
Borrowing Base means, (i) from the Closing Date until the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the initial Report pursuant to Section 6.10, the Closing Date Borrowing Base, and (ii) at any time thereafter, an amount equal to (a) the Accounts Receivable Component, plus (b) the Inventory Component, plus (c) the Qualified Cash Component, plus (d) any Acquired Borrowing Base Component, minus (e) the amount of all Reserves in effect as of such date of determination, as the same may at any time and from time to time be established in accordance with Section 2.21. The Borrowing Base as calculated pursuant to clause (ii) of the previous sentence at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(e) and Reserves established pursuant to Section 2.21.
Borrowing Base Certificate means a certificate from the senior vice president (finance), chief financial officer, treasurer, manager of treasury activities or assistant treasurer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit M, as such form, subject to the terms hereof, may from time to time be modified as agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, or such other form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, and with such changes therein as may be required by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion to reflect the components of and Reserves against the Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder from time to time, together with appropriate exhibits, schedules, supporting documentation and additional reports as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the jurisdiction where the Administrative Agents Office is located (which, as of the date of this Agreement, is New York, New York) and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
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
12
reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles).
Capitalized Leases means all capital leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with the Accounting Principles as in effect on the Closing Date (but without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles), 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 in accordance with the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles) as adopted by the Borrower and as in effect on the Closing Date.
Captive Insurance Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).
Cash Collateral Account means an account held at, and subject to the sole dominion and control of, the Collateral Agent.
Cash Collateralize means, in respect of an Obligation, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral in Dollars, at a location and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and Cash Collateralization has a corresponding meaning). Cash Collateral shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
Cash Dominion Period means (a) each period beginning on the occurrence of a Specified ABL Event of Default and ending on the date that such Specified ABL Event of Default has been cured or waived and (b) each period beginning on the date that Specified Excess Availability shall have been less than the greater of (x) 10.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (y) $25,000,000 for five consecutive Business Days and ending on the date that Specified Excess Availability shall have been no less than the greater of (x) 10.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (y) $25,000,000 for 20 consecutive calendar days (this clause (b), a Liquidity Condition). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Borrowings made on the Closing Date shall not be deemed to give rise to a Liquidity Condition unless and until a Borrowing is made after the Closing Date and a Liquidity Condition subsequently occurs.
Cash Equivalents means any of the following types of Investments (including for the avoidance of doubt, cash), to the extent owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(a) Dollars, euros, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and each Alternative Currency;
(b) local currencies held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business and not for speculation;
(c) readily marketable direct obligations 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 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, demand deposits, bankers acceptances with
13
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 $500,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof as of the date of such investment);
(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (c) and (d) above or clause (h) below entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;
(f) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moodys or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of creation thereof;
(g) marketable short-term money market and similar highly liquid funds having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from Moodys or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);
(h) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moodys or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(i) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency);
(j) investment funds investing substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (i) above; and
(k) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that a Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable law.
In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a jurisdiction outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (k) above in 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 in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (a) through (k) above and in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause (a) or (b) above; provided that such amounts, except amounts used to pay obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary denominated in any currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency in the ordinary course of business, are converted into Dollars or an Alternative Currency as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.
Cash Management Bank means (i) any Person that is a Lender or Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or Agent (a) on the Closing Date (with respect to any Cash Management Services entered into prior to the
14
Closing Date), (b) at the time it initially provides any Cash Management Services to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (c) at the time that the Person to whom the Cash Management Services are provided is merged with the Borrower or becomes or is merged with a Restricted Subsidiary (with respect to any Cash Management Services entered into prior to the date of such merger or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary), in each case whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be a Lender or Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or Agent or (ii) with respect to any Cash Management Services entered into prior to the Closing Date and not described in the foregoing clause (i) (a), any other Person identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, provided that such person shall be deemed (A) to appoint the Agents as its agent under the applicable Loan Document and (B) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Article X, and Sections 11.04 and 11.15 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender hereunder.
Cash Management Obligations means obligations owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in respect of or in connection with any Secured Cash Management Services and designated by the Cash Management Bank and the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent as Cash Management Obligations.
Cash Management Services means any agreement or arrangement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit card processing, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer, Vendor Financing Agreement and other cash management arrangements.
Casualty Event means any event that gives rise to the receipt by a Loan Party of any property or casualty insurance proceeds or any condemnation awards, in each case, 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.
Certain Funds Provisions means, with respect to the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 4.01, that:
(a) the only representations and warranties that will be made on the Closing Date and the making and accuracy of which will be a condition to the initial availability of the Initial Revolving Loans on the Closing Date will be the Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations; provided, that a failure of an Acquisition Agreement Representation to be accurate will not result in a failure of a condition precedent as set forth in Section 4.01, unless such failure results in a failure of a condition precedent to the Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition or such failure gives the Borrower the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligations, in each case, pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement;
(b) (i) the attachment and perfection of any Lien on Collateral (other than (x) Personal Property Collateral and (y) certificated equity securities of the Borrower (if any) securing the Initial Revolving Loans) is not a condition precedent to the availability of the Initial Revolving Loans, will not affect the size of the Initial Revolving Loans and will not result in a Default or Event of Default and (ii) other than as set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i), with respect to certificated securities of the Acquired Business, which shall be delivered in accordance with clause (d) below, if any Lien on Collateral does not attach or become perfected on the Closing Date after the Borrowers use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, such attachment or such perfection will not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Initial Revolving Loans, will not affect the size of the Initial Revolving Loans and will not result in a Default or Event of Default, but will be required within 90 days after the Closing Date (subject to extensions agreed to by the Administrative Agent with respect to Initial Revolving Loans on the Closing Date); provided that
15
the foregoing will not limit the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01(a)(iii) requiring the authorization of all asset UCC filings and in Section 4.01(a)(v) requiring the delivery of certain equity securities constituting Collateral, in each case, with customary stock powers executed in blank (in each case, subject to clause (d) below);
(c) there are no conditions (implied or otherwise) to the Commitments and agreements hereunder, other than the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01, and upon satisfaction (or waiver by the Lead Arrangers) of such conditions precedent, the Administrative Agent and each Initial Revolving Lender will execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the funding under the Initial Revolving Loans (if any) will occur; and
(d) the execution and delivery by each Target Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is required to be a party on the Closing Date is not a condition precedent under this Agreement, it being agreed that such execution and delivery shall be accomplished under escrow arrangements pursuant to which the Target Loan Parties signature pages are provided to the Administrative Agent before (or coincident with) the Acquisition Date, and such signature pages (and the Loan Documents and related deliverables to which the Target Loan Parties are parties) are automatically released from escrow to the Administrative Agent concurrently with the Acquisition Date and the adoption of related authorizing resolutions. The Target Loan Parties signature pages may be executed by individuals that will be officers, directors, managers, members and/or partners of the Target Loan Parties (or of one or more controlling parent or general partner entities of such Target Loan Parties) upon consummation of the Acquisition, whether or not such individuals are officers, directors, managers, members and/or partners of any such Target Loan Parties (or any such controlling parent or general partner entities) prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, so long as such individuals are authorized in such capacity at the time such signature pages are released. Certificated securities issued by the Acquired Business constituting Collateral and required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement (subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) will be delivered promptly after consummation of the Acquisition, but no later than five business days after the Acquisition Date, subject to Section 6.16 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree); it being understood and agreed that failure to do so by such time shall constitute an immediate Event of Default.
CFC means a Foreign Subsidiary which is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following:
(a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty (excluding the taking effect after the date of this Agreement of a law, rule, regulation or treaty adopted prior to the date of this Agreement);
(b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or
(c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. 111-203, H.R. 4173), all Laws relating thereto, all interpretations and applications thereof and any compliance by a Lender with any and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof or relating thereto and (ii) all requests, rules,
16
guidelines, requirements or directives issued by any United States or foreign regulatory authority in connection with the implementation of the recommendations of the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be adopted subsequent to the date hereof and a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.
Change of Control means the earliest to occur of:
(a) either:
(i) at any time prior to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, the Permitted Holders ceasing to beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity; or
(ii) at any time upon or after the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or Persons (other than one or more Permitted Holders) constituting a group (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person and its Subsidiaries, and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under such Act), directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests representing more than thirty-five percent (35.0%) of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the then issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity and the percentage of aggregate ordinary voting power so held is greater than the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the Equity Interests of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or any Parent Entity beneficially owned (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate by the Permitted Holders;
unless, in the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election fifty percent (50.0%) or more of the Board of Directors of either (1) Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable) or (2) a Parent Entity;
(b) the Borrower ceasing to be a direct wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings (or Successor Holdings, if applicable); and
(c) a change of control or similar defined term occurring under the Notes Indenture, the Term Loan Credit Agreement or any other document governing Material Indebtedness, in each case, for events substantially consistent with those described in clause (a) of this definition.
Class when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans (including Initial Revolving Loans), Swing Line Loans, Protective Advances or Extended Revolving Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Commitment in respect of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans or a Commitment in respect of a Class of Loans to be made pursuant to an Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment
17
and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments. A FILO Tranche will be treated as a separate Class of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, from the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitments in effect on the Closing Date under this Agreement.
Closing Date means the first date on which all of the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.
Closing Date Borrowing Base means (x) from the Closing Date until the earlier of (i) the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date and (ii) the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the initial Report pursuant to Section 6.10, $200,000,000 and (y) thereafter, $0.
Closing Date EBITDA means $558,257,000.00.
Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio means 4.75 to 1.00.
Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the agents party thereto, and each additional agent from time to time party thereto, as acknowledged by the Loan Parties, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio means 4.75 to 1.00.
Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio means 6.00 to 1.00.
Co-Borrower has the meaning specified in Section 6.19.
Co-Investor means any of (a) the assignees, if any, of the equity commitments of the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and (b) the transferees, if any, that are identified to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent agrees) and acquire, within 180 days of the Closing Date, any Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) held by the Sponsor or any other Person who was a holder of Equity Interests in Holdings (or any Parent Entity) on the Closing Date.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Collateral means all the Collateral (or equivalent term) as defined in any Collateral Document and all other property that is subject or purported to be subject to any Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to any Collateral Document, but in any event excluding all Excluded Assets.
Collateral Access Agreement means a landlord waiver or other agreement, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, between the Collateral Agent and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of any premises where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Collateral Agent has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
18
Collateral Documents means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, Collateral Access Agreements, any Blocked Account Agreement required pursuant to Section 6.14(b), Security Agreement Supplements, or other similar agreements delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Sections 4.01(a), 6.11, 6.12 or 6.15, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
Commitment Letter means the Amended and Restated Commitment Letter, dated February 25, 2021, by and among the Borrower and the Commitment Parties.
Commitment Parties means, collectively, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC.
Commitments means the Revolving Commitments and any commitments to make loans in respect of a FILO Tranche hereunder.
Committed Loan Notice means a notice of a Borrowing pursuant to Article II, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Company Person means any future, current or former officer, director, manager, member, member of management, employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Borrower, any Subsidiary, Holdings or any Parent Entity.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
Concentration Account has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b).
Connection Income Taxes means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA means, with respect to any Person for any Test Period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such Test Period:
(a) increased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis:
(i) interest expense, including (A) imputed interest on Capitalized Lease Obligations and Attributable Indebtedness (which, in each case, will be deemed to accrue at the interest rate reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligations or Attributable Indebtedness), (B) commissions, discounts and other fees, charges and expenses owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptance financing, surety and performance bonds and receivables financings, (C) amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, debt discounts, commissions, fees, premium and other expenses, as well as expensing of bridge, commitment or financing fees, (D) payments made in respect of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, (E) cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar
19
trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than such Person or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary) in connection with Indebtedness incurred by such plan or trust, (F) all interest paid or payable with respect to discontinued operations, (G) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligations, and (H) all interest on any Indebtedness that is (x) Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, but limited to the fair market value of such property, (y) contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness; provided that any such interest expense shall be calculated after giving effect to Hedge Agreements related to interest rates (including associated costs), but excluding unrealized gains and losses with respect to such Hedge Agreements or (z) fees and expenses paid to the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such and for its own account) pursuant to the Loan Documents and fees and expenses paid to the administrative agent, the collateral agent, trustee or other similar Persons for the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(b); plus
(ii) taxes based on gross receipts, income, profits or revenue or capital, franchise, excise, property, commercial activity, sales, use, unitary or similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes, including (A) penalties and interest and (B) tax distributions made to any direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests of such Person in respect of any such taxes attributable to such Person and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries or pursuant to a tax sharing arrangement or as a result of a tax distribution or repatriated funds; plus
(iii) amortization expense (including amortization and similar charges related to goodwill, customer relationships, trade names, databases, technology, software, internal labor costs, deferred financing fees or costs and other intangible assets); plus
(iv) depreciation expense; plus
(v) non-cash items (provided that, if any such non-cash item represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, (1) the Borrower may determine not to add back such non-cash item in the current Test Period and (2) to the extent the Borrower decides to add back such non-cash expense or charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period will be subtracted from Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such future period), including the following: (A) expenses in connection with, or resulting from, stock option plans, employee benefit plans or agreements or post-employment benefit plans or agreements, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other similar rights, (B) currency translation losses related to changes in currency exchange rates (including re-measurements of Indebtedness (including intercompany Indebtedness) and any net loss resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk), (C) losses, expenses, charges or negative adjustments attributable to the movement in the mark-to- market valuation of hedge agreements or other derivative instruments, including the effect of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 and International Accounting Standard No. 9 and their respective related pronouncements and interpretations, (D) charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances, (E) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down related to intangible assets (including goodwill), long-lived assets, and Investments in debt and equity securities, (F) charges or losses resulting from any purchase accounting adjustment or any step-ups with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with the Transactions or any Investments either existing or arising after the Closing Date, (G) all losses from Investments recorded using the equity method, (H) the
20
excess of rent expense over actual cash rent paid during such period due to the use of straight line rent for purposes consistent with the Accounting Principles and (I) any interest expense; plus
(vi) unusual, extraordinary, infrequent, or non-recurring items, whether or not classified as such under the Accounting Principles; plus
(vii) charges, costs, losses, expenses or reserves related to: (A) restructuring (including restructuring charges or reserves, whether or not classified as such under the Accounting Principles), severance, relocation, consolidation, integration or other similar items, (B) strategic and/or business initiatives, business optimization (including costs and expenses relating to business optimization programs, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, implementation of operational and reporting systems and technology initiatives; strategic initiatives; retention; severance; systems establishment costs; systems conversion and integration costs; contract termination costs; recruiting and relocation costs and expenses; costs, expenses and charges incurred in connection with curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefits plans; costs to start-up, ramp-up, pre-opening, opening, closure, transition and/or consolidation of distribution centers, operations, offices and facilities) including in connection with the Transactions and any Permitted Investment, any acquisition or other investment consummated prior to the Closing Date or in connection with the hiring of any broker, and new systems design and implementation, as well as consulting fees and any one-time expense relating to enhanced accounting function, (C) business or facilities (including greenfield facilities) start-up, opening, transition, consolidation, shut-down and closing, (D) recruiting, signing, retention and completion bonuses, (E) severance, relocation or recruiting, (F) public company registration, listing, compliance, reporting and related expenses, (G) charges and expenses incurred in connection with litigation (including threatened litigation), any investigation or proceeding (or any threatened investigation or proceeding) by a regulatory, governmental or law enforcement body (including any attorney general), and (H) expenses incurred in connection with casualty events or asset sales outside the ordinary course of business; plus
(viii) all (A) costs, fees and expenses relating to the Transactions, (B) costs, fees and expenses (including diligence and integration costs) incurred in connection with (x) investments in any Person, acquisitions of the Equity Interests of any Person, acquisitions of all or a material portion of the assets of any Person or constituting a line of business of any Person, and financings related to any of the foregoing or to the capitalization of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary or (y) other transactions that are out of the ordinary course of business of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case of clause (x) and (y), including transactions considered or proposed but not consummated), including Permitted Equity Issuances, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, mergers, option buyouts and the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness (including all consent fees, premium and other amounts payable in connection therewith) and (C) non-operating professional fees, costs and expenses; plus
(ix) items reducing Consolidated Net Income to the extent (A) covered by a binding indemnification or refunding obligation or insurance, (B) paid or payable (directly or indirectly) by a third party (except to the extent such payment gives rise to reimbursement obligations) or with the proceeds of a contribution to equity capital of such Person or (C) such Person is, directly or indirectly, reimbursed for such item by a third party; plus
21
(x) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid, payable or accrued in such Test Period (including any termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements); plus
(xi) the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting (including the effects of adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Subsidiaries) and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any such amount; plus
(xii) expenses, revenue and lost profits of such Person for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, in each case, to the extent covered by insurance and reasonably expected to be received no later than 12 months after the end of such Test Period; plus
(xiii) minority interest expense consisting of income attributable to Equity Interests held by third parties in any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(xiv) expenses, charges and losses resulting from the payment or accrual of indemnification or refunding provisions, earn-outs, holdbacks and contingent consideration obligations; bonuses and other compensation paid to employees, directors or consultants; and payments in respect of dissenting shares and purchase price adjustments; in each case, made in connection with a Permitted Investment or other transactions disclosed in the documents referred to in clause (xxvii) below or otherwise disclosed to the Lead Arrangers; plus
(xv) any losses from abandoned, disposed or discontinued operations; plus
(xvi) fees, expenses or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement and any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members; plus
(xvii) (A) any costs or expenses (including any payroll taxes) incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Test Period as a result of, in connection with or pursuant to any management equity plan, profits interest or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement, any pension plan (including (1) any post-employment benefit scheme to which the relevant pension trustee has agreed, (2) as a result of curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans and (3) without limitation, compensation arrangements with holders of unvested options entered into in connection with a permitted Restricted Payment), any stock subscription, stockholders or partnership agreement, any payments in the nature of compensation or expense reimbursement made to independent board members, any employee benefit trust, any employee benefit scheme or any similar equity plan or agreement (including any deferred compensation arrangement), including any payment made to option holders in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to, or share repurchase from, a shareholder, which payments are being made to compensate option holders as though they were shareholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution or share repurchase and (B) any costs or expenses incurred in connection
22
with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests held by management of Holdings (or any Parent Entity, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary); plus
(xviii) the amount of loss or discount on sale of receivables, Securitization Assets and related assets to any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; plus
(xix) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles (including the Borrowers election pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Accounting Principles); plus
(xx) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income for such period, cash actually received (or any netting arrangement resulting in reduced cash expenditures) during such period so long as the non-cash gain relating to the relevant cash receipt or netting arrangement was deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any previous period and not added back; plus
(xxi) the amount of fees, expense reimbursements and indemnities paid to directors and/or members of advisory boards, including directors of Holdings or any other Parent Entity; plus
(xxii) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods, amortization of the unrecognized net obligation (and loss or cost) existing at the date of initial application of FASB Accounting Standards Codification 715, and any other items of a similar nature; plus
(xxiii) charges, expenses, and lost revenue attributable to the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic and any other pandemic, disaster or similar business disruption that is outside the control of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(xxiv) the amount of run rate cost savings, operating expense reductions and other cost synergies that are projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken no later than twenty-four (24) months after the end of such Test Period (which amounts will be determined by the Borrower in good faith and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such amounts had been realized on the first day of the Test Period for which Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such Test Period from such actions; provided that, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower such cost savings are reasonably identifiable, reasonably anticipated to be realized and factually supportable (it being agreed that such determinations need not be made in compliance with Regulation S-X or other applicable securities law); plus
(xxv) the excess (if any) of (i) the aggregate amount of run rate profits pursuant to Recurring Contracts entered into on or after the first date of the relevant Test Period (net of actual profits pursuant to such Recurring Contracts during such Test Period) projected by the Borrower, in good faith, as if such contracted pricing was applicable (at the contracted rate and calculated based on an assumed margin determined by the Borrower to be a reasonable good faith estimate of the actual costs (including increased overhead costs) associated with such Recurring Contracts) during the entire Test Period over
23
(ii) profits associated with Recurring Contracts that were cancelled or otherwise terminated during such Test Period; plus
(xxvi) payments made pursuant to Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks; plus
(xxvii) adjustments of the type reflected in (A) the financial model for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared by the Sponsor and delivered to the Lead Arrangers in connection with the Transactions or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by any of the Big Four accounting firms and furnished to the Administrative Agent, in connection with the Transactions, an Acquisition Transaction, Permitted Investment or other Investment consummated after the Closing Date; plus
(xxviii) the amount of any contingent payments in connection with the licensing of intellectual property or other assets; plus
(xxix) Public Company Costs; plus
(xxx) charitable contributions, including contributions related to any charitable foundations established by the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in any Test Period; and
(b) decreased, without duplication, by the following items of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles (solely to the extent increasing Consolidated Net Income for such Test Period and without duplication):
(i) any amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been included for any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period, all as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles (provided that if any non-cash income or non-cash gain represents an accrual or deferred income in respect of potential cash items in any future period, such Person may determine not to deduct the relevant non-cash gain or income in the then-current period); plus
(ii) the amount of any cash payment made during such period in respect of any non-cash accrual, reserve or other non-cash charge that is accounted for in a prior period and that was added to Consolidated Net Income to determine Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such prior period and that does not otherwise reduce Consolidated Net Income for the current period; plus
(iii) unusual, extraordinary, infrequent or non-recurring gains; plus
(iv) any net income from discontinued operations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA shall be (a) for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020, $121,634,278, (b) for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020, $203,292,080, (c) for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020, $146,993,237 and (d) for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, $86,337,405, in each case, as such amounts may be adjusted pursuant to the foregoing provisions and other pro forma adjustments permitted by this Agreement (including as necessary to give Pro Forma Effect to any Specified Transaction).
24
Consolidated Capital Expenditures means, for any period, the aggregate amount of all expenditures of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with the Accounting Principles, are or should be included as additions to property, plant and equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include:
(a) the purchase price of property, plant, equipment or software in an amount equal to the proceeds of asset dispositions of fixed or capital assets that are not required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date);
(b) expenditures made with tenant allowances received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from landlords in the ordinary course of business and subsequently capitalized;
(c) any amounts spent in connection with Permitted Investments;
(d) expenditures financed with the proceeds of an issuance of capital stock of any parent company (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower, to the extent contributed to the Borrower in cash, or any cash capital contribution to the Borrower;
(e) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent neither the Borrower nor 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);
(f) any expenditures which are contractually required to be, and are, advanced or reimbursed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash by a third party (including landlords) during such period of calculation;
(g) the Book Value of any asset owned by the 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 (i) 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 (ii) such book value shall have been included in capital expenditures when such asset was originally acquired;
(h) that portion of interest on Indebtedness incurred for capital expenditures which is paid in cash and capitalized in accordance with the Accounting Principles;
(i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration, upgrade, development or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance or settlement proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, substituted, restored, upgraded, developed or repaired or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced;
(j) in the event that any equipment is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment, the gross amount of the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time;
25
(k) expenditures relating to the construction, acquisition, replacement, reconstruction, development, refurbishment, renovation or improvement of any property which has been transferred to a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the same fiscal year in which such expenditures were made pursuant to a sale leaseback transaction to the extent of the cash proceeds received by the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such sale leaseback that are not required to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(b)(ii) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement,
(l) expenditures relating to client-funded technology of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(m) the Transactions.
Consolidated Cash Interest Expense means, for any period, Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, excluding (a) any amount not paid or payable currently in cash and (b) Transaction Expenses otherwise included in Consolidated Interest Expense.
Consolidated First Lien Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to the Initial Revolving Loans and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral on an equal priority basis with the Initial Revolving Loans (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any Test Period, the sum of:
(a) cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases), net of cash interest income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under hedging agreements, plus
(b) non-cash interest expense resulting solely from the amortization of OID from the issuance of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Indebtedness borrowed under this Agreement, the Notes Indenture and the Term Loan Credit Agreement, in each case, in connection with and to finance the Transactions and in each case to the extent not already included in clause (a) above) at less than par, plus
(c) pay-in-kind interest expense of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries payable pursuant to the terms of the agreements governing outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) amortization of deferred financing costs, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and any other amounts of non-cash interest other than referred to in clause (b) above (including as a result of the effects of acquisition method accounting or pushdown accounting), (ii) non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement of the mark-to-market valuation of obligations under hedging agreements or other derivative instruments pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification No. 815-Derivatives and Hedging, (iii) any one-time cash costs associated with breakage in respect of hedging agreements for interest rates, (iv) commissions, discounts, yield, make whole premium and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) incurred in connection with any receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing), (v) any additional interest
26
owing pursuant to a registration rights agreement with respect to any securities, (vi) any payments with respect to make-whole premiums or other breakage costs of any Indebtedness, including any Indebtedness issued in connection with the Transactions, (vii) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (viii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (ix) interest expense attributable to a direct or indirect Parent Entity resulting from push-down accounting, (x) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization or purchase accounting, (xi) any interest expense attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto and with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or other Investment, all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles; and (xii) any payments on right of use leases. For the avoidance of doubt, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Swap Contracts relating to interest rate protection.
Consolidated Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any Person for any Test Period, the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that there shall be excluded from such consolidated net income (to the extent otherwise included therein), without duplication:
(a) the Net Income for such Test 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; provided that the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys equity in the Net Income of such Person shall be included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for such Test Period up to the aggregate amount of dividends or distributions or other payments in respect of such equity that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by such Person to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, in such Test Period, to the extent not already included therein;
(b) [reserved];
(c) any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period upon any asset sale or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any Person (other than any dispositions in the ordinary course of business) by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(d) gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles for such Test Period;
(e) earnings (or losses), including any impairment charge, resulting from any reappraisal, revaluation or write-up (or write-down) of assets during such Test Period;
(f) (i) unrealized gains and losses with respect to Hedge Agreements for such Test Period and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 815 (Derivatives and Hedging) and (ii) any after-tax effect of income (or losses) for such Test Period that result from the early extinguishment of (A) Indebtedness, (B) obligations under any Hedge Agreements or (C) other derivative instruments;
27
(g) any extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gain (or extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual loss), together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), recorded or recognized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such Test Period;
(h) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such Test Period;
(i) after-tax gains (or losses) on disposal of disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations for such Test Period;
(j) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, debt and unfavorable or favorable lease line items in such Persons consolidated financial statements pursuant to the Accounting Principles for such Test Period resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to the Transactions or any acquisition consummated prior to the Closing Date and any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, for such Test Period;
(k) any non-cash compensation charge or expense for such Test Period, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights and any cash charges or expenses associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by, or to, management of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions;
(l) (i) Transaction Expenses incurred during such Test Period and (ii) any fees and expenses incurred during such Test Period, or any amortization thereof for such Test Period, in connection with any acquisition (other than the Transactions), Investment, disposition, issuance or repayment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt or equity instrument (in each case, including any such transaction whether consummated on, after or prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and any charges or non-recurring costs incurred during such Test Period as a result of any such transaction;
(m) any expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Investment, Permitted Acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days); and
(n) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses, charges or losses for such Test Period with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption.
28
Consolidated Secured Net Debt means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Total Debt that (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to the Revolving Loans and (ii) is secured by a lien on the Collateral (excluding (1) all Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations not secured by a lien on the Collateral and (2) any right of use leases), minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that is not Restricted.
Consolidated Total Debt means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of third party Indebtedness of the type described in (i) clauses (a), (b) (in respect of Indebtedness of the type described in clause (a)) and (d) (excluding accrued dividends to the extent not increasing liquidation preference) of the definition of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis and as reflected on the face of a balance sheet prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles (but excluding the effects of the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted hereunder), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money; provided, that Consolidated Total Debt will not include Indebtedness in respect of: (i) any Qualified Securitization Financing; (ii) undrawn letters of credit and bank guarantees; (iii) obligations under any Hedge Agreement; (iv) any right of use leases; and (v) other Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money debt obligations as reflected on the balance sheet to the extent less than $25,000,000 (and Consolidated Total Debt will limited to amounts in excess of such threshold).
Consumer - Residential Account means an Account that is not a ReadyRefresh Account, Retail Account or Credit Card Account.
Consumer - Residential Account Receivables means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate face amount of receivables of each of the Loan Parties arising from or in connection with Consumer - Residential Accounts.
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.
Conversion/Continuation Notice means a notice of (a) a conversion of Loans from one Type to another or (b) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Article II, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
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 Test Date has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
Covenant Trigger Event means, a period beginning on any date after the last day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date on which Specified Excess Availability shall be less than the greater of (a) 10.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (b) $25,000,000 at any time and continuing until the date on which Specified Excess Availability is equal to or exceeds the greater of (a) 10.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (b) $25,000,000 for twenty (20) consecutive calendar days; provided that such $25,000,000 level shall automatically increase in proportion to the amount of any increase in the aggregate Revolving Commitments hereunder in connection with any Incremental Facility.
29
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 11.26(b).
Credit Card Accounts Receivable means any Account due to any Loan Party from an Account Debtor arising from purchases made on the following credit cards or debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Carte Blanche and such other credit cards or debit cards as the Administrative Agent shall approve in its commercially reasonable judgment from time to time, in each case which have been earned by performance by such Loan Party but not yet paid to such Loan Party by the applicable Account Debtor.
Credit Card Notification has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(a).
Credit Card Processor means any Person (other than a Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party) who issues or whose members or Affiliates issue credit or debit cards, including MasterCard or VISA bank credit or debit cards or other bank credit or debit cards issued through MasterCard International, Inc., Visa, U.S.A., Inc. or Visa International and American Express, Discover, Diners Club and Carte Blanche.
Credit Facilities means, collectively, any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, working capital facilities, term loans, notes, debentures, indentures, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables), supply chain finance, letters of credit or bankers acceptances, or other long-term Indebtedness, including any notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, extended, increased, renewed, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced (including through the issuance of debt securities), restructured or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, in each case, whether or not upon termination and whether with the original borrower, issuer, agent, trustee, lenders, institutional investors or otherwise, and whether provided under the applicable original Credit Facility or one or more other credit or other agreements or indentures, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings, other extensions of credit and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such debt facilities or successor debt facilities, whether by the same or any other borrower, issuer, agent, lender or group of lenders (or institutional investors).
Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
Cure Expiration Date has the meaning specified in Section 8.02.
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
30
selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Daily Simple SOFR for syndicated 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.
DDA means any checking, demand deposit or other account maintained by the Loan Parties and used to receive or deposit payments, checks and other funds from customers and other payors, other than any Excluded Account.
Debt Representative means, with respect to any series of Indebtedness secured by a Lien that is subject to an Intercreditor Agreement, or is subordinated in right of payment to all or any part of the Obligations, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
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 Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to the outstanding principal amount of any Loan not paid when due, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan (giving effect to Section 2.05(c)) plus 2.00% 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 2.19(b), any Lender that,
(a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans, including participations in respect of Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the Issuing Banks or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances) within two Business Days of the date when due;
(b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lenders obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lenders determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent,
31
together with the applicable default, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied);
(c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; or
(d) the Administrative Agent or the Borrower has received notification that such Lender is, or has a direct or indirect parent entity that is, (i) insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) other than via an Undisclosed Administration, the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, intervenor or sequestrator, 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 Federal or state regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or the like has been appointed for such Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity, or such Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment 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 entity thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
Any determination by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.19) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the Issuing Banks and each Lender.
Deliverable Obligation means each obligation of the Loan Parties that would constitute a Deliverable Obligation under a market standard credit default swap transaction documented under the ISDA CDS Definitions and specifying any of the Loan Parties as a Reference Entity. Each capitalized term used but defined in the preceding sentence has the meaning specified in the ISDA CDS Definitions, as applicable.
Derivative Instrument means with respect to a Person, any contract or instrument to which such Person is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any portion thereof) are based on the value and/or performance of the Loans and/or any Deliverable Obligations or Obligations (as defined in the ISDA CDS Definitions) with respect to the Loan Parties; provided that a Derivative Instrument will not include any contract or instrument that is entered into pursuant to bona fide market-making activities.
Designated Asset Sale means the Disposition (including by a public or private Disposition of Equity Interests) of the Home and Office Delivery Business and any and all assets, facilities and lines of business related or ancillary thereto, in each case, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, or otherwise disposed of in connection with such Disposition of the Home and Office Delivery Business.
32
Designated Asset Sale Proceeds means the aggregate amount of the proceeds and/or in-kind consideration (collectively, Proceeds) that are received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from the Designated Asset Sale; provided Proceeds shall be Designated Asset Sale Proceeds only to the extent that the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.75 to 1.00, with the Total Net Leverage Ratio measured after giving Pro Forma Effect to (a) the Designated Asset Sale, (b) any actual or anticipated repayment, prepayments or retirement of Indebtedness with all or a portion of such Proceeds (or the application of all or a portion of such Proceeds to any applicable cash netting provisions) and, (c) to the extent reasonably expected by the Borrower to be made within 90 days of the date of the consummation of the Designated Asset Sale, any (i) Restricted Payments made by the Borrower of Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds pursuant to Section 7.06(t) and (ii) Junior Debt Repayments made by the Borrower with Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(xi); with it being agreed that the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be measured, at the Borrowers option, either at (A) the time of the consummation of the Designated Asset Sale or (B) the time of the entry into a definitive agreement in respect of the Designated Asset Sale.
Designated Jurisdiction means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanctions.
Designated Non-Cash Consideration means the fair market value of any non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a Disposition pursuant to the General Asset Sale Basket that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within one hundred eighty days following the consummation of the applicable Disposition).
Disposition or Dispose means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (excluding Liens, and any sale of Equity Interests in, or issuance of Equity Interests by, a Restricted Subsidiary but including any sale-leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person.
Disqualified Equity Interests means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition,
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale, as long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event is 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 Cash Collateralization of all 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 that are required to be made only 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 Latest Maturity Date of the Loans at the time of issuance; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of one or more Company Persons or by any
33
such plan to one or more Company Persons, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by Holdings, the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of a Company Persons termination, death or disability.
Disqualified Lender means,
(a) the competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower (i) to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) to the Administrative Agent, from time to time on or after the Closing Date;
(b) (i) any Persons that are engaged as principals primarily in private equity, mezzanine financing or venture capital and (ii) those particular banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other Persons, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent identified in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Sponsor to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to February 16, 2021; and
(c) any Affiliate of a Person described in the preceding clauses (a) or (b) that (in each case, other than any Affiliates that are banks, financial institutions, bona fide debt funds or investment vehicles that are engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course (except to the extent separately identified under clause (a) or (b) above)), in each case, is either reasonably identifiable as such on the basis of its name or is identified as such in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Sponsor (i) to the Lead Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) to the Administrative Agent from time to time on or after the Closing Date.
Any supplementation of the list of Disqualified Lenders provided for under clauses (a) and (c) above shall become effective two (2) Business Days after the date that such written supplement is delivered to the Administrative Agent, but which shall not apply retroactively, other than as set forth in Section 11.27, to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans and/or Commitments as permitted herein. The Borrower shall, upon request of any Lender, identify whether any Person identified by such Lender as a proposed assignee or Participant is a Disqualified Lender.
Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds means an amount equal to 50.0% of the sum of (i) the Designated Asset Sale Proceeds less (ii) any taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof and any distributions made pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(i) or 7.06(h)(iii).
Division has the meaning specified in Section 1.02(d).
Document has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
Dollar and $ mean lawful money of the United States.
Dollar Amount means, at any time:
(a) with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars, the principal amount thereof then outstanding (or in which such participation is held); and
(b) with respect to any other amount (i) if denominated in Dollars, the amount thereof, or (ii) if denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the Exchange Rate (determined in
34
respect of the most recent relevant date of determination) for the purchase of Dollars with such currency.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
Early Opt-in Election means, if the then-current Benchmark is LIBOR, the occurrence of:
(1) | a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding U. S. 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 Borrower to trigger a fallback from LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders. |
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 Accounts Receivable means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate face amount of the Accounts of each of the Loan Parties arising from the sale of goods of any Loan Party or the provision of services by one or more of the Loan Parties (other than Credit Card Account Receivables); provided, without duplication of any Reserves established in accordance with Section 2.21, no Account shall be deemed to be an Eligible Account Receivable if:
(a) | the Account (i) is not subject to the Administrative Agents perfected, first priority Lien or (ii) is subject to a Lien other than (x) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, or (y) a Lien permitted under Section 7.01 so long as (1) such Lien is an inchoate Lien for which amounts are not yet due and payable or (2) such Lien is subject to a Reserve for the liabilities of such Loan Party that are secured by such Lien, which the Administrative Agent shall have established in its Permitted Discretion; |
(b) | the Account arises out of a sale or lease made by any Loan Party to an Affiliate or the Account is payable by an Affiliate to a Loan Party; |
(c) | the Account is (x) unpaid for more than one-hundred twenty (120) days after the original invoice date (or 150 days for Accounts not in excess of $5,000,000 at any time) or (y) sixty (60) days past due; |
35
(d) | such Account is from the same Account Debtor (or any Affiliate thereof) and fifty percent (50.0%) or more, in face amount, of other Accounts from such Account Debtor (or any Affiliate thereof) are not Eligible Accounts Receivable under the preceding clause (c); |
(e) | an Account, when aggregated with all other Accounts of the Account Debtor thereof, for which (i) with respect to any such Account Debtor that is rated (or whose parent is rated) an Investment Grade Rating, exceeds twenty-five percent (25.0%) in face value of all Accounts of the Loan Parties then outstanding, or the amount of the Account, on an individual basis, exceeds twenty-five percent (25.0%) in face value of all Accounts of any one Loan Party, (ii) with respect to any Accounts owed by Walmart, exceeds thirty percent (30.0%) in face value of all Accounts of the Loan Parties then outstanding, or the amount of the Account, on an individual basis, exceeds thirty percent (30.0%) in face value of all Accounts of any one Loan Party, or (iii) with respect to any other such Account Debtor, exceeds twenty percent (20.0%) in face value of all Accounts of the Loan Parties then outstanding, or the amount of the Account, on an individual basis, exceeds twenty percent (20.0%) in face value of all Accounts of any one Loan Party, but, in each case, only to the extent of such excess; |
(f) | an Account for which, (i) the Account Debtor is also a creditor or supplier of any Loan Party, but only to the extent of the amount owed by such Loan Party to the Account Debtor, (ii) the Account Debtor has disputed its liability on, or the Account Debtor has made any claim with respect to, such Account or any other Account due from such Account Debtor to such Loan Party, which has not been resolved, but only to the extent of the amount of such dispute, or (iii) the Account Debtor has or acquires any right of setoff against such Account, but only to the extent of the amount of such setoff, unless, in the case of any of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, has established an appropriate Reserve and determines to include such Account as an Eligible Account Receivable; |
(g) | (i) the Account is owing by an Account Debtor that has commenced a voluntary case under the Debtor Relief Laws or made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a decree or order for relief has been entered by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect to such Account Debtor in an involuntary case under the Debtor Relief Laws, (ii) any petition or other application for relief under the Debtor Relief Laws has been filed by or against the Account Debtor, or (iii) such Account Debtor is generally not paying its debts as they become due (unless such debts are the subject of a bona fide dispute), or has suspended business, ceased to be Solvent, or consented to or suffered a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be appointed for it or for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs unless such Account Debtor has caused the issuance of a letter of credit in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in favor of the applicable Loan Party fully securing the payment of such Account; |
(h) | the Account arises from a sale or lease to an Account Debtor that does not maintain its chief executive office in the United States or is not organized in the United States, unless the sale is on letter of credit, guaranty or acceptance terms, or subject to credit insurance, in each case reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; |
(i) | Accounts exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is a Governmental Authority unless, with respect to such Accounts, the Account is insured under credit insurance on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; |
36
(j) | an Account that represents the right to receive progress payments or other advance billings that are due prior to the completion of performance by the applicable Loan Party of the subject contract for goods or services; |
(k) | the Account arises from a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval or consignment basis or is made pursuant to any other written agreement providing for repurchase or return or is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper or instrument (i) with respect to which the Administrative Agent does not have a perfected, first priority security interest (unless reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (ii) that is subject to a Lien other than (x) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or (y) a Lien permitted under Section 7.01 so long as (1) such Lien is an inchoate Lien for which amounts are not yet due and payable or (2) such Lien is subject to a Reserve for the liabilities of such Loan Party that are secured by such Lien which the Administrative Agent shall have established in its Permitted Discretion; |
(l) | an Account for which an invoice has not been prepared and sent to the related Account Debtor (unless otherwise evidenced by other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, but without duplication of amounts included in the Accounts Receivable Component pursuant to clause (c) thereof); |
(m) | an Account which is owed by an Account Debtor which is a Sanctioned Person; |
(n) | the Account is subject to claims, credits, charges (including warehousemens charges), returns, discounts and allowances of any nature (whether issued, owing, granted or outstanding), but only to the extent of such the amount of such claim, credit, charge, return, discount and allowance; |
(o) | the payment obligation represented by such Account is denominated in a currency other than Dollars; |
(p) | the applicable Loan Party has made any agreement with the applicable Account Debtor for any deduction therefrom for prompt payment, except for (x) discounts or allowances made in the ordinary course of business, all of which discounts or allowances are reflected in the calculation of the face value of each respective invoice related thereto or (y) any such deduction, only to the extent the maximum potential amount of such deduction against the applicable Account is reflected in the calculation of the Borrowing Base; |
(q) | any return, rejection or repossession of the merchandise has occurred or the rendition of services has been disputed; |
(r) | Accounts that are not valid, legally enforceable and unconditional obligations of the Account Debtor thereunder and without duplication of clause (u) below, Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor has a contractual right of return, credit, discount, allowance, adjustment setoff or charge back, in each case, solely to the extent of such contractual right of return, credit, discount, allowance, adjustment setoff or charge back; |
(s) | Accounts that arise out of a contract or order that fails to comply with any material requirements of applicable Law; |
(t) | Accounts with respect to which any representation or warranty contained in Article V is untrue in any material respect; |
37
(u) | the Account is otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion to be ineligible, provided, that the Administrative Agent shall have given the Borrower not less than five (5) Business Days prior notice thereof in accordance with Section 2.21 prior to such Account (or a category of eligibility applicable to such Account) becoming ineligible; provided, pending the expiration of such five Business Day period, such Account may not be included in the Borrowing Base and such reserves will be deducted from the Borrowing Base for purposes of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application; |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall (1) the amount determined under clause (c) of the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable with respect to ReadyRefresh Accounts be included if it is (x) unpaid for more than ninety (90) days after the original invoice date or (y) sixty (60) days past due; or (2) eligible Consumer - Residential Account Receivables constitute more than 10.0% of the Borrowing Base in the aggregate for all such Accounts at any time.
Eligible Assignee means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.07(b)(v); provided that the following Persons shall not be Eligible Assignees: (a) any Defaulting Lender and (b) any Person that is Disqualified Lender.
Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable means, as of any date of determination, any Credit Card Account Receivable that (i) has been earned and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party from a credit card or debit card processor and/or credit card or debit card issuer, and in each case originated in the ordinary course of business of the applicable Loan Party and (ii) is not excluded as an ineligible Credit Card Account Receivable pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (i) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable, a Credit Card Account Receivable shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. Eligible Credit Card Account Receivables shall not include any Credit Card Account Receivable if:
(a) such Credit Card Account Receivable is not owned by a Loan Party or such Loan Party does not have good or marketable title to such Credit Card Account Receivable;
(b) such Credit Card Account Receivable (i) does not constitute an Account (as defined in the UCC), or (ii) does not constitute a Payment Intangible (as defined in the UCC);
(c) such Credit Card Account Receivable has been outstanding more than five Business Days;
(d) the credit card or debit card issuer or credit card or debit card processor of the applicable credit card or debit card with respect to such Credit Card Account Receivable is the subject of any liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings or is a Sanctioned Person;
(e) such Credit Card Account Receivable is not a valid, legally enforceable obligation of the applicable credit card or debit card issuer with respect thereto;
(f) such Credit Card Account Receivable is not subject to a properly perfected first- priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (subject to any Permitted Liens (provided that the Administrative Agent shall have established appropriate reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its commercially reasonable judgment) with respect thereto, in an amount not to exceed the claims secured by such
38
Permitted Liens), or is subject to any Lien whatsoever other than any Lien created pursuant to the Loan Documents, or the Term Loan Documents and any Permitted Liens contemplated by the credit card processor agreements and for which appropriate reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its commercially reasonable judgment) have been established or maintained;
(g) such Credit Card Account Receivable does not conform in all material respects to all representations, warranties or other provisions in the Loan Documents or in the credit card or debit card agreements relating to such Credit Card Account Receivable or any default exists under the applicable credit card or debit card agreement; such Credit Card Account Receivable is subject to risk of set-off, non-collection or not being processed due to unpaid and/or accrued credit card or debit card processor fee balances, to the extent of the lesser of the balance of such Credit Card Account Receivable or unpaid credit card or debit card processor fees;
(h) the proceeds of such Credit Card Account Receivable are not paid into a Blocked Account which (A) (after 60 days following the Closing Date) is under the control of the Collateral Agent or (B) has been released or transferred in accordance with Section 6.14 or otherwise; or
(i) such Credit Card Account Receivable does not meet such other usual and customary eligibility criteria for Credit Card Account Receivables as the Administrative Agent (after consultation with the Borrower) may determine from time to time in its commercially reasonable judgment.
In determining the amount to be so included in the calculation of the value of an Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable, the face amount thereof shall be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all customary fees and expenses in connection with any credit card or debit card arrangements and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect thereof but not yet applied by the Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable.
Eligible In-Transit Inventory means, as of any date of determination, Inventory for which title has passed to a Loan Party which is in transit within the United States to a location owned, leased, licensed or occupied by a Loan Party within the United States. Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless it (i) otherwise satisfies the criteria for Eligible Inventory, (ii) is fully insured against customary types of risks, and in amounts customary for similarly situated companies in the industry, and (iii) if the bill of lading is negotiable, confirmation that the bill is in the possession of the Borrower, the Borrowers customs broker or any other Person acting in a similar capacity.
Eligible Inventory means as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Inventory owned by a Loan Party valued at cost or market (whichever is lower), as determined on a moving average cost basis in accordance with the Accounting Principles (and shall exclude any intercompany markup or profit reflected when Inventory is transferred from one Loan Party to another Loan Party); provided, that no Inventory shall be Eligible Inventory unless it:
(a) | is not held on consignment, nor subject to any deposit, down payment, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale-on-approval, bill and hold or repurchase arrangement; |
(b) | is not slow-moving, obsolete, defective or un-merchantable; |
(c) | meets all legal requirements imposed by any Governmental Authority that has regulatory authority over such goods or the use or sale thereof in all material respects; |
39
(d) | conforms with the representations herein relating to Inventory in all material respects unless the resultant Event of Default has been cured or waived; |
(e) | (i) is subject to the Administrative Agents perfected, first priority Lien or (ii) is not subject to a Lien other than (x) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, or (y) a Lien permitted under Section 7.01 so long as (1) such Lien is an inchoate Lien for which amounts are not yet due and payable or (2) such Lien is subject to a Reserve for the liabilities of such Loan Party that are secured by such Lien, which the Administrative Agent shall have established in its Permitted Discretion; |
(f) | is within the United States and is not in transit (other than Eligible In-Transit Inventory; provided, that the aggregate amount of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible In- Transit Inventory shall not at any time exceed twenty percent (20.0%) of the Borrowing Base then in effect); |
(g) | is not subject to any warehouse receipt or negotiable Document; |
(h) | is situated at a location owned by a Loan Party; provided that if it is not situated at a location owned by a Loan Party: |
(i) | it is Eligible In-Transit Inventory; |
(ii) | the owner or occupier of such location has executed a Collateral Access Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent; |
(iii) | such location (other than a customer location) is subject to a Reserve with respect to rent for such location (it being understood that in no event shall such Reserve exceed the equivalent of three (3) months rent and other fixed and non-contingent charges for an applicable location); or |
(iv) | such location is a customer location subject to a Reserve in such other amount with respect to such location as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; |
(i) | has not been acquired from a Sanctioned Person; |
(j) | is not classified as work-in-progress inventory under the Borrowers normal accounting practices; and |
(k) | is not otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion to be ineligible; provided that (x) the Administrative Agent shall have given the Borrower not less than five (5) Business Days prior notice of such determination in accordance with Section 2.21 prior to such Inventory (or a category of eligibility applicable to such Inventory) becoming ineligible and (y) pending the expiration of such five (5) Business Day period, such Inventory may not be included in the Borrowing Base and such reserves will be deducted from the Borrowing Base for purposes of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application. |
Eligible Unbilled Accounts Receivable means, at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of all Eligible Accounts Receivable of the Loan Parties with respect of which an invoice has not been sent to the applicable Account Debtor and the Account owing to the Loan Party has been fully earned and has existed for 30 days (or, for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first anniversary
40
of the Closing Date, 60 days) or less, provided that Eligible Unbilled Accounts Receivable shall not constitute more than 10.0% (or, other than for Consumer - Residential Account Receivables, for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, 25.0%) of the Borrowing Base in the aggregate for all such Accounts at any time.
EMU means the Economic and Monetary Union as contemplated in the EU Treaty.
EMU Legislation means the legislative measures of the EMU for the introduction of, changeover to, or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.
Enforcement Action means any action by a creditor or other contract counterparty under any agreement with the Borrower or any other Loan Party to enforce, or obtain any remedy (judicial or otherwise) available to it under applicable law in respect of any breach or anticipatory breach by any other Person of any agreement to which such creditor or other contract counterparty (or its successors or assigns) is a party, including (i) to terminate such agreement and/or accelerate the obligations thereunder, (ii) to repossess, or join any Person in repossessing, or exercise or join any Person in exercising, or instituting or maintaining or participating in any action or proceeding with respect to, or any remedies with respect to, any collateral of the Borrower or such other Loan Party under the applicable agreements or under applicable law, (iii) file any pleadings, objections, motions or agreements which assert rights or interests available to unsecured creditors arising under Debtor Relief Laws or other applicable laws, (iv) exercise any right of set-off, (v) transfer its obligations under such applicable agreement or (vi) cease making payments to the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor under such agreement.
Environment means ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources such as flora and fauna.
Environmental Claim means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation or potential liability, investigations by any Governmental Authority, or proceedings with respect to any Environmental Liability or pursuant to Environmental Law, including those (a) by any Governmental Authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any Environmental Law and (b) by any Person seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws relating to the protection of the Environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and safety, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, and the generation, use, transport, management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.
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 the Restricted 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 or issued pursuant to any Environmental Law.
41
Equity Contribution has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
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, including any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest) 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, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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 or Section 4001 of ERISA. For the avoidance of doubt, when any provision of this Agreement relates to a past event or period of time, the term ERISA Affiliate includes any Person who was, as to the time of such past event or period of time, an ERISA Affiliate within the meaning of the preceding sentence.
ERISA Event means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan, written notification of any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; (d) the filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for the payment of plan contributions or PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with respect to any Pension Plan; (f) the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) with respect to any Pension Plan; (g) the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan; (h) the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan; or (i) a determination that any Pension Plan is in at-risk status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA).
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.
EU Treaty means the Treaty on European Union.
Euro and mean the single currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 109(i)4 of the EU Treaty.
Eurocurrency Rate means:
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, the rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR, as published on the applicable Thomson Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits
42
(for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period;
(b) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate per annum equal to (i) the rate, as published on the applicable Thomson Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in such Alternative Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in such Alternative Currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and
(c) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.
Eurocurrency Rate Loan means a Loan, whether denominated in Dollars or any Alternative Currency, that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) or (b), as applicable, of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.
Excess Availability shall mean, at any time without duplication, the remainder of:
(a) the Maximum Borrowing Amount at such time, minus
(b) the sum of the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at such time.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Rate means, on any date with respect to any currency, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into any other currency, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such date on the applicable Bloomberg page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any
43
Bloomberg page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying the exchange rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent, or, in the event no such service is selected, 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., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant currency for delivery two (2) Business Days later; provided that, if at the time of any such determination, for any reason no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable method that it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.
Excluded Accounts means any deposit account (a) established (or otherwise maintained) by a Loan Party that does not have a cash balance at any time exceeding (x) $15,000,000 individually or (y) $25,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts, (b) solely containing cash allocated as proceeds of the sale of Term Priority Collateral pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, (c) that is a Trust Fund Account, (d) used by the Loan Parties exclusively for disbursements and payments (including payroll) in the ordinary course of business, (e) that is a zero balance account or otherwise swept into another account on a daily basis, (f) that is located outside of the United States or (g) for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is six months after the Closing Date, any accounts for accounts payable that are subject to the Transition Services Agreement (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement).
Excluded Asset has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Excluded Equity Interests has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Excluded Subsidiary means:
(a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party;
(b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower or of any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary;
(c) any FSHCO;
(d) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC or a FSHCO;
(e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable Law from providing a Guaranty or by a binding contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or at the time of the acquisition of such Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition) from providing a Guaranty (provided that such contractual obligation is not entered into by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries principally for the purpose of qualifying as an Excluded Subsidiary under this definition) or if such Guaranty would require governmental (including regulatory) or third party (other than Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained;
(f) any special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity) including any Securitization Subsidiary created pursuant to a transaction permitted under this Agreement;
(g) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization;
44
(h) any Captive Insurance Subsidiary;
(i) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith and in consultation with the Administrative Agent, the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing the Guaranty shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom;
(j) any other Subsidiary to the extent the provision of a guaranty by such Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith in consultation with the Administrative Agent;
(k) any Unrestricted Subsidiary; and
(l) any Immaterial Subsidiary;
provided that (x) the Borrower, in its sole discretion (or in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, with the consent of the Administrative Agent not to be unreasonably withheld), may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that qualifies as an Excluded Subsidiary under clauses (a) through (l) above to become a Guarantor in accordance with the definition thereof (subject to completion of any requested know your customer and similar requirements of the Administrative Agent) and thereafter such Subsidiary shall not constitute an Excluded Subsidiary (unless and until the Borrower elects, in its sole discretion, to designate such Persons as an Excluded Subsidiary) and (y) no Subsidiary that guarantees all or any portion of the Term Loan Obligations (other than any amendment, refinancing or replacement of the Term Loan Credit Agreement with respect to which only Foreign Subsidiaries are obligors) or the Senior Notes shall be an Excluded Subsidiary hereunder.
Excluded Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Guarantor, 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) by virtue of such Guarantors failure for any reason to constitute an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to any keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantors Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, 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 (i) 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 (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant
45
to Section 3.01, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 3.01(g) and (d) Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Earnouts and Unfunded Holdbacks shall mean those earnouts and unfunded holdbacks existing on the Closing Date.
Existing Letters of Credit shall meant those certain Letters of Credit specified on Schedule 2.04.
Extended Commitments means Extended Revolving Commitments.
Extended Loans means Extended Revolving Loans.
Extended Revolving Commitments means the Revolving Commitments held by an Extending Lender.
Extended Revolving Loans means the Revolving Loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Commitments.
Extending Lender means each Lender accepting an Extension Offer.
Extension has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
Extension Amendment has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).
Extension Offer has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).
Facility means the Revolving Loans, the Swing Line Loans, Extended Revolving Commitments, any Extended Revolving Loans or any Incremental Loans (including any FILO Tranche), as the context may require.
fair market value means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arms-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction as determined in good faith by the management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower or as otherwise set forth in Section 1.03.
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 (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities (and any related fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant thereto) implementing such Sections of the Code.
FCPA means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or modified from time to time.
Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such days federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the
46
federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
FILO Tranche has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(h).
Financial Covenant means the covenant specified in Section 8.01.
Financial Covenant Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(b).
First Lien Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Fiscal Month has the meaning specified in Section 6.02(e).
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of:
(a) (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Test Period ended as of such date or, as applicable, most recently ended prior to such date, less
(ii) the aggregate amount of federal, state, provincial, local and foreign income taxes paid or payable in cash for the Test Period ended as of such date or, as applicable, most recently ended prior to such date, less
(iii) Non-Financed Capital Expenditures for the Test Period, to
(b) (i) Fixed Charges for the Test Period as of such date; plus
(ii) solely with respect to any determination of the satisfaction of the Payment Conditions pursuant to Section 7.06(r) and Section 7.09(a)(ix), such Restricted Payment or Junior Debt Repayment, as applicable, on a Pro Forma Basis.
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any Test Period, without duplication, the sum of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, plus (b) the aggregate amount of scheduled principal payments in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or payable in cash during such period (other than payments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary).
Floor means, for the Loans or any tranche thereof, as applicable, the benchmark rate floor (which may be zero), if any, provided for in this Agreement with respect to LIBOR as determined for the Loans or such tranche thereof, as applicable.
Foreign Lender means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
Foreign Subsidiary means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fronting Exposure means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the Issuing Banks, such Defaulting Lenders Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations other than such Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other non-Defaulting Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and
47
(b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lenders Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Obligations with respect to Swing Line Loans extended by the Swing Line Lender other than such Obligations with respect to Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other non-Defaulting Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
FSHCO means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) that has no material assets other than Equity Interests (or Equity Interests and Indebtedness) in one or more CFCs or other FSHCOs.
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.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.
General Asset Sale Basket has the meaning specified in Section 7.05(j).
Global Intercompany Note means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit H executed by Holdings, the Borrower and the other parties thereto.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Grant Event means the occurrence of any of the following:
(a) the formation or acquisition by a Loan Party of a new Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary);
(b) the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of a Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) of any Loan Party as a Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) any Person (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) becoming a Subsidiary of a Loan Party; or
(d) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary.
Granting Lender has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).
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
48
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 (other than a Permitted 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, Permitted Liens, 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 means Holdings, the Borrower (other than to its own primary Obligations) and each Restricted Subsidiary that executed a counterpart to the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto) on the Closing Date or thereafter pursuant to Section 6.11, in each case, other than any Excluded Subsidiaries.
Guaranty means (a) the guaranty made by Holdings and the other Guarantors from time to time party thereto in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.
Guaranty Release Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(iii).
Guaranty Supplement means the ABL Guarantee Supplement as defined in the Guaranty.
Hazardous Materials means any hazardous or toxic chemicals, materials, substances or waste which is listed, classified or regulated by any Governmental Authority as hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, restricted hazardous wastes, toxic substances, toxic wastes, contaminants or pollutants, or words of similar import, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum products (including gasoline, crude oil or any fraction thereof), asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, radon gas and urea formaldehyde.
Hedge Agreement means any agreement with respect to (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.
49
Hedge Bank means any Person that is an Agent, a Lender, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing on the Closing Date (with respect to any Secured Hedge Agreement entered into on or prior to the Closing Date) or at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, a Lender, a Lead Arranger or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing; provided, at the time of entering into a Secured Hedge Agreement, no Hedge Bank shall be a Defaulting Lender.
HMT means Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Holdings has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns permitted hereunder.
Home and Office Delivery Business means those assets and property identified by the Borrower as comprising the Home and Office Delivery business.
Identified Transaction has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
IFRS means International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any successor to either such Board, or the SEC, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.
Immaterial Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than a Material Subsidiary.
Increased Amount of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness or in the form of Equity Interests, as applicable, the accretion of original issue discount, deferred financing fees or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies.
Incremental Amendment has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(e).
Incremental Amount the greater of (a) $100,000,000 and (b) Suppressed Availability (calculated as the greatest of Suppressed Availability at the time of such Incremental Amendment and the Suppressed Availability as set forth on any of the six Borrowing Base Certificates most recently delivered prior to the date of such Incremental Amendment (or in the case of Incremental Loans in the form of a FILO Tranche with respect to which an LCA Election has been made, on the LCA Election Date)), assuming that all loans are fully incurred on the date of the receipt of the commitments with respect thereto.
Incremental Equivalent Debt has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
Incremental Facility has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Incremental Loans has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Incremental Revolving Facilities has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
Incremental Revolving Loans has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).
50
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication,
(a) any indebtedness (including principal or premium) of such Person in respect of borrowed money; any indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, loan agreements or similar instruments; letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); Capitalized Lease Obligations; the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles;
(b) (i) to the extent not otherwise included, any Guarantee by such Person of the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business and (ii) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such obligations are assumed by such Person and whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness for purposes of this clause (ii) will be the lesser of the fair market value of such property at such date of determination and the amount of Indebtedness so secured;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreement to the extent such obligations would appear as a net liability on a balance sheet of such Person (other than in the footnotes) prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles; and
(d) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include indebtedness, guarantees or obligations that are (1) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business unless and until such obligations are non-contingent, (2) trade payables, (3) customary purchase money obligations incurred in the ordinary course, (4) earn outs, purchase price holdbacks or similar obligations, (5) intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, (6) [reserved], (7) loans and advances made by Loan Parties having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll over or extension of terms) (such loans and advances, Short Term Advances) and (8) Indebtedness of any direct or indirect Parent Entity appearing on the balance sheet of such Person solely by reason of push down accounting under the Accounting Principles. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.
Indemnified Liabilities has the meaning specified in Section 11.05.
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Indemnitees has the meaning specified in Section 11.05.
Independent Financial Advisor means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged and that is independent of the Borrower and its Affiliates.
Information has the meaning specified in Section 11.08.
51
Initial Revolving Loans means Revolving Loans borrowed and Letters of Credit Issued on the Closing Date, not to exceed the lesser of (a) the Closing Date Borrowing Base and (b) the sum of (i) amounts borrowed to finance ordinary course working capital needs and (ii) an amount equal to the lesser of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) the sum of (A) amounts necessary to backstop or Cash Collateralize, or to replace, existing letters of credit, guarantees and performance or similar bonds issued for the account of the Acquired Business outstanding on the Closing Date, (B) amounts necessary to fund any original issue discount or fees pursuant to the market flex provisions of the Fee Letter, (C) amounts used to finance the Transactions and (D) amounts used to pay Transaction Expenses.
Initial Term Loans has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Inside Maturity Exception has the meaning specified in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.
Intellectual Property has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Intellectual Property Security Agreements has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Intercreditor Agreements means (a) the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, (b) any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and (c) any other intercreditor agreement governing lien priority in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, in each case that may be executed by the Collateral Agent from time to time.
Interest Coverage Ratio means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the Test Period as of such date.
Interest Payment Date means, (a) as to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Eurocurrency Rate Loan and the applicable Maturity Date; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates, (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan) the first calendar day of each fiscal quarter and the applicable Maturity Date and (c) to the extent necessary to create a fungible tranche of Revolving Loans, the date of the incurrence of any Incremental Revolving Loans.
Interest Period means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date that is one, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent consented to by each applicable Lender, twelve months, 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 immediately preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date.
Interim Financial Statements has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(g).
52
Inventory means, with respect to any Person, such Persons now owned or hereafter acquired Inventory as defined in the UCC, and shall also include, without limitation, all: (a) goods which (i) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (ii) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (iii) consist of raw materials, work in progress or materials used or consumed in such Persons business; (b) goods of said description in transit; and (c) all documents of title or other documents representing the foregoing, in each case, to the extent such Inventory is not less than 60 days from expiration.
Inventory Component means the lesser of (a) 85.0% of the NOLV of Eligible Inventory and (b) 75.0% of the Book Value of Eligible Inventory.
Investment means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, by means of
(a) the purchase or other acquisition (including by merger or otherwise) 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, but excluding any Short Term Advances; or
(c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions, including by merger or otherwise) 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 another Person;
provided that none of the following shall constitute an Investment (i) intercompany advances between and among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to their cash management, tax and accounting operations in the ordinary course of business and (ii) intercompany loans, advances or Indebtedness between and among the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries having a term not exceeding 364 days and made in the ordinary course of business.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Borrower.
IRS means Internal Revenue Service of the United States.
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.
Issuance Notice means an Issuance Notice in respect of letters of credit substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3.
Issuing Bank means as the context may require, (a) Bank of America, N.A., (b) Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., (c) Royal Bank of Canada, (d) Mizuho Bank, Ltd and (e) any other Lender that, at the request of the Borrower and with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), agrees to become an Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(k) or (m). Each Issuing Bank may, in its
53
discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank in which case the term Issuing Bank shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
Joint Bookrunners means BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC.
Joint Venture means (a) any Person which would constitute an equity method investee of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any Person in whom the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially owns any Equity Interest that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Joint Venture Investments means Investments in any Joint Venture in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $140,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 25.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination.
Judgment Currency has the meaning specified in Section 2.20(a).
Junior Debt Repayment has the meaning specified in Section 7.09(a).
Junior Financing means any Material Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and the Term Loan Obligations expressly by its terms.
Junior Financing Documentation means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.
Junior Lien Debt means any Indebtedness that is (or is intended by the Borrower to be) secured by a Lien on all or any portion of the Collateral that is junior in lien priority to the Liens on the Collateral that secure the Obligations pursuant to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Junior Lien Debt excludes the Term Loans as of the Closing Date. A Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of Junior Lien Debt shall become party to, or otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement means an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit K (as the same may be modified in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower), or, if requested by the providers of Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be Junior Lien Debt, another lien subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the providers of such Indebtedness, in each case, that provides for subordination of the Liens securing any applicable other Indebtedness to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations, as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Upon the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with one or more Debt Representatives for secured Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred hereunder as Junior Lien Debt.
Latest Maturity Date means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Loan or Incremental Commitment or any Extended Revolving Commitment, 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 and
54
executive orders, 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.
LCA Election has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).
LCA Test Date has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(f).
Lead Arrangers means BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC.
Lender has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes each Revolving Lender), and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender. Each Additional Lender shall be a Lender to the extent any such Person has executed and delivered an Incremental Amendment, and to the extent such Incremental Amendment shall have become effective in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and each Extending Lender shall continue to be a Lender. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 2.01 sets forth the name of each Lender. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender.
Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lenders 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 a letter of credit issued or to be issued by any Issuing Bank to the Borrower or any Loan Party (other than Holdings) pursuant to this Agreement, which letter of credit shall be (a) a standby letter of credit or (b) solely to the extent agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank in its sole discretion, a commercial or trade letter of credit.
Letter of Credit Advance means, as to any Revolving Lender, such Lenders funding of its participation in any Letter of Credit Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.
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 applicable Issuing Bank, together with an Issuance Notice.
Letter of Credit Borrowing means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit that has not been reimbursed by the Borrower or fully refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing on the date when made.
Letter of Credit Documents means, as to any Letter of Credit, each Letter of Credit Application and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower or in favor of such Issuing Bank by the Borrower and relating to such Letter of Credit.
Letter of Credit Expiration Date means the day that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date or such other day as the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower may agree (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day).
55
Letter of Credit Extension means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or the extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.
Letter of Credit Obligations means, at any time, the aggregate of all liabilities at such time of any Loan Party to each Issuing Bank with respect to Letters of Credit, whether or not any such liability is contingent, including, without duplication, the sum of (a) the Reimbursement Obligations at such time and (b) the maximum aggregate amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, available for drawing under all Letters of Credit then outstanding.
Letter of Credit Percentage means, (a) initially with respect to (i) Bank of America, N.A., 46.67%, (ii) Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., 20.00%, (iii) Royal Bank of Canada, 20.00% and (iv) Mizuho Bank, Ltd., 13.33% (in each case, as may be reduced to reflect any percentage allocated to another Issuing Bank pursuant to the immediately succeeding clause (b)) and (b) from time to time after the Closing Date with respect to any other Issuing Bank, subject to Section 11.01, a percentage to be agreed between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and such Issuing Bank.
Letter of Credit Sublimit means the greater of (a) $75,000,000 and (b) such higher amount as the Borrower, the Revolving Lenders and the applicable Issuing Bank(s) may from time to time agree.
Letter of Credit Usage means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the maximum aggregate amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, available for drawing under all Letters of Credit then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Letters of Credit outstanding at such time.
LIBOR means the London Interbank Offered Rate set by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited.
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); provided that in no event shall a right of use lease or an agreement to sell in and of itself be deemed or give rise to a Lien.
Lien Release Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(i).
Limited Condition Acquisition means any Acquisition Transaction or other Investment by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.
Liquidity Condition has the meaning set forth in the definition of Cash Dominion Period.
Loan means any of a Revolving Loan, a Swing Line Loan, any Incremental Loan and a Protective Advance made by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II of this Agreement.
Loan Documents means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) any Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment, (d) the Guaranty, (e) the Collateral Documents, (f) the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement (if any) and (g) the Global Intercompany Note.
Loan Parties means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors; provided that prior to consummation of the Acquisition, neither the Acquired Business nor any Target Loan Parties shall be Loan Parties.
56
Management Stockholders means (a) any Company Person who is an investor in Holdings or a Parent Entity, (b) family members of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a), (c) trusts, partnerships or limited liability companies for the benefit of any of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b), and (d) heirs, executors, estates, successors and legal representatives of the individuals identified in the foregoing clause (a) or (b).
Margin Stock has the meaning set forth in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.
Market Capitalization means an amount equal to (a) the sum of (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Borrower or any Parent Entity on the date of the initial public offering of the shares of common stock of the Borrower or such Parent Entity, plus (ii) the total number of shares of common stock of the Borrower or any Parent Entity that are actually issued, if any, upon exercise of the overallotment option granted to the underwriters of such initial public offering, multiplied by (b) the initial public offering price of such shares of common stock.
Master Agreement has the meaning specified in the definition of Hedge Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect means any event, circumstance or condition that has had a materially adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (b) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under the Loan Documents; provided that, until December 31, 2022, (i) the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic and (ii) the direct effects of the COVID-19 (and subsequent mutations) pandemic upon the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not in any event constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
Material Domestic Subsidiary means, as of the Closing Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Borrowers Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors solely because they do not meet the thresholds set forth in clause (a) or (b) comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re- designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty (60) days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or on the date of such redesignation, as applicable (or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), (i) designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Domestic Subsidiaries as Material Domestic Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be
57
true and (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 6.11 with respect to any such Domestic Subsidiaries identified in the foregoing clause (i).
Material Foreign Subsidiary means, as of the Closing Date and thereafter at any date of determination, each of the Borrowers Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (a) whose total assets at the last day of the most recent Test Period (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary at the last day of the most recent Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) whose revenues for such Test Period (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiary for such Test Period) were equal to or greater than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such Test Period, in each case determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided that if, at any time and from time to time after the date which is thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Material Foreign Subsidiaries comprise in the aggregate more than (when taken together with the total assets of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries at the last day of the most recent Test Period) 10.0% of the total consolidated assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period or more than (when taken together with the revenues of the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period) 10.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are Foreign Subsidiaries for such Test Period (or, in each case, on any date when re-designated as an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary), then the Borrower shall, not later than sixty (60) days after the date by which financial statements for such Test Period were required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or on the date of such re-designation (or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), designate in writing to the Administrative Agent one or more of such Foreign Subsidiaries as Material Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true.
Material Indebtedness means, as of any date, Indebtedness for borrowed money on such date in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount; provided that in no event shall any of the following be Material Indebtedness (a) Indebtedness under a Loan Document, (b) obligations in respect of a receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing), (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (d) Indebtedness held by a Loan Party or any Indebtedness held by an Affiliate of a Loan Party and (e) Indebtedness under any Hedge Agreements.
Material Intellectual Property means Intellectual Property that is owned by a Loan Party and that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (whether owned as of the Closing Date or thereafter acquired).
Material Subsidiary means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Material Foreign Subsidiary.
Maturing Indebtedness Reserve means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any installment(s) of principal of Indebtedness described in the definition of Inside Maturity Exception which has a scheduled date of payment or scheduled maturity date that is due to occur less than 91 days after such date, a reserve equal to the outstanding principal amount of such installment(s) that are so due. For the avoidance of doubt, a Maturing Indebtedness Reserve shall not be established with respect to any principal installment of Indebtedness prior to the 91st day preceding the scheduled date of payment or a scheduled maturity date of such installment.
Maturity Date means:
58
(a) with respect to the Revolving Loans that have not been extended pursuant to Section 2.18, the date that is the earlier of (i) March 31, 2026 and (ii) the date such Revolving Loans are declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02; and
(b) with respect to any tranche of Extended Revolving Loans, the earlier of (i) the final maturity date as specified in the applicable Extension Amendment and (ii) the date such tranche of Extended Revolving Loans are terminated and/or declared due and payable pursuant to Section 9.02.
provided, in each case, that if such day is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately preceding such day.
Maximum Borrowing Amount means the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments at such time and (b) the Borrowing Base then in effect.
Maximum Rate has the meaning specified in Section 11.10.
Minimum Collateral Amount means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 103.0% of the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Banks with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (b) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 103.0% of the Fronting Exposure of the Swing Line Lender with respect to Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time and (c) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in their sole discretion.
Minimum Equity Contribution has the meaning specified in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
Multiemployer Plan means any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
Net Cash Proceeds means, with respect to:
(a) 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 and 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 of the Restricted Subsidiaries), over
(ii) the sum of,
(A) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest, breakage costs and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset
59
subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and required to be repaid in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event or otherwise comes due under the terms thereof (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents or Pari Passu Lien Debt);
(B) the out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys fees, accountants fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and re-cording 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 and restoration costs following a Casualty Event and out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with such Disposition;
(C) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable in connection therewith and distributions made pursuant to Section 7.06(h)(i) or 7.06(h)(iii) (including taxes imposed on the distribution or repatriation of any such Net Cash Proceeds);
(D) in the case of any Disposition or Casualty Event by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (D) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof); and
(E) (i) any Cash escrow arrangements (until released from escrow to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiary) and (ii) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (1) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with the Accounting Principles and (2) 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, it being understood that Net Cash Proceeds shall include the amount of any reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in this clause (E);
provided that 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 exceeds (a) $56,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 10.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds under this clause (a)); and
(b) the sale, incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of:
(i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over
(ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, fees (including investment banking fees, attorneys fees, accountants fees, underwriting fees
60
and discounts), commissions, costs (including fees, discounts, and issuance costs) and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses, incurred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, incurrence or issuance.
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, on an unconsolidated basis) and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends.
NOLV means, with respect to Eligible Inventory of any Person, the net appraised orderly liquidation value of such Eligible Inventory that is estimated to be recoverable in an orderly liquidation of such Eligible Inventory, as determined based upon the most recent Inventory appraisal conducted in accordance with Section 6.10(b) hereof.
Non-Consenting Lender has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Non-Defaulting Lender means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
Non-Financed Capital Expenditures means Consolidated Capital Expenditures that (a) are not financed with the proceeds of any Indebtedness (it being understood and agreed that, to the extent financed with Loans, such Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall be deemed Non-Financed Capital Expenditures), the proceeds of any sale or issuance of Equity Interests of, or equity contributions to, Holdings or the Borrower, the proceeds of any Disposition (including any substantially contemporaneous trade-in of assets) or any Casualty Event and (b) are not reimbursed by a third person (excluding any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries).
Non-Loan Party means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party.
Nonrenewal Notice Date has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b)(iii).
Not Otherwise Applied means, with reference to any amount otherwise eligible for inclusion in the Available Equity Amount that is proposed to be applied to a particular use or transaction, that such amount was not previously applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was (or may have been) contingent on the receipt or availability of such amount, it being agreed that the incurrence of secured debt shall be deemed one use transaction for purposes of this definition.
Note means each of the Revolving Loan Notes and the Swing Line Note (if any).
Notes Indenture means the Indenture (including the guaranty set forth therein), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower, as issuer, and the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, as guarantors, and the Notes Trustee, as trustee, pursuant to which notes are issued, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Notes Trustee means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacities as trustee under the Notes Indenture, together with its successors and permitted assigns.
Notice of Intent to Cure has the meaning specified in Section 6.02(a).
Obligations means all,
61
(a) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit (including in respect of any Revolving Exposure relating thereto) 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, premiums, fees and expenses that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, premiums, fees and expenses are allowed claims in such proceeding;
(b) obligations of any Loan Party arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement; and
(c) Cash Management Obligations;
provided that Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, premiums, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party and to provide Cash Collateral under any Loan Document.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.
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, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.07).
62
Overnight Rate means, for any day, (a) the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be its cost of funding such amount.
Parent Entity has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Pari Passu Lien Debt means any Indebtedness (i) that is (or is intended by the Borrower to be) secured by Liens on all or any portion of the Collateral that (x) with respect to the Term Priority Collateral, (a) are pari passu in lien priority with the Liens on the Term Priority Collateral that secure the Initial Term Loans and (b) senior in lien priority to the Liens on the Term Priority Collateral that secure the Obligations, and (y) with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, (a) are pari passu in lien priority with the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral that secure the Initial Term Loans and (b) junior in lien priority to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral that secure the Obligations, and (ii) with respect to which a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to and subject to the provisions of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement as a Fixed Asset Collateral Agent thereunder (or has become a party in a comparable capacity to another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion). For the avoidance of doubt, (i) Pari Passu Lien Debt includes the Initial Term Loans, and excludes obligations that are unsecured or secured (or intended to be secured) by a lien that is junior in priority to Liens on Collateral securing Pari Passu Lien Debt and (ii) no Indebtedness (other than the Loans, and any Incremental Facility incurred pursuant to this Agreement) may be secured on a pari passu lien basis by Liens on any ABL Priority Collateral.
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).
Participant Register has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(e).
Participating Member State means each state as described in any EMU Legislation.
Participation has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).
Payment Conditions means,
(a) with respect to Restricted Payments made in reliance upon Section 7.06(r) or Junior Debt Repayment made in reliance on Section 7.09(a)(ix):
(i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect to such Restricted Payments or Junior Debt Repayments, as applicable;
(ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (to include the borrowing of any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit in connection with such Restricted Payments or Junior Debt Repayments as applicable) calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is at least 1.00:1.00;
(iii) Specified Excess Availability as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness or of such Restricted Payment or Junior Debt Payment, as applicable, and for the immediately preceding thirty calendar days (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis to include the borrowing of any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit in connection with such Restricted Payments or Junior Debt Repayments, as applicable), is at least the
63
greater of (1) $50,000,000 and (2) 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount; provided that compliance with clause (ii) will not be required if Specified Excess Availability (calculated as set forth above) as of the date of such Restricted Payment or Junior Debt Payment, as applicable, and for the immediately preceding thirty calendar days is at least the greater of (1) $70,000,000 and (2) 20.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount; and
(iv) the Borrower has delivered a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the Administrative Agent certifying compliance with the requirements of clauses (i) through (iii) above; and
(b) with respect to any Investments made in reliance upon Section 7.02(c) or Section 7.02(ff):
(i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect to such Investment;
(ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (to include the borrowing of any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit in connection with such Investment) calculated on a Pro Forma Basis is at least 1.00:1.00;
(iii) Specified Excess Availability date of such Investment and for the immediately preceding thirty calendar days (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis to include (x) the borrowing of any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit in connection with such transaction and (y) the Eligible Accounts Receivables, Eligible Inventory and Qualified Cash of (or attributable to) the Person (or assets) acquired in any such Investment) is at least the greater of (1) $40,000,000 and (2) 12.50% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount; provided that compliance with clause (ii) will not be required if Specified Excess Availability (calculated as set for the above) as of the date of such Investment and for the immediately preceding thirty calendar days is at least the greater of (1) $60,000,000 and (2) 17.50% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount; and
(iv) the Borrower has delivered a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the Administrative Agent certifying compliance with the requirements of clauses (i) through (iii) above.
Payment Recipient has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(c).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
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 of their respective ERISA Affiliates or to which any Loan Party or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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, or has had an obligation to make, contributions at any time in the preceding five plan years.
Permitted Acquisition means an Acquisition Transaction together with other Investments undertaken to consummate such Acquisition Transaction; provided that:
64
(a) after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Acquisition Transaction or Investment, at the applicable time determined in accordance with Section 1.08(f), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the business of such Person, or such assets, as the case may be, constitute a business permitted by the Loan Documents; and
(c) with respect to each such purchase or other acquisition, all actions required to be taken with respect to any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary (including each Subsidiary thereof that constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary) or assets in order to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 6.11 to the extent applicable shall have been taken (or shall be taken), to the extent required by such section (or arrangements for the taking of such actions after the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition shall have been made) (unless such newly created or acquired Subsidiary constitutes an Excluded Subsidiary or is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Permitted Discretion means the Administrative Agents commercially reasonable credit judgment (from the perspective of an asset-based lender) in establishing reserves, exercised in good faith in accordance with customary business practices for similar asset-based lending facilities, based upon its consideration of any factor that it reasonably believes (i) reflect items that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the value of the applicable Eligible Accounts Receivable, Eligible Inventory or Qualified Cash, or (ii) reflect claims and liabilities that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the enforceability or priority of the Administrative Agents Liens on the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base. Any reserve established or modified by the Administrative Agent shall have a reasonable relationship to circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies which are the basis for such reserve, as reasonably determined, without duplication, by the Administrative Agent in good faith; provided that circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies existing or arising prior to the Closing Date and, in each case, disclosed in writing in any field examination or appraisal delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection herewith or otherwise known to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, shall not be the basis for any establishment of any Reserves after the Closing Date, unless such circumstances, conditions, events or contingencies shall have changed in a material adverse respect since the Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (a) the amount of any such Reserve or change shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for such reserve or such change, (b) no Reserves or changes shall be duplicative of reserves or changes already accounted for through eligibility criteria (including collection/advance rates) and (c) no Reserves shall be imposed on the first 5.0% of dilution of accounts receivable and thereafter no dilution reserve shall exceed 1.0% for each incremental whole percentage in dilution over 5.0%.
Permitted Equity Issuance means any,
(a) public or private sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Parent Entity;
(b) contribution to the equity capital of the Borrower or any other Loan Party (other than (i) a Specified Equity Contribution or (ii) in exchange for Disqualified Equity Interests);
(c) sale or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that has been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings, the Borrower, a Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Entity; or
65
(d) interest, returns, profits, dividends, distributions and similar amounts received from any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is not a Subsidiary or on account of an Investment in such Person;
provided that the amount of any Permitted Equity Issuance will be, (i) in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents received by a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution and the fair market value of any other property received in connection with such sale, issuance or contribution (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value and (ii) in the case of clause (c) above, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness so converted or exchanged.
Permitted Holders means any:
(a) a Permitted Investor and any Co-Investor;
(b) the Management Stockholders;
(c) any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of which the Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) above are members; provided that, without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) above, collectively, beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) Equity Interests representing at least a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interest of Holdings (or any Successor Holdings, if applicable) then held by such group; and
(d) any Parent Entity, for so long as a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Parent Entity is beneficially owned (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by one or more Permitted Holders described in clauses (a), (b) and/or (c) of the definition thereof.
Permitted Investment means (a) any Permitted Acquisition, (b) any Acquisition Transaction and/or (c) any other Investment or acquisition permitted hereunder.
Permitted Investors means (a) the Sponsor, (b) each of the Affiliates and investment managers of the Sponsor, (c) any fund or account managed by any of the persons described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition, (d) any employee benefit plan of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and (e) investment vehicles of members of management of Holdings or the Borrower, Holdings, the Borrower, and their respective Subsidiaries.
Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness that is Junior Lien Debt.
Permitted Lien means any Lien not prohibited by Section 7.01.
Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt means any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness that is Pari Passu Lien Debt.
Permitted Ratio Debt means Indebtedness of one or more Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, at the time of incurrence thereof (or the time commitments with respect thereto are made):
66
(a) immediately after giving effect to the issuance, incurrence, or assumption of such Indebtedness:
(i) in the case of any Pari Passu Lien Debt, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (1) the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or (2) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence;
(ii) in the case of any Junior Lien Debt, either (1) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (A) the Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50:1.00 or (B) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence or (2) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or greater than (A) 2.00 to 1.00 or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence; and
(iii) in the case of any Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral, either:
(A) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or less than (I) the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50:1.00 or (II) the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence, or
(B) the Interest Coverage Ratio for the applicable Test Period is equal to or greater than (I) 2.00 to 1.00 or (II) the Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such incurrence;
in each case, after giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any use of proceeds thereof and measured as of and for the Test Period immediately preceding the issuance, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness for which internal financial statements are available; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Permitted Ratio Debt incurred by Non-Loan Parties shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the greater of (A) $280,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 50.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination; and
(b) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Permitted Ratio Debt has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, (i) if such Permitted Ratio Debt is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement and the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (ii) if such Permitted Ratio Debt is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) (i) the scheduled final maturity date of any Permitted Ratio Debt (A) that is Pari Passu Lien Debt will be no earlier than the scheduled final maturity date for the Revolving Loans and (B) that is Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any Collateral shall not mature prior to the date that is 91 days following the scheduled final maturity date for the Revolving Loans; provided that this clause (c)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Permitted Ratio Debt will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Revolving Loans (without giving effect to any amortization or prepayment on the outstanding Initial Term Loans); provided that this clause (c)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception;
67
(d) any mandatory prepayment of Permitted Ratio Debt (i) that comprises Pari Passu Lien Debt may not participate in any mandatory prepayments of the Revolving Loans, it being agreed (A) any repayment of such Permitted Ratio Debt at maturity shall be permitted and (B) any greater than pro rata repayment of such Permitted Ratio Debt shall be permitted with the proceeds of a permitted refinancing thereof; provided that this clause (d)(i) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and (ii) that comprises Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on the Collateral may not be made, unless such mandatory prepayments comply with the provisions of Section 7.09(a); provided that this clause (d)(ii) shall not apply to the incurrence of any Permitted Ratio Debt pursuant to the Inside Maturity Exception; and
(e) (i) to the extent secured by a Lien on property or assets of Borrower or any other Loan Party, any Permitted Ratio Debt shall not be secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person that does not also secure the Initial Revolving Loans (except (1) customary cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar fronting lender, (2) Excluded Assets, (3) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans at the time of incurrence and (4) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders under Initial Revolving Loans for so long as such Liens secure such Permitted Ratio Debt); and (ii) to the extent guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such Permitted Ratio Debt shall not be guaranteed by any such Person that is not (or is not required to be) a Loan Party (except (1) for guarantees by other Persons that are applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans at the time of incurrence, (2) an Excluded Subsidiary and (3) any such Person guaranteeing such Permitted Ratio Debt that also guarantees Initial Revolving Loans for so long as such Person guarantees such Permitted Ratio Debt).
Permitted Ratio Debt (i) may rank either pari passu or junior in right of payment with any Class of Revolving Loans (including the Initial Revolving Loans) and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, may be Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness not secured by a Lien on any Collateral. Permitted Ratio Debt will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor, but, for avoidance of doubt, no Permitted Ratio Debt may be secured on a pari passu lien basis by Liens on any ABL Priority Collateral (as defined in the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement).
Permitted Refinancing means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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, replaced, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon, plus OID and upfront fees plus other fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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(d), such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended,
68
(c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(d) no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(d) such Indebtedness shall not be incurred or guaranteed by any Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary other than a Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary that was an obligor of the Indebtedness being exchanged, extended, renewed, replaced or refinanced and no additional Loan Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries shall become liable for such Indebtedness;
(e) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is Junior Financing or Junior Lien Debt,
(i) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, 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, replaced, renewed or extended,
(ii) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is unsecured, such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is either (A) unsecured or (B) secured only by Permitted Liens (provided that such incurrence will thereafter count in the calculation of any remaining basket capacity thereunder, while such Indebtedness remains outstanding);
(iii) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed, or extended is secured by Liens, (A) such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is either (1) unsecured or (2) secured only by Permitted Liens, provided that if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of (1) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement and the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (2) if such Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (B) such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is secured by Liens that are subordinated to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation (including any intercreditor or similar agreements) governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, replaced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended; and
(iv) such modification, refinancing, refunding, replacement, renewal or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, replaced, renewed or extended and no additional obligors become liable for such Indebtedness;
(f) if such Indebtedness is secured by assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:
69
(i) such Indebtedness shall not be secured by Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are not also subject to, or would be required to be subject to pursuant to the Loan Documents, a Lien securing the Obligations (except (1) Liens on property or assets applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence, and (2) any Liens on property or assets to the extent that a Lien on such property or asset is also added for the benefit of the Lenders);
(ii) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt or Junior Lien Debt, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of (A) if such Indebtedness is Pari Passu Lien Debt, an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement and the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (B) if such Indebtedness is Junior Lien Debt, a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement; and
(g) in the case of any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt or any Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt, in each case, such Permitted Refinancing is secured by Liens on assets of Loan Parties that are subject to (x) an Equal Priority Intercreditor Agreement and the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (y) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.
Permitted Refinancing will be deemed to include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the case of any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness that is subject to a limitation on incurrence or guarantee of such Indebtedness by any Non- Loan Party, such limitation shall apply to any Permitted Refinancing thereof as if such Permitted Refinancing were such Indebtedness.
Permitted Reorganization means any transaction (a) undertaken to effect a corporate reorganization (or similar transaction or event) for operational or efficiency purposes, (b) undertaken in connection with and reasonably required for consummating an Qualifying IPO or (c) related to tax planning or tax reorganization, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Borrower and entered into after the Closing Date; provided that, (i) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to such transaction and immediately after giving effect thereto and (ii) the Borrower has determined in good faith that, after giving effect to such transaction, the security interests of the Lenders in the Collateral (taken as a whole) and the Guarantees of the Obligations (taken as a whole), in each case would not be impaired as a result thereof, and such transaction would not otherwise be materially adverse to the Lenders.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Personal Property Collateral means any Collateral consisting of personal property in which a valid lien may be created pursuant to Article 9 of the New York UCC.
Platform has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Pledged Collateral Threshold means an amount equal to the Threshold Amount.
Pledged Debt has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
70
Pledged Equity has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Post-Acquisition Borrowing Base has the meaning specified in the definition of Acquired Borrowing Base Component.
Pounds Sterling and £ mean the lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Pre-Acquisition Borrowing Base has the meaning specified in the definition of Acquired Borrowing Base Component.
Prepayment Notice means a written notice made pursuant to Section 2.07(a)(i) substantially in the form of Exhibit J.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its prime rate. The prime rate is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of Americas costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
Private-Side Information means any information with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries that is not Public-Side Information.
Pro Forma Basis and Pro Forma Effect mean, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant or calculation hereunder, the determination or calculation of such test, covenant or ratio (including in connection with Specified Transactions) in accordance with Section 1.08.
Pro Rata Share means with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loans of any Lender and any Letters of Credit issued or participations purchased therein by any Lender or any participation in any Swing Line Loans purchased by any 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 Revolving Commitment of that Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at such time.
Prohibited Perfection Action means any requirement or action:
(a) to perfect security interests in the Collateral other than by,
(i) all asset filings pursuant to the UCC in the office of the secretary of state (or similar central filing office) of the relevant state(s) for each Domestic Subsidiary;
(ii) filings in (A) the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to any material U.S. registered patents and trademarks and (B) the United States Copyright Office of the Library of Congress with respect to material copyright registrations, in the case of each of (A) and (B), constituting Collateral;
(iii) [Reserved];
(iv) [Reserved]; and
71
(v) delivery to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (or a bailee or other agent of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent) to be held in its possession of all Collateral consisting of (A) certificates representing Pledged Equity, and (B) promissory notes and other instruments constituting Collateral, in each case, in the manner provided in the Collateral Documents; provided that promissory notes and instruments having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Pledged Collateral Threshold or less need not be delivered to the Collateral Agent;
(b) subject to Section 6.14, to enter into any control agreement, lockbox or similar arrangement with respect to any deposit account, securities account, commodities account or other bank account, or otherwise take or perfect a security interest with control (other than with respect to the Cash Collateral Account and Pledged Securities under the Collateral Documents);
(c) to be required to have any notice sent to Account Debtors or other contractual third parties prior to an Event of Default;
(d) to provide any notice or obtain the consent of governmental authorities under the Federal Assignment of Claims Act (or any state equivalent thereof);
(e) to take any perfection action with respect to any real property;
(f) to take any action (i) outside of the United States with respect to any assets located outside of the United States, (ii) in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or (iii) required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction to create, perfect or maintain any security interest or otherwise, except, in each case, with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary that voluntarily becomes a Guarantor; or
(g) to take any action with respect to perfecting a Lien with respect to letters of credit, letter of credit rights, Commercial Tort Claims, Chattel Paper or assets subject to a certificate of title or similar statute (in each case, other than the filing of customary all asset UCC-1 financing statements), unless required by the terms of the Security Agreement or the relevant Collateral Document.
No representation or warranty contained herein or in any Loan Document shall be deemed inaccurate as a result of any Grantor not taking a Prohibited Perfection Action.
Protective Advance has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.
PTE means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Public Company Costs means costs relating to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and other expenses arising out of or incidental to Holdings status (or any relevant Parent Entitys status) as a reporting company, including costs, fees and expenses (including legal, accounting and other professional fees) relating to compliance with provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules of securities exchange companies with listed equity securities, directors compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders, directors and officers insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.
Public Lenders means Lenders that do not wish to receive Private-Side Information.
72
Public-Side Information means (a) at any time prior to a Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries becoming the issuer of any Traded Securities, information that Holdings determines (i) would be required by applicable Law to be publicly disclosed in connection with an issuance by such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries of its debt or equity securities pursuant to a registered public offering made at such time or (ii) not material to make an investment decision with respect to securities of such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries (for purposes of United States federal, state or other applicable securities laws), and (b) at any time on or after such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries becoming the issuer of any Traded Securities, information that does not constitute material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal, state or other applicable securities laws) with respect to such Parent Entity or Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities.
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 11.26(a).
Qualified Cash means cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties that are not Restricted in DDAs (including any DDA maintained with the Administrative Agent) that are subject to Blocked Account Agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent which provide for daily reporting by the applicable depository institution to the Administrative Agent.
Qualified Cash Component means 100.0% of Qualified Cash.
Qualified Equity Interests means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
Qualified Holding Company Debt means Indebtedness of Holdings:
(a) that is not subject to any Guarantee by any Loan Party (including the Borrower);
(b) that will not mature prior to the date that is six months after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of issuance or incurrence thereof;
(c) that has no scheduled amortization or scheduled payments of principal and is not subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligation (it being understood that such Indebtedness may have mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions satisfying the requirements of clause (e) below);
(d) that does not require any payments in cash of interest or other amounts in respect of the principal thereof prior to the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is four years from the date of the issuance or incurrence thereof and (ii) the date that is 180 days after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such issuance or incurrence; and
(e) that has mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption, covenant, default and remedy provisions customary for senior discount notes of an issuer that is the parent of a borrower under senior secured credit facilities, and in any event, with respect to covenant, default and remedy provisions, no more restrictive (taken as a whole) than those set forth in this Agreement (other than provisions customary for senior discount notes of a holding company), in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
73
provided that any such Indebtedness shall constitute Qualified Holding Company Debt only if immediately after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence thereof and the use of proceeds thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Qualified Professional Asset Manager has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a).
Qualified Securitization Financing means any Securitization Financing that meets the following conditions:
(a) such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
(b) all sales, transfers and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets are made at fair market value; and
(c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof, including any Standard Securitization Undertakings, shall be market terms, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
Qualifying IPO means,
(a) the issuance by Holdings or any Parent Entity of its common Equity Interests in an underwritten primary public offering, other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8, pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering), or
(b) any transaction or series of related transactions following consummation of which Holdings or any Parent Entity is either subject to the periodic reporting obligations of the Exchange Act or has a class or series of Equity Interests publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange, in each case, if following such transaction or series of transactions, any class or series of Equity Interests of such Person is listed on a national securities exchange.
ReadyRefresh Account means an Account arising from or in connection with the ReadyRefresh line of products.
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent (b) any Lender, (c) any Issuing Bank and (d) the Swing Line Lender, as applicable.
Recurring Contracts means, as of any date of determination, any commercial contract of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary for the provision of goods or other services that are continuous and not project based.
Reference Time with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is LIBOR, 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 not LIBOR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
Refunding Equity Interests has the meaning specified in Section 7.06(o).
74
Register has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(c).
Registered Equivalent Notes means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, substantially identical notes (having the same Guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.
Reimbursement Obligations has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).
Related Indemnified Person of an Indemnitee means (a) any controlling person or controlled affiliate of such Indemnitee, (b) the respective directors, officers, or employees of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling persons or controlled affiliates and (c) the respective agents of such Indemnitee or any of its controlling persons or controlled affiliates, in the case of this clause (c), acting at the instructions of such Indemnitee, controlling person or such controlled affiliate; provided that each reference to a controlled affiliate or controlling person in this definition shall pertain to a controlled affiliate or controlling person involved in the negotiation or syndication of the Facility.
Release Actions has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release Certificate has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release Date has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(b).
Release/Subordination Event has the meaning specified in Section 10.11(a)(ii).Relevant Four Fiscal Quarter Period means, with respect to any requested Specified Equity Contribution, the four-fiscal quarter period ending on (and including) the fiscal quarter in which Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA will be increased as a result of such Specified Equity Contribution.
Relevant Governmental Body means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
Report means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Loan Parties assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to Section 6.10(b) or (c), which Reports shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent, subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
Reportable Event means, with respect to any Pension 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 day notice period has been waived by regulation.
Required Facility Lenders means, with respect to any Facility on any date of determination, Lenders having or holding more than 50.0% of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans under such Facility and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Facility; provided that the portion of outstanding Loans and the unused Commitments of such Facility, as applicable, held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Facility Lenders.
75
Required Lenders means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having or holding more than 50.0% of the sum of (a) the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Lenders and (b) the aggregate unused Revolving Commitments; provided that the aggregate Revolving Exposure and unused Revolving Commitments of or held by any Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
Required Minimum Balances has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(c).
Rescindable Amount has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(c).
Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations means any Obligations in respect of any Secured Cash Management Services, up to the maximum amount owing thereunder as specified by the applicable Cash Management Bank in writing to Administrative Agent, which amount may be increased with respect to any existing Secured Cash Management Services by further written notice from such Cash Management Bank to Administrative Agent from time to time; provided that the Borrower has been notified of and given a least three (3) Business Days to review any error in the calculation of such maximum amount and increased amount.
Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations means any Obligations in respect of any Secured Hedge Agreement owing to a Hedge Bank, up to the maximum amount owing thereunder as specified by the applicable Hedge Bank in writing to Administrative Agent, which amount may be increased with respect to any existing Secured Hedge Agreement at any time by further written notice from such Hedge Bank to Administrative Agent; provided that the Borrower has been notified of and given a least three (3) Business Days to review any error in the calculation of such maximum amount and increased amount.
Reserves means, without duplication, the Bank Products Reserve, the Maturing Indebtedness Reserve and any and all other reserves established in accordance with and subject to Section 2.21. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing but subject to Section 2.21, there may be dilution reserves, reserves for unpaid and accrued sales taxes, reserves for bankers liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit or investment accounts, reserves for contingent liabilities of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured or underinsured losses or litigation of any Loan Party, reserves for raw material purchase price variations, customer-specific bad debt reserves, reserves for customs charges, freight and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for other taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party, reserves for self-insurance and insurance premiums and reserves for royalties and other payments to owners or licensors of intellectual property.
Resolution Authority means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any U.K. Financial Institution, a U.K. Resolution Authority.
Responsible Officer means the executive chairman, chief executive officer, president, senior vice president, senior vice president (finance), vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, manager of treasury activities or assistant treasurer or other similar officer or Person performing similar functions of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of a 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, 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. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Responsible Officer shall refer to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
Restricted means, when referring to cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, that such cash or Cash Equivalents appear (or would be required to appear) as restricted on
76
a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary (unless such appearance is related to a restriction in favor of, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent).
Restricted Payment means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, solely to a holder of Equity Interests in such Persons capacity as a holder of such Equity Interests other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower), 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 Borrowers stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any Contractual Obligation that is based on, or measured with respect to the value of an Equity Interest, including any such Contractual Obligations constituting compensation arrangements, shall not be considered a Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment not made in cash or Cash Equivalents shall be the fair market value of the securities or other property distributed by dividend or other otherwise.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Retail Account means an Account arising from or in connection with retail sales.
Revolving Commitment means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund any Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.01 and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower hereunder and Revolving Commitments means such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lenders Revolving Commitment, if any, is set forth on Schedule 2.01 under the caption Revolving Commitment or in the applicable Assignment and Assumption, subject to any increase, adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof including Section 2.16. The aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments as of the Closing Date is $350,000,000.
Revolving Commitment Period means the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
Revolving Commitment Termination Date means the earliest to occur of (a) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, (b) the date the Revolving Commitments, including Revolving Commitments in respect of Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, are permanently reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.08, and (c) the date of the termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 9.02.
Revolving Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans at such time and (2) the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding at such time. The Revolving Exposure of any Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.19, the product of (a) such Lenders Pro Rata Share and (b) the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Lenders, collectively, at such time.
Revolving Facility means the Facility comprised of the Revolving Commitments, Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder.
Revolving Lender means a Lender having a Revolving Commitment or other Revolving Exposure.
Revolving Loan Note means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-1, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
77
Revolving Loans means the revolving loans made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, including each Protective Advance made to the Borrower.
S&P means Standard & Poors, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
Sale Leaseback Transaction means a sale leaseback transaction with respect to all or any portion of any real property, equipment or capital assets owned by a Loan Party or other property customarily included in such transactions.
Same Day Funds means disbursements and payments in immediately available funds.
Sanctioned Person has the meaning specified in Section 5.17(c).
Sanctions means any sanction or trade embargo administered or enforced by the United States government (including OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or HMT.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Secured Cash Management Services means Cash Management Services entered into by and among the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Cash Management Bank (but only if such Cash Management Services are not Secured Cash Management Services under the Term Loan Credit Agreement).
Secured Hedge Agreement means any Hedge Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank and designated in writing by the Hedge Bank and the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a Secured Hedge Agreement(but only if such Hedge Agreement has not been designated as a Secured Hedge Agreement under the Term Loan Credit Agreement), it being understood that each counterparty thereto shall be deemed (A) to appoint the each Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (B) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Article X, Section 11.04 and Section 11.15 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender hereunder.
Secured Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Net Debt outstanding as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Secured Obligations has the meaning given to such term in the Security Agreement.
Secured Parties means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender, each Issuing Bank, each Hedge Bank, each Cash Management Bank, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 10.05 and Section 10.12.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Securitization Assets means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue streams, other rights to payment (including with respect to rights of payment pursuant to the terms of Joint Ventures) subject to a Qualified Securitization Financing and the proceeds thereof.
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 Financing.
78
Securitization Financing means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) or (b) any other Person, or may grant a security interest or Lien in, any Securitization Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto, including all collateral securing such Securitization Assets, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Securitization Assets, proceeds of such Securitization Assets and other assets that are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving Securitization Assets as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
Securitization Repurchase Obligation means any obligation of a seller or transferor of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a Standard Securitization Undertaking, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.
Securitization Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Borrower (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Securitization Financing in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower makes an Investment and to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower transfers Securitization Assets and related assets) that engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Securitization Assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contingent and other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower or such other Person (as provided below) as a Securitization Subsidiary, and
(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligation (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;
(b) with which none of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower reasonably believes to be no less favorable to Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower; and
(c) to which none of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than another Securitization Subsidiary, has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results;
it being agreed that a Securitization Asset consisting of an obligation of or to any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall not result in non-compliance with any of the foregoing provisions.
79
Security Agreement means, collectively, the Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit F, together with each Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11.
Security Agreement Supplement has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
Senior Indebtedness has the meaning specified in Section 11.01(b)(viii).
Senior Notes means the notes issued by the Borrower pursuant to the Notes Indenture.
Short Term Advances has the meaning specified in the definition of Indebtedness.
Significant Subsidiary has the meaning specified in Regulation S-X.
Similar Business means any business, the majority of the revenues of which are derived from (a) business or activities conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, (b) any business that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development or expansion of any such business or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing or (c) any business that in the Borrowers good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.
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 Administrators Website at approximately 2:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
SOFR Administrator means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
SOFR Administrators Website means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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.
Solvent and Solvency mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, exceeds its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, on a consolidated basis, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, is not engaged in, and is not about to engage in, business for which it has unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.
SPC has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).
Specified ABL Event of Default means an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a), Section 9.01(b)(i), Section 9.01(b)(iii), Section 9.01(b)(vi), Section 9.01(d) (solely with respect to the representation and warranty made in respect of a Borrowing Base Certificate) and Section 9.01(f).
80
Specified Equity Contribution has the meaning specified in Section 8.02.
Specified Event of Default means an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(a) or an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.01(f) with respect to any Loan Party.
Specified Excess Availability means, the sum of (a) Excess Availability at such time plus (b) Suppressed Availability (which shall not be less than zero) at such time.
Specified Representations means those representations and warranties made by Holdings and the Borrower in Sections 5.01(a) (with respect to organizational existence only), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.04, 5.13, 5.16, 5.17 and 5.18.
Specified Transaction means any of the following identified by the Borrower: (a) transaction or series of related transactions, including Investments and Acquisition Transactions, that results in a Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (b) any designation of a Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (c) any transaction or series of related transactions, including Dispositions, that results in a Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (d) any acquisition or disposition of assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person or a facility, (e) any material changes in customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified by the Borrower or new material customer, supplier or other commercial contracts or arrangements identified by the Borrower, including (i) material changes to amounts to be paid by or received by Loan Parties and (ii) material changes to contracted or implemented revenue, (f) any restructuring of the business of the Borrower identified by the Borrower, whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise, (g) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes) and any increase or decrease in cash or Cash Equivalents resulting from an Acquisition Transaction, Investment, Restricted Payment or Disposition (and the corresponding effect to leverage ratios after giving effect to any cash netting provisions), (h) any Restricted Payment and (i) transactions, events or occurrences of the type given pro forma effect in (A) the financial model for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared by the Sponsor and delivered to the Lead Arrangers in connection with the Transactions or (B) any quality of earnings report prepared by a nationally recognized accounting firm and furnished to the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or an Acquisition Transaction or other Investment consummated after the Closing Date.
Specified Transaction Adjustments has the meaning specified in Section 1.08(c).
Sponsor means (a) any funds, limited partnerships or co-investment vehicles managed or advised by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC or any Affiliates of any of the foregoing Person(s) or any direct or indirect Subsidiaries of any of the foregoing Person(s) (or jointly managed by any such Person(s) or over which any such Person(s) exercise governance rights) and (b) any investors (including limited partners) in the Persons identified in clause (a) who are investors in such Persons as of the Closing Date, and from time to time, invest directly or indirectly in Holdings or any Parent Entity.
Sponsor Management Agreement means those certain Management Services Agreements, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Sponsor, certain Co-Investors and certain Management Stockholders, as the same may be amended, modified, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, but only to the extent that any such amendment, modification, replacement, supplement or other modification does not, directly or indirectly, increase the obligation of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to make any payments thereunder.
81
Sponsor Termination Fees means any one-time payment under the Sponsor Management Agreements of a termination fee to the Sponsor or other party to a Sponsor Management Agreement in the event of either a Change of Control or the completion of a Qualifying IPO.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower that are customary in a Securitization Financing.
Stated Amount means, with respect to any Letter of Credit at any time, the aggregate amount available to be drawn thereunder at such time (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met).
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 percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the FRB to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities in Regulation D of the FRB). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurocurrency Rate 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 such 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.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Subsidiaries will mean Subsidiaries of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation of the foregoing, no Person shall be considered a Subsidiary of the Borrower, unless the Borrower has the ability to Control such Person and the Borrower owns of record, either directly or indirectly through a Restricted Subsidiary, Equity Interests issued by such Person (other than Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) that, in the aggregate, have a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors to the Board of Directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Person.
Subsidiary Guarantor or Subsidiary Loan Party means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) that, at such time, is required to be a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Successor Borrower has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(e).
Successor Holdings means any successor to Holdings pursuant to Section 7.04(a)(iii), Section 7.04(g)(ii) or Section 7.10(b)(ii), as applicable, together with such Persons subsequent successors and assigns permitted hereunder.
Super Majority Lenders means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having or holding more than 66-2/3% of the sum of (a) the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Lenders and (b) the aggregate unused Revolving Commitments; provided that the aggregate Revolving Exposure and unused Revolving
82
Commitments of or held by any Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Lender (to the extent not reallocated) shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Super Majority Lenders at any time.
Supplemental Administrative Agent and Supplemental Administrative Agents have the meanings specified in Section 10.12(a).
Supported QFC has the meaning specified in Section 11.26(a).
Suppressed Availability means an amount, if positive, by which the Borrowing Base exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments; provided, for the purposes of calculating Specified Excess Availability, Suppressed Availability shall not exceed 5.0% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time.
Swap Obligations means with respect to any Guarantor any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Swap Termination Value means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
Swing Line Lender means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as the Swing Line Lender hereunder, together with its permitted successors and assigns in such capacity.
Swing Line Loan means a swing line loan made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03.
Swing Line Loan Request means request for a Swing Line Loan, substantially in the form of Exhibit A- 4, or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
Swing Line Note means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-2, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Swing Line Sublimit means $50,000,000.
Target Loan Parties means the subsidiaries of the Acquired Business that are required to become Loan Parties hereunder on the Closing Date, subject to the Certain Funds Provisions.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Term Loan has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
83
Term Loan Agent means Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent in respect of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, together with any permitted successors and assigns, in such capacity.
Term Loan Credit Agreement means that certain First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Holdings, the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, the Term Loan Agent and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements (in each case with the same or new lenders, institutional investors or agents), including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.
Term Loan Documents means the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as each such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof and of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement.
Term Loan Facility means any Facility as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
Term Loan Obligations means the Obligations as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
Term Priority Collateral means the Fixed Asset Priority Collateral as defined in the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement.
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.
Termination Conditions means, collectively, (a) the payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been asserted, (ii) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements as to which alternative arrangements acceptable to the Hedge Bank thereunder have been made, if any, and (iii) Cash Management Obligations, if any), (b) the termination of the Commitments and (c) the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit under this Agreement (unless backstopped or Cash Collateralized in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum drawable amount of any such Letter of Credit or otherwise in an amount and/or in a manner reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank(s)).
Test Period in effect at any time means either (a) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or Section 6.01(b), or (b) until the first date after the Closing Date on which such financial statements have been delivered (or if the Borrower otherwise elects) the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or prior to such time (taken as one accounting period) in respect of which financial statements are available (which may be internal financial statements). A Test Period may be designated by reference to the last day thereof (i.e. the December 31st Test Period of a particular year refers to the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on December 31st of such year), and a Test Period shall be deemed to end on the last day thereof.
84
Threshold Amount means the greater of (a) $112,000,000 (i.e. approximately 20.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (b) 20.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.
Total Net Leverage Ratio means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower for such Test Period.
Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans and (iii) the Letter of Credit Usage.
Traded Securities means any debt or equity securities issued pursuant to a public offering or Rule 144A offering.
Transaction Expenses means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any amortization thereof in any period, including any amortization thereof in any period.
Transactions means, collectively, the funding of the Initial Term Loans, the Equity Contribution, the issuance of notes under the Notes Indenture, the funding of the Initial Revolving Loans (if any), the consummation of the Acquisition, including all payments to the holders of the Equity Interests of the Acquired Business in connection therewith and the payment of the Transaction Expenses.
Treasury Equity Interests has the meaning specified in Section 7.06(o).
Trust Fund Account means any account containing cash consisting solely of Trust Funds.
Trust Funds means, to the extent segregated from other assets of the Loan Parties in a segregated account that contains amounts comprised solely and exclusively of such Trust Funds, any cash or Cash Equivalents or other investment property comprised solely of (a) funds used or to be used for payroll and payroll taxes and other employee benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Loan Partys employees, (b) funds used or to be used to pay all Taxes required to be collected, remitted or withheld (including, without limitation, federal and state withholding Taxes (including the employers share thereof)) and (c) any other funds which any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) holds on behalf of another Person (other than Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) or (ii) holds as an escrow or fiduciary for another Person (other than Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries).
TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA means, as of any date of determination, the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a Pro Forma Basis, for the most recent Test Period.
Type means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.
U.K. Financial Institution means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
85
U.K. Resolution Authority means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any U.K. Financial Institution.
U.S. Special Resolution Regimes has the meaning specified in Section 11.26(a).
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto
Undisclosed Administration means, in relation to a Lender or its direct or indirect parent entity, the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian, or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent entity is subject to home jurisdiction supervision, if applicable law requires that such appointment not be disclosed.
Unfunded Advances/Participations means (a) with respect to the Administrative Agent, the aggregate amount, if any (i) made available to the Borrower on the assumption that each Lender has made available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent as contemplated by Sections 2.01(b)(iv) and (ii) with respect to which a corresponding amount shall not in fact have been returned to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or made available to the Administrative Agent by any such Lender, (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, the aggregate amount, if any, of outstanding Swing Line Loans in respect of which any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and (c) with respect to the Issuing Banks, the aggregate amount, if any, of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit in respect of which a Revolving Lender shall have failed to make amounts available to the applicable Issuing Banks pursuant to Section 2.04(c).
Uniform Commercial Code means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof (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.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (a) each Securitization Subsidiary and (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13 subsequent to the date hereof and each Subsidiary of such Subsidiary, in each case, until such Person ceases to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in accordance with Section 6.13 or ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
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 Public Law No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.
Vendor Financing Agreement means an agreement to provide financing in respect of accounts payable of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any agreement related thereto.
Walmart means Walmart Inc. (or its affiliates) and Sams Club (or its affiliates).
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
86
(a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by
(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness;
provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity (1) of (i) any Refinanced Debt (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), (ii) any Indebtedness that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, or (iii) any term loans for purposes of incurring any other Indebtedness (in any such case, the Applicable Indebtedness), the effects of any amortization payments or other prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness (including the effect of any prepayment on remaining scheduled amortization) prior to the date of the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement, extension or incurrence shall be disregarded and (2) of any revolving loans, such loans shall be deemed to have been borrowed on the first date such revolving loans are available to be drawn and remain outstanding without being prepaid or repaid until the maturity date applicable to such revolving loans.
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 (a) directors qualifying shares and (b) nominal 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.
Withdrawal Liability means the liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such term is defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Withholding Agent means the Borrower, any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers means (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
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) references in this Agreement to an Exhibit, Schedule, Article, Section, clause or sub- clause refer (A) to the appropriate Exhibit or Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or sub-clause in this Agreement or (B) to the extent such references are not present in this Agreement, to the Loan Document in
87
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; (v) the phrase permitted by and the phrase not prohibited by shall be synonymous, and any transaction not specifically prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents shall be deemed to be permitted by the Loan Documents; (vi) the phrase commercially reasonable efforts shall not require the payment of a fee or other amount to any third party or the incurrence of any expense or liability by a Loan Party (or Affiliate) outside its ordinary course of its business; (vii) the term continuing means, with respect to a Default or Event of Default, that it has not been cured (including by performance) or waived within the time periods set forth in this Agreement; (viii) the phrase in good faith when used with respect to a determination made by a Loan Party shall mean that such determination was made in the prudent exercise of its commercial judgment and shall be deemed to be conclusive if fully disclosed in writing (in reasonable detail) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders have objected to such determination within ten (10) Business Days of such disclosure to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and (ix) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 jurisdictions laws) (a Division), if (a) 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 (b) 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.
Section 1.03 Accounting and Finance Terms; Accounting Periods; Unrestricted Subsidiaries; Determination of Fair Market Value. All accounting terms, financial terms or components of such terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with the Accounting Principles (without giving effect to the treatment of right of use leases as capital leases under the Accounting Principles) to the extent the Accounting Principles define such term or a component of such term. To the extent the Accounting Principles do not define any such term or a component of any such term, such term shall be calculated by the Borrower in good faith. The inclusion of an explanatory paragraph in an audit opinion shall not result in such opinion being qualified. For purposes of calculating any consolidated amounts necessary to determine compliance by any Person and, if applicable, its Restricted Subsidiaries with any ratio or other financial covenant in this Agreement, Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference to a fiscal year shall refer to a fiscal year of the Borrower ending December 31st, and any reference to a fiscal quarter shall refer to a fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending March 31st, June 30th or September 30th. All determinations of fair market value under a Loan Document shall be made by the Borrower in good faith and, if such determination is either (a) consistent with a valuation or opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor, (b) pursuant to an Officers Certificate or resolutions of the Board of Directors setting out such fair market value as determined by such Officer or such Board of Directors in good faith or (c) fully disclosed (in reasonable detail) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders have objected to such determination within ten Business Days of such disclosure, then such determination shall be conclusive for all purposes under the Loan Documents or related to the Obligations.
88
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 decimal place more than the number of decimal places by which such ratio is expressed herein (the Applicable Decimal Place) and rounding the result up or down to the Applicable Decimal Place.
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 the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
Section 1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.07 [Reserved].
Section 1.08 Pro Forma Calculations; Limited Condition Acquisitions; Basket and Ratio Compliance.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis in the manner prescribed by this Section 1.08.
(b) For purposes of calculating TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Specified Transactions identified by the Borrower that have been made (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to such Test Period and prior to or substantially simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Specified Transactions (and any increase or decrease in income statement items, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and the component financial definitions used therein attributable to any Specified Transaction) had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period and any increase or decrease to cash or Cash Equivalents (including for any applicable netting provisions) or other balance sheet items occurred on the last day of such Test Period. If since the beginning of any applicable Test Period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have consummated any Specified Transaction identified by the Borrower that would have required adjustment pursuant to this Section 1.08, then TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated to give pro forma effect thereto in accordance with this Section 1.08.
(c) Whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a Specified Transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a Responsible Officer and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of cost savings, operating expense reductions; synergies, additional net income and profit projected by the Borrower in good faith to be realized as a result of specified actions taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken (calculated on a pro forma basis as though amounts had been realized on the first day of such Test Period and as if any such cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies
89
were realized during the entirety of such period) relating to such Specified Transaction, net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions (such amounts, Specified Transaction Adjustments); provided that (i) such Specified Transaction Adjustments are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, (ii) such actions are taken, committed to be taken or expected to be taken no later than thirty-six months after the date of such Specified Transaction, and (iii) no amounts shall be included pursuant to this clause (c) to the extent duplicative of any amounts that are otherwise included in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, with respect to any Test Period.
(d) In the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as the case may be (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility (including the Facility) in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable Test Period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the last day of the applicable Test Period with respect to leverage ratios or the first day of such Test Period with respect to the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary,
(i) the Borrower may rely on more than one basket or exception hereunder (including both ratio-based and non-ratio based baskets and exceptions, and including partial reliance on different baskets that, collectively, permit the entire proposed transaction) at the time of any proposed transaction, and the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at any later time divide, classify or reclassify such transaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with the available baskets and exceptions hereunder at such later time (provided that with respect to reclassification of Indebtedness and Liens, any such reclassification shall be subject to the parameters of Sections 7.01 and 7.03, as applicable);
(ii) unless the Borrower elects otherwise, if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction or series of such related transaction (A) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted, repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under or as permitted by a ratio- based basket and (B) incurs Indebtedness, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, designates any Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted, repays any Indebtedness or takes any other action under a non-ratio-based basket (which shall occur within five (5) Business Days of the events in clause (A) above), then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio- based basket made in connection with such transaction or series of related transactions;
(iii) if the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries enters into any revolving, delayed draw or other committed debt facility, the Borrower may elect to determine compliance of such debt facility (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and Liens from time to time in connection therewith) with this Agreement and each other Loan Document on the date commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming the full amount of such facility is incurred (and any applicable Liens are granted) on such date, in which case such committed amount may thereafter
90
be borrowed or reborrowed, in whole or in part, from time to time, without further compliance with the Loan Documents, in lieu of determining such compliance on any subsequent date (including any date on which Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to such facility); provided that, in each case, any future calculation of any such ratio based basket shall only include amounts borrowed and outstanding as of such date of determination;
(iv) if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs Indebtedness under a ratio- based basket, such ratio-based basket (together with any other ratio-based basket utilized in connection therewith, including in respect of other Indebtedness, Liens, Dispositions, Investments, Restricted Payments or payments in respect of Junior Financing) will be calculated excluding the cash proceeds of such Indebtedness for netting purposes (i.e., such cash proceeds shall not reduce the Borrowers Consolidated Net Debt or Consolidated Secured Net Debt pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of such terms), provided that the actual application of such proceeds may reduce Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with any other applicable ratio; and
(v) without prejudice to subclause (i) above, if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary relies in full or in part on a non-ratio based basket or exception in connection with any proposed transaction, all or any portion of which transaction subsequently is eligible to be reclassified as having been incurred pursuant to a ratio-based basket or exception, then such amounts originally permitted under the non-ratio-based basket or exception shall automatically be reclassified as having been incurred pursuant to a ratio-based basket or exception to the maximum extent then permitted under such ratio-based basket or exception without the Borrower needing to make any election, give any notice or take any action to effect such reclassification.
For example, if the Borrower incurs Indebtedness under the Fixed Incremental Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness under the Ratio Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio and any other applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to such incurrence under the Ratio Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) without regard to any incurrence of Indebtedness under the Fixed Incremental Amount.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when,
(i) calculating any applicable ratio in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than the making of Loans (except Loans under a FILO Tranche)), the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment, the designation of a Subsidiary as restricted or unrestricted, the repayment of Indebtedness or for any other purpose;
(ii) determining the accuracy of any representation or warranty;
(iii) determining whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result from any action; or
(iv) determining compliance with any other condition precedent to any action or transaction;
in each case of clauses (i) through (iv) in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such ratio, the accuracy of such representation or warranty (but taking into account any earlier date specified therein), whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, or the satisfaction of any other condition precedent shall, at the option of the Borrower
91
(the Borrowers election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an LCA Election), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the LCA Test Date). If on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults (other than any Specified Event of Default, which shall also be tested at consummation), satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions are calculated as if such Limited Condition Acquisition or other transactions had occurred at the beginning of the most recent Test Period ending prior to the LCA Test Date for which financial statements are available, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if any of such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA), a change in facts and circumstances or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios, representations and warranties, absence of defaults, satisfaction of conditions precedent and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded, breached, or otherwise failed as a result of such fluctuations or changed circumstances solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition, and any related transaction, is permitted hereunder and (ii) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related Specified Transactions. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction or otherwise on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated. For purposes of any calculation pursuant to this clause (f) of the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense may be calculated using an assumed interest rate for the Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such Limited Condition Acquisition based on the indicative interest margin contained in any financing commitment documentation with respect to such Indebtedness or, if no such indicative interest margin exists, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith. Notwithstanding the forgoing, (i) in connection with any transaction permitted hereunder that requires satisfaction of the Payment Conditions, the Borrower will be required to comply as of the date of such transaction with the requirement set forth in clause (a)(iii) or (b)(iii), as applicable, of the definition of Payment Conditions, regardless of whether the Borrower shall have made an LCA Election in connection with such transaction (it being understood that clauses (a)(i) or (b)(i), as applicable, and (a)(ii) or (b)(ii), as applicable, of the definition of Payment Conditions will not be subject to the restriction set forth in this sentence), (ii) in connection with any Borrowing, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount on the date of such Borrowing (other than as provided under Section 2.02) and (iii) upon the occurrence and continuance of a Covenant Trigger Event, the Borrower shall comply with Section 8.01.
(g) For purposes of calculating the Ratio Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), Permitted Ratio Debt and each other section or provision hereof making reference to the Ratio Amount or Permitted Ratio Debt, the phrase immediately prior to such incurrence shall be construed to apply only if, at the time of such determination, on a Pro Forma Basis for such incurrence of Indebtedness and/or Liens (and for any related Permitted Investment, if applicable), (i) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, (ii) the Secured Net Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date Secured Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50 to 1.00, (iii) the Total Net
92
Leverage Ratio would be greater than the Closing Date Total Net Leverage Ratio plus 0.50 to 1.00 or (iv) the Interest Coverage Ratio would be less than 2.00 to 1.00, as applicable.
(h) For purposes of determining the maturity date of any Indebtedness, bridge loans that are subject to customary conditions (as determined by the Borrower in good faith, including conditions requiring no payment or bankruptcy event of default) that would either automatically be extended as, converted into or required to be exchanged for permanent refinancing shall be deemed to have the maturity date as so extended, converted or exchanged.
Section 1.09 Currency Equivalents Generally.
(a) No Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred under a Loan Document solely as a result of changes in rates of currency exchange occurring after the time any applicable action (including any incurrence of a Lien or Indebtedness or the making of an Investment) so long as such action (including any incurrence of a Lien or Indebtedness or the making of an Investment) was permitted hereunder when made.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, where the permissibility of a transaction or determinations of required actions or circumstances depend upon compliance with, or are determined by reference to, amounts stated in Dollars, any requisite currency translation (i) with respect to Loans or Commitments, shall be based on the Exchange Rate and (ii) with respect to any other amounts, shall be based on the rate of exchange between the applicable currency and Dollars as reasonably determined by the Borrower, in each case in effect on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such transaction or determination (subject to clauses (c) and (d) below) and shall not be affected by subsequent fluctuations in exchange rates.
(c) 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 Exchange Rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first incurred, in the case of revolving credit debt (whichever yields the lower Dollar Amount) (or, in the case of an LCA Election, on the date of the applicable LCA Test Date); provided that, if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the Exchange Rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Indebtedness so refinanced does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 Exchange Rate that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
(d) For purposes of determining the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, including Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA when calculating such ratios, all amounts denominated in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars for any purpose (including testing any financial maintenance covenant) at the effective rate of exchange in respect thereof reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the applicable Test Period for which such measurement is being made, and will reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles, of Hedge Agreements permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the Dollar equivalent of such Indebtedness.
Section 1.10 [Reserved].
93
Section 1.11 Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent does not warrant nor accept any responsibility nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to (i) any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (ii) the administration, submission or any matter relating to the rates in the definition of Benchmark or with respect to any rate that is an alternative, comparable or successor rate thereto or (iii) the effect of any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
Section 2.01 Revolving Loans.
(a) Revolving Commitments. Subject only to the conditions set forth in (i) on the Closing Date, Section 4.01 and (ii) thereafter, Section 4.02, during the Revolving Commitment Period, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving loans to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day in Dollars and/or any Alternative Currency in an aggregate amount (expressed in the Dollar Amount thereof in the case of an Alternative Currency) up to but not exceeding such Lenders Revolving Commitment; provided, that after giving effect to the making of any Revolving Loans in no event shall the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including the Administrative Agents authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.02), amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) may be repaid and reborrowed during the Revolving Commitment Period; provided, further that Revolving Loans on the Closing Date shall be limited to the Initial Revolving Loans. Each Lenders Revolving Commitment shall expire on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, and all Revolving Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitments shall be paid in full no later than such date.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Revolving Loans.
(i) Subject to Sections 4.01(a)(i), 4.02(d) and 2.16(a), each Borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be made upon the Borrowers notice (which shall be irrevocable, except as provided in clause (2)(II) of the proviso to this Section 2.01(b)(i)) to the Administrative Agent in writing or by telephone (and promptly confirmed in writing); provided, each request for a Swing Line Borrowing shall be made in accordance with Section 2.03. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (x) 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, and (y) 12:00 noon one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided however that (1) if the Borrower wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of Interest Period, the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing (or such shorter period as reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent), conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the applicable Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them and not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the applicable Lenders and (2) any (I) such notice delivered in connection with the Borrowing of Initial Revolving Loans on the Closing Date (if any) must be received by the Administrative Agent no later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to the Closing Date and (II) such notices may be conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing Date or, with respect
94
to an Incremental Facility, may be conditioned on the occurrence of any transaction anticipated to occur in connection with such Incremental Facility.
(ii) Each notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) must be delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (A) that the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Borrowing (or another Class of Borrowing), (B) the requested date of the Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, which shall be (1) in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (x) $1,000,000, or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof if denominated in Dollars, or (y) a Dollar Amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of a Dollar Amount of $100,000 in excess thereof if denominated in an Alternative Currency and (2) in the case of Base Rate Loans, (x) $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (D) the Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, (E) with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the currency of the Revolving Loan, which shall be Dollars or an Alternative Currency; provided that the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any request for designation of an Alternative Currency in accordance with Section 11.02, to be received by the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. at least 3 Business Days in advance of the date of any Borrowing hereunder proposed to be made in such Alternative Currency (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank(s), in its or their sole discretion) and (F) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Revolving Loan in a Committed Loan Notice, then (x) in the case of Revolving Loans denominated in Dollars, the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans and (y) in the case of Revolving Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as Eurocurrency Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one month. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Borrower will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(iii) Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that the total number of Interest Periods for Eurocurrency Rate Loans outstanding under this Agreement at any time shall comply with Section 2.10(g).
(iv) 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 tranche of Revolving Loans. In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agents Office not later than 1:00 p.m., on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions to such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (A) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (B) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
(v) The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving 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 Revolving Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Revolving Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
95
Section 2.02 Protective Advances. Subject to the limitations set forth below (and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.02), upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time in the Administrative Agents sole discretion in the exercise of its commercially reasonable judgment (but shall not have any obligation) to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower, on behalf of all Lenders in its Permitted Discretion, as it deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Revolving Loans and other Obligations and (iii) pay any interest or fee payable under the Loan Documents upon such interest or fee becoming due (each such Revolving Loan, a Protective Advance). Any Protective Advance may be made in a principal amount that would cause the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments to exceed the Borrowing Base by up to 10.0% of the Borrowing Base provided that the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments then in effect. No Protective Advance may remain outstanding for more than 45 days without the consent of the Required Lenders. Each Protective Advance made to the Borrower shall be secured by the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder and will be repaid by the Borrower on demand. The Administrative Agents authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agents receipt thereof and existing Protective Advances will not be subject thereto. The making of a Protective Advance on any one occasion shall not obligate the Administrative Agent to make any Protective Advance on any other occasion. If Protective Advances are made in accordance with this Section 2.02, then each applicable Lender will be bound to make, or permit to remain outstanding, such Protective Advances based upon their Pro Rata Share. Each Protective Advance made in Dollars shall be a Base Rate Loan and shall bear interest as provided in this Agreement for Base Rate Loans.
Section 2.03 Swing Line Loans.
(a) Swing Line Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, agrees to make Swing Line Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit; provided that, after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments of any Revolving Lender shall not exceed such Lenders Revolving Commitment provided, further, that the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to make a Swing Line Loan to refinance an outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swing Line Loans. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan by the Swing Line Lender, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving Lenders Pro Rata Share of the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Swing Line Loans. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrowers irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent. Each such notice may be given by: (A) telephone, or (B) a Swing Line Loan Request; provided that any telephonic notice by the Borrower must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Request. Each such Swing Line Loan Request must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the date of the requested Swing Line Borrowing, and such notice shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $25,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the date of such Swing Line Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day). Each Swing Line Loan shall
96
be a Base Rate Loan. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of such notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent that the Administrative Agent has also received such notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has determined that, or has received notice from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of the Required Lenders) prior to 2:00 p.m. on such requested borrowing date (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of, the (A) limitations set forth in the first sentence of Section 2.03(a) or (B) one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender shall make each Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower, by wire transfer thereof in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Swing Line Lender, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the requested date of such Swing Line Loan (which instructions may include standing payment instructions, which may be updated from time to time by the Borrower, provided that, unless the Swing Line Lender shall otherwise agree, any such update shall not take effect until the Business Day immediately following the date on which such update is provided to the Swing Line Lender).
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may, and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default shall be deemed to (whether or not any such request has been made), request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Lender make a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans made by then Swing Line Lender then outstanding (the Refunded Swing Line Loans). Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance (including with respect to prior notice requirements) with the requirements of Section 2.03(b) but without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein, but subject to the aggregate unused Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of such Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agents Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.03(c)(ii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03(c)(i), the request for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Lenders fund its participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower on the last Business Day of such week of any participations in any Swing Line Loan funded during such week pursuant to this clause (ii), and thereafter payments in respect of such Swing Line Loan (to the extent of such funded participations) shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and not to the Swing Line Lender.
97
(iii) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in
Section 2.03(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent) shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender, 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 Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving
Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case
may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted (through the Administrative Agent) to any Revolving Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Revolving Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to 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 similar right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Lenders obligation to make Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02; provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall not apply to the purchase or funding of participations pursuant to this Section 2.03(c). No such funding of participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will promptly remit such Revolving Lenders Pro Rata Share of such payment to the Administrative Agent (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lenders participation was funded) in like funds as received by the Swing Line Lender, and any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent will be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have funded their participations pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) to the extent of their interests therein.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its reasonable discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to such Swing Line Lender 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 at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders
98
under this clause (ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender. Until each Revolving Lender funds its Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan or participation pursuant to this Section 2.03 to refinance such Lenders Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan made by the Swing Line Lender, interest in respect of such Lenders share thereof shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
Section 2.04 Issuance of Letters of Credit and Purchase of Participations Therein.
(a) Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each Issuing Bank agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period on or prior to the fifth Business Day prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries (provided in each case, that any Letter of Credit issued for the benefit of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be issued for the account of the Borrower but such Letter of Credit shall indicate that it is being issued for the benefit of such Restricted Subsidiary) and to amend, renew or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.04(b) and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Lenders severally agree to participate in such Letters of Credit and any drawings thereunder; provided that the Issuing Banks shall not be obligated to make any Letter of Credit Extension, if, as of the date of such Letter of Credit Extension, (1) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments would exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount, (2) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments of any Revolving Lender, would exceed such Lenders Revolving Commitment or (3) the Letter of Credit Usage with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank would exceed the amount of such Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Percentage of the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the 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) Other than with respect to an Existing Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank shall not be under any 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 Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and
99
which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder);
(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank, such Letter of Credit is in an initial Stated Amount less than the Dollar Amount of $10,000;
(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars, or, if approved by such Issuing Bank, an Alternative Currency;
(E) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; and
(F) any Revolving Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender, unless such Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements, including reallocation of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to Section 2.19(a)(iii) or the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such Issuing Bank (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Banks actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.19(a)(iii)) with respect to such Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or such Letter of Credit and all other Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Issuing Bank has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.
(iii) No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to amend or extend any Letter of Credit if (A) such Issuing Bank would have no obligation at such time to issue the 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 thereto.
(iv) Unless Cash Collateralized or backstopped pursuant to arrangements reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, (x) each standby Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (A) the date twelve months after the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any Auto-Extension Letter of Credit, twelve months after the then current expiration date of such Letter of Credit) and (B) the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Banks have been entered into) and (y) each trade Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of Business on the earlier of (A) the date that is 180 days after such trade Letter of Credits date of issuance and (B) the Letter of Credit Maturity Date (unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Banks have been entered into).
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Issuing Bank shall be obligated to issue any trade Letter of Credit.
(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 Borrower, delivered to the applicable Issuing Bank (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 Borrower; provided, each Existing Letter of Credit shall not require a
100
Letter of Credit Application unless amended. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. at least five Business Days (or such shorter period as the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. 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 applicable Issuing Bank (A) the Borrower, (B) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the amount thereof; (D) the expiry date thereof; (E) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (F) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (H) the currency in which the requested Letter of Credit will be denominated (which must be Dollars or, if approved by such Issuing Bank, an Alternative Currency) and (I) such other matters as the applicable Issuing Bank may reasonably request. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); and (3) the nature of the proposed amendment. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Letter of Credit Documents, as the applicable Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable Issuing Bank will confirm with the Administrative Agent that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the applicable Issuing Bank will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the applicable Issuing Bank of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, such Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed issued on the Closing Date. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit (including each Existing Letter of Credit), each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable Issuing Bank a participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application for a standby Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its reasonable discretion, agree to issue a standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit shall permit such Issuing Bank 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 applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such Issuing Bank for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Bank to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that no Issuing Bank shall (A) permit any such renewal if (1) such Issuing Bank has determined that it would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or
101
(iii) of Section 2.04(a) or otherwise) or (2) it has received written notice on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (B) be obligated to permit such renewal if it has determined or received written notice on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Lender or the Borrower, that one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the applicable Issuing Bank not to permit such renewal.
(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 applicable Issuing Bank will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursement; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof, and such Issuing Bank shall, within a reasonable time following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. If an Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of any payment by such Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit, then the Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Bank in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing not later than 3:00 p.m. on the next succeeding Business Day. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such Issuing Bank by such time, such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such failure and the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify each applicable Revolving Lender of such payment date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in the Dollar Amount thereof in the case of an Alternative Currency) (the Reimbursement Obligations) and the amount of such Lenders Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, (x) the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on such date in an amount equal to such Reimbursement Obligation, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.01(b) for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans and (y) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations denominated in an Alternative Currency (but expressed in its Dollar Amount), the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested on behalf of the applicable Revolving Lender that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, in each case, to be disbursed on such date in an amount equal to (A) the Dollar Amount of such Reimbursement Obligation, plus (B) in the case of any Reimbursement Obligation denominated in any Alternative Currency (but expressed in its Dollar Amount), an additional amount equal to the amount required to convert Dollars into the currency of the unreimbursed drawing, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.01(b) for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the Maximum Borrowing Amount and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (i) shall be given in writing.
(ii) Each Revolving Lender (including each Revolving Lender acting as an Issuing Bank) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, in Dollars or the other applicable Alternative Currency, at the Administrative Agents Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the relevant Reimbursement Obligation not later than 3:00 p.m. one Business Day after receipt of such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.04(c)(iii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Loan
102
that is (A) in the case of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars, a Base Rate Loan and (B) in the case of Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan in such Alternative Currency with an Interest Period of one month, in each case to the Borrower in such amount plus, in the case of any Reimbursement Obligation denominated in any Alternative Currency (but expressed in its Dollar Amount), an additional amount equal to the amount required to convert Dollars into the currency of the unreimbursed drawing. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable Issuing Bank in accordance with the instructions provided to the Administrative Agent by such Issuing Bank (which instructions may include standing payment instructions, which may be updated from time to time by such Issuing Bank, provided that, unless the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree, any such update shall not take effect until the Business Day immediately following the date on which such update is provided to the Administrative Agent).
(iii) With respect to any Reimbursement Obligation that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans for Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or Eurocurrency Rate Loans for Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, as the case may be, because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable Issuing Bank a Letter of Credit Borrowing in the amount of the Reimbursement Obligation that is not so refinanced plus, in the case of any Reimbursement Obligation denominated in an Alternative Currency (but expressed in its Dollar Amount), an additional amount equal to the amount required to convert Dollars into the currency of the unreimbursed drawing, which Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate then applicable to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans. In such event, each Revolving Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing and shall constitute a Letter of Credit Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section.
(iv) Until each Revolving Lender funds its Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit Advance to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of such Issuing Bank.
(v) Each Revolving Lenders obligations to make Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit Advances to reimburse an Issuing Bank for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.04(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or defense or similar right which such Lender may have against such Issuing Bank, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this paragraph (c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, provided, further, for the avoidance of doubt, the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall not apply to the purchase or funding of participations pursuant to this Section 2.04(c). No such funding of a participation in any Letter of Credit shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse an Issuing Bank for the amount of any payment made by such Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(ii), then,
103
without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, such Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Bank at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by such Issuing Bank in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such Issuing Bank in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Revolving Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or Letter of Credit Advance in respect of the relevant Letter of Credit Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the applicable Issuing Bank submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) If, at any time after the applicable Issuing Bank has made payment in respect of any drawing under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any Revolving Lender its Letter of Credit Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.04(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such Issuing Bank any payment in respect of the related Reimbursement Obligation or, in the case of any Reimbursement Obligation denominated in any Alternative Currency (but expressed in its Dollar Amount), an additional amount equal to the amount required to convert Dollars into the currency of the unreimbursed drawing or, in each case, interest thereon (whether directly from the 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 Lenders Letter of Credit Advance was outstanding) in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Issuing Bank in its discretion), each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank 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 Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this clause (ii) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Banks for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each Letter of Credit 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 or any term or provision thereof, any Loan Document, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other similar right that the Borrower 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 Issuing Banks or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions
104
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 an Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit against presentation of documents that do not comply strictly with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by an Issuing Bank 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 arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of such Letter of Credit; or
(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, the Borrower or would provide a right of set-off against any Borrowers obligations hereunder.
The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrowers instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will promptly notify the applicable Issuing Bank. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against any Issuing Bank and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of Issuing Banks. Each Revolving Lender and each Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Banks shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by such Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any document. None of any Issuing Bank or any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any Issuing Bank shall be liable to any Revolving Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the requisite Revolving Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; 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 Borrower hereby assume all risks of the acts of omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to their use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower from pursuing such rights and remedies as they may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the Issuing Banks or any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the Issuing Banks shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in Section 2.04(e); provided that, notwithstanding anything in such clauses to the contrary, the Borrower may have a claim against an Issuing Bank, and an Issuing Bank may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct (as opposed to indirect, special, punitive, consequential or exemplary) damages suffered by the Borrower which a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final non-appealable judgment were caused by such Issuing Banks gross negligence or willful misconduct or such Issuing Banks willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of
105
a document(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the applicable Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the Issuing Banks shall not 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. The Issuing Banks may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communication with a beneficiary.
(g) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a standby Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the International Standby Practices 1998 published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) shall apply to such standby Letter of Credit.
(h) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.
(i) Reporting. Each day (or at such other intervals as the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank shall agree), the applicable Issuing Bank shall provide to the Administrative Agent a schedule of the Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, showing the date of issuance of each Letter of Credit, the account party, the original face amount (if any), the expiration date, and the reference number of any Letter of Credit outstanding at any time during such month, and showing the aggregate amount (if any) payable by the Borrower to such Issuing Bank during such month.
(j) Existing Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Letters of Credit may be issued on the Closing Date to backstop or replace letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date; provided no further actions shall be required for Existing Letters of Credit.
(k) Resignation and Removal of an Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank being replaced (provided that no consent will be required if the Issuing Bank being replaced has no Letters of Credit or Reimbursement Obligations with respect thereto outstanding) and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement or resignation shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank. From and after the effective date of any such replacement or resignation, (i) any successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement or resignation of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced or resigning Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto to the extent that Letters of Credit issued by it remain outstanding and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement or resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(l) Cash Collateral Account. At any time and from time to time (i) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent, at the direction or with the consent of the Required Lenders, may require the Borrower to deliver to the Administrative Agent such amount of cash as is equal to 103.0% of the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit at any time outstanding
106
(whether or not any beneficiary under any Letter of Credit shall have drawn or be entitled at such time to draw thereunder) and (ii) to the extent any amount of a required prepayment under Section 2.07(b)(i) remains after prepayment of all outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations and termination of the Commitments, as contemplated by Section 2.07(d), the Administrative Agent will retain such amount as may then be required to be retained, such amounts in each case under clauses (i) and (ii) above to be held by the Administrative Agent in a Cash Collateral Account. The Borrower hereby grants (or, if registration thereof is required in any applicable jurisdiction, shall grant) to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, a Lien upon and security interest in the Cash Collateral Account and all amounts held therein from time to time as security for Letter of Credit Usage, and for application to the Borrowers Letter of Credit Obligations as and when the same shall arise. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest on the investment of such amounts in Cash Equivalents, which investments shall be made at the direction of the Borrower (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case the determination as to investments shall be made at the option and in the discretion of the Administrative Agent), amounts in the Cash Collateral Account shall not bear interest. Interest and profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. In the event of a drawing, and subsequent payment by the applicable Issuing Bank, under any Letter of Credit at any time during which any amounts are held in the Cash Collateral Account, the Administrative Agent will deliver to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to the Reimbursement Obligation created as a result of such payment plus any additional amount payable hereunder in respect of any Reimbursement Obligation denominated in an Alternative Currency (or, if the amounts so held are less than such Reimbursement Obligation, all of such amounts) to reimburse such Issuing Bank therefor. Any amounts remaining in the Cash Collateral Account after the expiration of all Letters of Credit and reimbursement in full of each Issuing Bank for all of its obligations thereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Borrower, to be applied against the Obligations in such order and manner as the Administrative Agent may direct. If the Borrower is required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.04(l) or 2.07(b), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to such Borrower on demand, provided that, after giving effect to such return, all outstanding Letters of Credit shall have expired and each Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed in full for all of its obligations thereunder. If the Borrower is required to provide Cash Collateral as a result of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to such Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(m) Addition of an Issuing Bank. One or more Revolving Lenders (other than a Defaulting Lender) selected by the Borrower that agree to act in such capacity and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent may become an additional Issuing Bank hereunder pursuant to a written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such additional Issuing Bank.
Section 2.05 Conversion/Continuation.
(a) Each conversion of Loans from one Type to another, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrowers irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may only be given in writing; provided that Revolving Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency may not be converted into Base Rate Loans. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested date of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans and not later than 2:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of continuation of any Eurocurrency Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Each notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) must be delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Conversion/Continuation Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall
107
be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Conversion/Continuation Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be converted or continued, (iv) the Class of Loans to be converted or continued, (v) the Type of Loans to which such existing Loans are to be converted, if applicable, and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be converted to Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion or continuation pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Conversion/Continuation Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender 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 of Loans described in Section 2.05(a).
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require by notice to the Borrower that no Loans denominated in Dollars may be converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans. This Section shall not apply to Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances, which may not be converted or continued.
Section 2.06 Availability. 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 Lenders Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such Pro Rata Share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the 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 Borrower 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 Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the applicable Loans comprising such Borrowing and (b) in the case of such Lender, the Overnight Rate plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.06 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders applicable Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.06 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
108
Section 2.07 Prepayments.
(a) Optional.
(i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Prepayment Notice, at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that:
(A) such Prepayment Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent (1) not later than 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans prior to the last day of the applicable Interest Period, (2) not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to any date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans on the last day of the applicable Interest Period and (3) not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to any date of prepayment of Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances;
(B) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and
(C) 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, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.
Each Prepayment Notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid, and the payment amount specified in each Prepayment Notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of a Prepayment Notice and of the amount of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such prepayment; provided, non-consenting Lenders may be repaid on a non-pro rata basis in connection with an Extension Offer and Disqualified Lenders may be repaid on a non-pro rata basis. Any prepayment of Loans shall be subject to Section 2.07(c).
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind, in whole or in part, any notice of prepayment under Section 2.07(a)(i), if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.
(b) Mandatory.
(i) If at any time the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceeds the Maximum Borrowing Amount, then within one Business Day thereof, the Borrowers shall prepay first, the Swing Line Loans and second, the applicable Revolving Loans to the extent necessary so that the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall no longer exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount; provided that, to the extent such excess amount is greater than the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of Swing Line Loans and applicable Revolving Loans outstanding immediately prior to the application of such prepayment, the amount so prepaid shall be retained by the Administrative Agent and held in the Cash Collateral Account as cover for Letter of Credit Usage, as more particularly described in Section 2.04(l), and thereupon such cash shall be deemed to reduce the aggregate Letter of Credit Usage by an equivalent amount; provided, further, that (1) if the circumstances described in this clause (i) are the result of the imposition of or increase in a Reserve, the Borrowers shall not be required to make the initial prepayment or deposit until the fifth Business Day following the date on which Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower of such imposition or increase, (2) the Letter of Credit Usage may not be reduced to less than zero and (3) the calculations in this clause (i) shall be made in accordance with Section 2.22.
109
(ii) At all times after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period and notification thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (subject to the provisions of Sections 2.19, 9.03 and to the terms of the Security Agreement), on each Business Day, at or before 1:00 p.m. the Administrative Agent shall apply all immediately available funds credited to the Administrative Agent Account or otherwise received by Administrative Agent for application to the Obligations, first, to payment of any fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to any Agent in its capacity as such; second, to payment in full of Unfunded Advances/Participations (the amounts so applied to be distributed between or among, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks pro rata in accordance with the amounts of Unfunded Advances/Participations owed to them on the date of any such distribution); third, to payment of fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest and Letter of Credit fees) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (other than in respect of a FILO Tranche) (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause third payable to them; fourth, to payment of accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and interest on the Loans (other than any Loans under a FILO Tranche) and Letter of Credit Usage, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause fourth held by them; fifth, to pay the principal of Protective Advances; sixth, ratably, (a) to payment of unpaid principal of the Loans (other than Protective Advances and Loans under a FILO Tranche) and the Letter of Credit Usage, (b) to the extent a Bank Products Reserve has been established therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof, to pay the unpaid Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations, including the Cash Collateralization of such Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations, (c) to the extent a Bank Products Reserve has been established therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance the terms hereof, to pay the unpaid Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations, (d) to Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit (to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) (in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit) and to further permanently reduce the Revolving Commitments by the amount of such Cash Collateralization, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause sixth held by them; provided that (i) any such amounts applied pursuant to the foregoing subclause (d) shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Issuing Banks to Cash Collateralize such Letters of Credit, (ii) subject to Section 2.04 and Section 2.19, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause sixth shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (iii) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the pro rata share of Cash Collateral attributable to such expired Letter of Credit shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the priority of payments set forth in this Section 2.07(b)(ii); seventh, ratably to pay other Obligations then due (other than Obligations in respect of Secured Cash Management Services and Secured Hedge Agreements and Obligations in respect of a FILO Tranche), until paid in full; eighth, ratably to pay other Obligations in respect of the Secured Cash Management Services and Secured Hedge Agreements, until paid in full; ninth, to the payment of all other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of a FILO Tranche) of the Loan Parties (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has yet been made) 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; tenth, ratably to pay any Obligations in respect of any FILO Tranche until paid in full; and last, as the Borrower may direct or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction or required by applicable law.
110
(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.07 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.
(d) Application of Prepayment Amounts.
Each payment or prepayment pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.07(b) shall be applied ratably among the Lenders of each Class holding the Loans being prepaid, in proportion to the principal amount held by each, and shall be applied as among the Loans being prepaid, (A) first, to prepay all Base Rate Loans and (B) second, to the extent of any excess remaining after application as provided in clause (A) above, to prepay all Eurocurrency Rate Loans (and as among Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (1) first to prepay those Eurocurrency Rate Loans, if any, having Interest Periods ending on the date of such prepayment, and (2) thereafter, to the extent of any excess remaining after application as provided in clause (1) above, to prepay any Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the order of the expiration dates of the Interest Periods applicable thereto).
(e) Interest Period Deferrals. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.07, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.07 prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.07 in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period 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 Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.07. 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 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 2.07.
Section 2.08 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The 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 one Business Day 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 $500,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire amount thereof and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.07, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments would exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount, (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, (1) the Letter of Credit Usage not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder at 103.0% of the maximum face amount of any such Letters of Credit would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (2) the Letter of Credit Usage with respect to Letters of Credit issued by an applicable Issuing Bank not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder at 103.0% of the maximum face amount of any such Letters of Credit would exceed the amount of such Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Percentage of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (C) the Swing Line Sublimit, if after giving effect to any concurrent payment of Swing Line Loans in accordance with Section 2.07, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments with respect to Swing Line Loans would exceed the Swing Line Sublimit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Facility, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.
111
(b) Mandatory.
(i) The Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(ii) If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Commitments under this Section 2.08, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Commitments at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.
(c) Effect of Termination or Reduction. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be permanent. Each reduction of Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share of Commitments of such Class.
Section 2.09 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders (i) the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans on the Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans and (ii) the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance on the earliest of (A) the Revolving Commitment Termination Date or, if applicable, the Latest Maturity Date, (B) 45 days (or such longer period as may be consented to by the Administrative Agent) after such Protective Advance is made and (C) the date on which demand for payment is made upon any Borrower for such Protective Advance; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made while any Protective Advance is outstanding, the Borrower shall repay all Protective Advances with the proceeds of such Revolving Loan.
(b) The Borrower shall repay to the Swing Line Lender (or, to the extent required by Section 2.03(c), to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders) each Swing Line Loan made by the Swing Line Lender on the earlier to occur of (i) the last Business Day of the week during which such Swing Line Loan is made (other than Swing Line Loans that are made on the last Business Day of any week, which shall be mature on the last Business Day of the following week) and (ii) the Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans; provided, on each date that a Revolving Loan is made while any Swing Line Loan is outstanding, the Borrower shall repay all Swing Line Loans then outstanding with the proceeds of such Revolving Loans. At any time there shall exist a Defaulting Lender that is a Revolving Lender, immediately upon the request of the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall repay the outstanding Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower in an amount sufficient to eliminate any Fronting Exposure in respect of the Swing Line Loans.
Section 2.10 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b),
(i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Eurocurrency 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.
112
(b) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(c) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders (or, after the occurrence of a Specified Event of Default, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender) such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(d) Accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of all outstanding past due Obligations (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender).
(e) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable (i) with respect to Base Rate Loans, in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, in arrears at the end of each Interest Period, and, in any event, every three months. 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.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate and the Eurocurrency Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time when Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(g) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than six (6) Interest Periods in effect unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Section 2.11 Fees.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including pursuant to any fee letter executed with the Agents in connection with the Facilities) in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).
(b) The Borrower agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders having Revolving Commitments:
(i) commitment fees for the period from and including the Closing Date to and including the Revolving Commitment Termination Date equal to (A) the average of the daily difference between (1) the Revolving Commitments and (2) the sum of (I) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans during the applicable period plus (II) the Letter of Credit Usage, times (B) the Applicable Commitment Fee; and
113
(ii) letter of credit fees with respect to all Letters of Credit (the L/C Fee) equal to (A) the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans, times (B) average daily outstanding face amount of each Letter of Credit during the applicable period.
All fees referred to in this Section 2.11(b) shall be paid to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agents Office and upon receipt, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof. In addition, for purposes of calculating the commitment fees referred to in clause (b)(i) only, no portion of the Revolving Commitments shall be deemed utilized as a result of outstanding Swing Line Loans.
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, the following fees:
(i) a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum times the maximum Dollar 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) determined as of the close of business on any date of determination; and
(ii) such documentary and processing charges for any issuance, amendment, transfer or payment of a Letter of Credit as are in accordance with such Issuing Banks standard schedule for such charges and as in effect at the time of such issuance, amendment, transfer or payment, as the case may be, which fees, costs and charges shall be payable to such Issuing Bank within three Business Days after its demand therefor and are nonrefundable.
Each payment of fees required above under this clause (c) on any Letters of Credit, whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency, shall be made in Dollars or such Alternative Currency, at the option of the applicable Issuing Bank.
(d) All fees referred to in Sections 2.11(b) and 2.11(c)(i) shall be payable monthly in arrears on the first day following the last day of each month during the Revolving Commitment Period, commencing with the first day following the first full month ending after the Closing Date, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date; provided that any such fees accruing after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall be payable on demand.
(e) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account the fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon.
Section 2.12 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans calculated by reference to the prime rate or Federal Funds Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 days or 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 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). 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 2.10(a), bear interest for one 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.
114
Section 2.13 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) The Borrowings 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 this purpose, as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The Register maintained by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive evidence, and the accounts and records maintained by each Lender shall be prima facie evidence, absent manifest error, of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
(b) Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence the relevant Class of such Lenders 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.
Section 2.14 Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made on the date when due, in immediately available funds without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office for payment and in Same Day Funds not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. If, for any reason, the Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Amount of the Alternative Currency payment amount (plus an additional amount equal to the amount required to convert Dollars into such Alternative Currency). The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office; provided that the proceeds of any borrowing of Revolving Loans to finance the reimbursement of a drawn Letter of Credit as provided in Section 2.04(c) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. At all times during which a Cash Dominion Period exists, solely for purposes of determining the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments, checks and cash or other immediately available funds from collections of items of payment and proceeds of any Collateral shall be applied in whole or in part against the Obligations, on the day of receipt, subject to actual collection.
(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender or any Issuing Bank, as applicable, that the Borrower will not make such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance on such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due.
115
With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the Rescindable Amount):
(i) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment;
(ii) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or
(iii) the Administrative Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment or any funds (or any portion thereof) received by a Lender, a Participant or any Issuing Bank (any of the foregoing, a Payment Recipient) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise);
each of the Lenders, all Participants or the applicable Issuing Bank(s), as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender, Participant or such Issuing Bank, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or Issuing Bank with respect to any amount owing under this paragraph (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 the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the Borrowing 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, to fund participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.07 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan 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 9.03. 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 Lenders Pro Rata Share of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.
116
(h) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.03(c), Section 2.04(c), Section 2.06, Section 2.15 or Section 10.07, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, to satisfy such Lenders obligations to such Persons until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
Section 2.15 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on account of the Loans of a particular Class made by it (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of the amount to which such Lender would have otherwise been entitled were such amount applied in accordance with Section 9.03, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans of such applicable Class or Classes made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C obligations, Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances 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, as if such payment were applied in accordance with Section 9.03; 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 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each relevant Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lenders ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lenders 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 provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including Section 11.07), (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant permitted hereunder or (C) any payment received by such Lender not in its capacity as a Lender. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 11.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower 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 2.15 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.15 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.
117
Section 2.16 Incremental Borrowings.
(a) Notice. At any time and from time to time, on one or more occasions, the Borrower or, subject to the satisfaction of customary know your customer requests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility, any Co-Borrower, may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, increase the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Commitments (the Incremental Revolving Facilities and the revolving loans and other extensions of credit made thereunder, the Incremental Revolving Loans) or add one or more tranches of term loans structured as FILO loans under the Loan Documents (each Incremental Revolving Facility and any FILO Tranche (as defined below), an Incremental Facility and the loans or other extensions of credit made thereunder, the Incremental Loans).
(b) Ranking. Incremental Facilities will rank pari passu in right of payment with the initial Revolving Commitments and will be secured by the Collateral by Liens on a pari passu basis to the Liens that secure the initial Revolving Commitments.
(c) Size and Currency. The aggregate principal amount of Incremental Facilities on any date (i) with respect to Incremental Revolving Facilities, commitments with respect thereto are first received, assuming such commitments are fully drawn on the date of receipt thereof and (ii) with respect to any FILO Tranche, the date Indebtedness thereunder is first incurred (assuming, in the case of any FILO Tranche in the form of delayed draw commitments, that such commitments are fully drawn on the date such commitments were provided), will not exceed the Incremental Amount. Calculation of the Incremental Amount shall be made on Pro Forma Basis and evidenced by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower demonstrating such calculation in reasonable detail. Each Incremental Facility will be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000 (or such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that such amount may be less than such minimum amount or integral multiple amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the Incremental Amount at such time. Any Incremental Facility may be denominated in Dollars or in any Alternative Currency (and in the case of any Alternative Currency, the Dollar Amount thereof as of, in the case of Incremental Revolving Loans, the date of receipt of commitments therefor or in the case of any FILO Tranche, the date of incurrence thereof (or, in the case of an LCA Election with respect to any FILO Tranche, as of the applicable LCA Test Date) shall be controlling for purposes of determining compliance with the Incremental Amount, and the minimum amount and integral multiples shall be a Dollar Amount of $10,000,000 or $1,000,000, respectively (or, in each case, such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)).
(d) Incremental Lenders. Incremental Facilities may be provided by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender shall have an obligation to make, or provide commitments with respect to, an Incremental Loan) or by any Additional Lender. While existing Lenders may (but are not obligated to unless invited to and so elect) participate in any syndication of an Incremental Facility and may (but are not obligated to unless invited to and so elect) become lenders with respect thereto, the existing Lenders will not have any right to participate in any syndication of, and will not have any right of first refusal or other right to provide all or any portion of, any Incremental Facility or Incremental Loan except to the extent the Borrower and the arrangers thereof, if any, in their discretion, choose to invite or include any such existing Lender (which may or may not apply to all existing Lenders and may or may not be pro rata among existing Lenders). Final allocations in respect of Incremental Facilities will be made by the Borrower together with the arrangers thereof, if any, in their discretion, on the terms permitted by this Section 2.16; provided that the lenders providing the Incremental Facilities will be reasonably acceptable to (i) the Borrower, (ii) the Administrative Agent, (iii) other than in the case of a FILO Tranche, each Issuing Bank and (iv) other than in the case of a FILO Tranche, the Swing Line Lender (except that, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), only to the extent such Person otherwise would have a consent right to an assignment of such loans or commitments to such lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
118
(e) Incremental Facility Amendments; Use of Proceeds. Each Incremental Facility will become effective pursuant to an amendment (each, an Incremental Amendment) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Person providing such Incremental Facility. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Amendment. Incremental Amendments may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, will be amended to the extent necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Facility evidenced thereby. This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.15 or Section 11.01 to the contrary. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Incremental Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.
(f) Conditions. The availability of Incremental Facilities under this Agreement will be subject solely to the following conditions, and with respect to each FILO Tranche, subject to Section 1.08, and measured on the date of the receipt of commitments under (assuming such commitments are fully drawn only on the date of receipt) such Incremental Revolving Facility or the date of the initial borrowing under such FILO Tranche (assuming in the case of any FILO Tranche in the form of delayed draw commitments, that such commitments are fully drawn on the date such commitments were provided):
(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; provided that with respect to each FILO Tranche with respect to which an LCA Election has been made, the condition set forth in this clause (i)may be waived or not required (other than with respect to Specified Events of Default) by the Persons providing such Incremental Facilities if the proceeds of the initial Borrowings under such Incremental Facilities will incurred in connection with a Permitted Investment; and
(ii) the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents will be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be true and correct in all respects) immediately prior to, and after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Incremental Facility; provided that with respect to each FILO Tranche with respect to which an LCA Election has been made, the condition set forth in this clause (ii) may be waived or not required by the Persons providing such Incremental Facilities if the proceeds of the initial Borrowings under such Incremental Facilities will be used to finance, in whole or in part, a Permitted Investment.
(g) Terms. Each Incremental Amendment will set forth the amount and terms of the relevant Incremental Facility. Each Incremental Facility will be documented as an increase to the Revolving Commitments (other than in connection with a FILO Tranche) and shall be on terms identical to those applicable to the Revolving Loans except with respect to any commitment, arrangement, upfront or similar fees that may be agreed to among the Borrower and the lenders providing such Incremental Facility and to account for the term loan nature of any FILO Tranche.
(h) FILO Tranche. The Incremental Facilities may be in the form of a separate first-in, last-out or last-out tranche (the FILO Tranche) with interest rate margins, rate floors, upfront fees, funding discounts, advance rates, premiums, unused fees and original issue discounts to be agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Lenders providing such Incremental Facilities, and with other terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any FILO Tranche, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant is also added
119
for the benefit of the Revolving Facility) and to be agreed upon (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not require any adjustment to the Applicable Rate of other Loans pursuant to clause (i) above) among the Borrower and the Lenders providing the FILO Tranche so long as (1) any loans and related obligations in respect of the FILO Tranche shall not be guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors and shall rank equal in right of priority to the Collateral Agents Liens; (2) as between (x) the Revolving Facility (other than the FILO Tranche) and (y) the FILO Tranche, all proceeds from the liquidation or other realization of the Collateral shall be applied, first to obligations owing under, or with respect to, the Revolving Facility (other than the FILO Tranche) and second to the FILO Tranche; (3) no Borrower may prepay Loans under the FILO Tranche or terminate or reduce the commitments in respect thereof at any time that other Revolving Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and/or Reimbursement Obligations (unless Cash Collateralized or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable Issuing Bank) are outstanding; (4) the Required Lenders (calculated as including the FILO Tranche) shall, subject to the terms of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, control exercise of remedies in respect of the Collateral; (5) no changes affecting the priority status of the Revolving Facility (other than the FILO Tranche) vis-à-vis the FILO Tranche may be made without the consent of each of the Lenders under the Revolving Facility (other than the FILO Tranche) and (6) no FILO Tranche shall include an advance rate in excess of 100.0% with respect to such Tranche.
(i) Adjustments to Revolving Loans. Upon each increase in the Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.16, other than in connection with a FILO Tranche, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Revolving Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each lender providing a portion of such increase (each an Incremental Revolving Facility Lender), and each such Incremental Revolving Facility Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Lenders participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding (1) participations hereunder in Letters of Credit, (2) participations hereunder in Swing Line Loans and (3) participations hereunder in Protective Advances, in each case held by each Revolving Lender will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Revolving Lenders Revolving Commitments.
Section 2.17 [Reserved].
Section 2.18 Extensions of Loans.
(a) Extension Offers. Pursuant to one or more offers (each, an Extension Offer) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments of a particular Class with a like Maturity Date, the Borrower may extend such Maturity Date and otherwise modify the terms of such Loans and/or Commitments pursuant to the terms set forth in an Extension Offer (each, an Extension). Each Extension Offer will specify the minimum amount of Loans and/or Commitments with respect to which an Extension Offer may be accepted, which will be an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000, or, if less, (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Class of Loans outstanding or (ii) such lesser minimum amount as is approved by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Extension Offers will be made on a pro rata basis to all Lenders holding Loans and/or Commitments of a particular Class with a like Maturity Date. If the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) and/or Commitments in respect of which Lenders have accepted an Extension Offer exceeds the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans and/or Commitments offered to be extended pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans and/or Commitments of such Lenders will be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer. There is no requirement
120
that any Extension Offer or Extension Amendment (defined as follows) be subject to any most favored nation pricing provisions. The terms of an Extension Offer shall be determined by the Borrower, and Extension Offers may contain one or more conditions to their effectiveness as determined by the Borrower, including a condition that a minimum amount of Loans and/or Commitments of any or all applicable tranches be tendered. For avoidance of doubt, no Lender shall be required to accept any Extension Offer.
(b) Extension Amendments. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (an Extension Amendment) as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate in order to establish new tranches in respect of Extended Loans and Extended Commitments and such amendments as permitted by clause (c) below as may be necessary, advisable or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, in connection with the establishment of such new tranches of Loans or Commitments. This Section 2.18 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.15 or Section 11.01 to the contrary. Except as otherwise set forth in an Extension Offer, there will be no conditions to the effectiveness of an Extension Amendment. Extensions will not constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Terms of Extension Offers and Extension Amendments. The terms of any Extended Loans will be set forth in an Extension Offer and as agreed between the Borrower and the Extending Lenders accepting such Extension Offer; provided that:
(i) the final maturity date of such Extended Loans will be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date applicable to the Loans and/or Commitments subject to such Extension Offer; and
(ii) except as to (x) maturity, interest, fees (including any commitment, arrangement, upfront or similar fees) and (y) other terms applicable after the Latest Maturity Date of the Loans that are not Extended Revolving Loans, all terms of any Extended Revolving Loans or Extended Revolving Commitments shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation applicable to the Revolving Facility.
Any Extended Loans will constitute a separate tranche of Revolving Loans from the Revolving Loans held by Lenders that did not accept the applicable Extension Offer.
(d) Extension of Revolving Commitments. In the case of any Extension of Revolving Commitments and/or Revolving Loans, the following shall apply:
(i) all borrowings and all prepayments of Revolving Loans shall continue to be made on a ratable basis among all Revolving Lenders, based on the relative amounts of their Revolving Commitments, until the repayment of the Revolving Loans attributable to the non-extended Revolving Commitments on the relevant Maturity Date;
(ii) the allocation of the participation exposure with respect to any then-existing or subsequently issued or made Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans or Protective Advances as between the Revolving Commitments of such extended tranche and the remaining non-extended Revolving Commitments shall be made on a ratable basis in accordance with the relative amounts thereof until the Maturity Date relating to such non-extended Revolving Commitments has occurred, it being understood that the obligations of any Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender may not be extended beyond the Maturity Date relating to the non-extended Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.18 without the consent of such Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender;
121
(iii) no termination of extended Revolving Commitments and no repayment of extended Revolving Loans accompanied by a corresponding permanent reduction in extended Revolving 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 each other tranche of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments (or each other tranche of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans shall have otherwise been terminated and repaid in full);
(iv) at no time shall there be more than five different tranches of Revolving Commitments.
If the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceeds the Maximum Borrowing Amount as a result of the occurrence of the Maturity Date with respect to any tranche of Revolving Commitments while an extended tranche of Revolving Commitments remains outstanding, the Borrower shall make such payments as are necessary in order to eliminate such excess on such Maturity Date.
(e) Required Consents. No consent of any Lender or any other Person will be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Borrower and each applicable Extending Lender. The transactions contemplated by this Section 2.18 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Loans on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) will not require the consent of any other Lender or any other Person, and the requirements of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.18 will not apply to any of the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.18.
Section 2.19 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) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.09 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; next, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to each Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender hereunder; next, to Cash Collateralize each Issuing Banks Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to outstanding Letters of Credit (in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit) or the Swing Line Lenders Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.19(d); next, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing), 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; next, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a Cash Collateral Account and released pro rata in order to (A) satisfy such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize each Issuing Banks (in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit) or the Swing Line Lenders future
122
Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans, as applicable, issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.19(d); next, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; next, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and next, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Reimbursement Obligations in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit 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 Reimbursement Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or Reimbursement Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their applicable Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.19(a)(iii). 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 2.19(a)(i) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(ii) Certain Fees.
(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee pursuant to Section 2.11(b) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender; provided such Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive fees pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(ii) 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 2.04.
(B) With respect to any fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) above, the Borrower shall (1) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lenders participation in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iii) below, (2) pay to each Issuing Bank the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Banks Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(iii) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure.
(A) In the case of Defaulting Lenders holding Revolving Commitments, all or any part of such Defaulting Lenders participation in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders holding Revolving Commitments in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lenders Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender holding Revolving Commitments to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Commitment.
123
(B) Subject to Section 11.25, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non- Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lenders increased exposure following such reallocation.
(iv) Cash Collateral. If the reallocation described in clause (iii) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, provide Cash Collateral pursuant to the requirements set forth in Section 2.19(d).
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Issuing Bank agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the applicable Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.04) whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.
(c) New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend or amend any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
(d) Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender and Section 2.19(a)(iv) is applicable, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the applicable Issuing Banks Fronting Exposure, the Swing Line Lenders Fronting Exposure and any outstanding Protective Advance, as the case may be, with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.04 and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.
(i) Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders obligation to fund participations in respect of Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances, to be applied pursuant to clause (ii) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that the Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than
124
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(ii) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (A) Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.19 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lenders obligation to fund participations in respect of Letters of Credit (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein, (B) Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.19 in respect of Swing Line Loans shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lenders obligations to fund participations in respect of Swing Line Loans (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein and (C) Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.19 in respect of Protective Advances shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lenders obligations to fund participations in respect of Protective Advances (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(iii) Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce any Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Lenders Fronting Exposure or applied to any such Defaulting Lenders obligations to fund participations in respect of Protective Advances shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.19 following (A) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), (B) (I) the repayment in full of all Protective Advances by the Borrower or (II) the payment by such Defaulting Lender of its obligations to fund participations in respect of Protective Advances (including at the time of the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), as applicable, or (C) the determination by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, that there exists excess Cash Collateral (but only to the extent of such excess Cash Collateral); provided that, subject to the other provisions of this Section 2.19, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender or, with respect to Protective Advances, the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may agree that the Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations (including obligations to fund Protective Advances); provided further that to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrower, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.
(e) Hedge Banks. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Lender shall not be a Hedge Bank with respect to any Secured Hedge Agreement entered into while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender.
125
Section 2.20 Judgment Currency.
(a) 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 Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the Judgment Currency) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the Agreement Currency), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
Section 2.21 Reserves; Changes to Eligibility Criteria.
(a) Subject to Section 11.01(c)(ii), the Administrative Agent may in its Permitted Discretion from time to time exercised in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, establish new categories of Reserves or change eligibility criteria set forth in the definitions of Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible Inventory upon not less than five Business Days prior written notice (which may be delivered by electronic mail) to the Borrower, which notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of such new category of Reserve being established or change to any eligibility criteria set forth in the definitions of Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible Inventory; provided, pending the expiration of such five Business Day period, no Borrowings may be made if such Borrowings would result in the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments to exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount, calculated as if such proposed Reserve had been implemented.
(b) During such five Business Day period (i) the Administrative Agent shall, if requested, discuss any such Reserve or change with the Borrower and (ii) the Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or matter that is the basis for such Reserve or change thereto no longer exists or exists in a manner that would result in the establishment of a lower Reserve or result in a lesser change thereto, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) In exercising such Permitted Discretion, the Administrative Agent shall include in its consideration the following: (a) changes after the Closing Date in demand for, pricing of, or product mix of Inventory; (b) changes after the Closing Date in any concentration of risk with respect to a Loan Partys Accounts or Inventory; (c) any changes in the ability of the Administrative Agent to realize upon the Collateral and (d) any other factors arising after the Closing Date that change in any respect the credit risk of lending to the Borrower on the security of a Loan Partys Accounts or Inventory.
Section 2.22 Currency Equivalents.
(a) The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Amount of each Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency and Letter of Credit Obligation in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency at any time on the basis of the Spot Rate (as defined below) for the purchase of such currency with Dollars. For purposes of this Section 2.22, the Spot Rate in relation to the conversion of one currency into another currency, the spot rate of exchange for such conversion as quoted by the Administrative Agent, at the close of business on the Business Day that such conversion is to be made (or if such conversion is to be made before close of business on such Business Day, then at approximately the close of business on the immediately preceding Business Day) and, in either case, if no such rate is quoted, the spot rate of exchange quoted for wholesale transactions by the Administrative Agent on the Business Day such conversion is to be made in accordance with its normal practice.
126
(b) If after giving effect to any such determination of a Dollar Amount, the sum of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Revolving Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies and the Letter of Credit Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies exceeds the aggregate Dollar Amount of Revolving Commitments then in effect (including any sublimits applicable to such Alternative Currency), the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of receipt of notice thereof from the Administrative Agent setting forth such calculation in reasonable detail, prepay the applicable Revolving Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies under the Revolving Facility or take other action as the Administrative Agent, in its discretion, may direct (including to Cash Collateralize the applicable Letter of Credit Obligations) to the extent necessary to eliminate any such excess.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01 Taxes.
(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section, the term Lender includes any Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender, and the term Applicable Law includes FATCA.
(b) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by such Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided that if the Loan Party reasonably believes that such Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the Administrative Agent or Lender, as applicable, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a refund of such Taxes (which shall be repaid to the Loan Party in accordance with Section 3.01(i)) so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, result in any additional costs or expenses not reimbursed by the Loan Party or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to it. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Loan Party by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
127
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. 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 no Loan party has already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.07(e) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(g) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) of this Section) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
128
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W- 8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by
129
law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(h) On or before the date the Administrative Agent (or any successor or supplemental agent) becomes a party to this Agreement and from time to time upon the reasonable request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent) shall deliver to the Borrower either (i) a duly executed IRS Form W-9 or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY, in each case with the effect that the Loan Parties may make payments to the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent, as applicable), to the extent such payments are made to the Administrative Agent (or such successor or supplemental agent, as applicable) as an intermediary, without any deduction or withholding of any Taxes imposed by the United States.
(i) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(j) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(b) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower in writing, use reasonable efforts to mitigate the effect of any such event, including by designating another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event and by completing and delivering or filing any Tax-related forms that such Lender is legally able to deliver and that would reduce or eliminate any amount of Taxes required to be deducted or withheld or paid by the Loan Parties.
130
(k) Survival. Each partys 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 reasonably 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 Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (A) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Dollars, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (B) [reserved] or (C) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate with respect to any Base Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
Section 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein; provided however, that if the Borrower
131
and the applicable Lenders cannot agree within a reasonable time on an alternative rate for such Loans, the Borrower may, at its discretion, either (A) prepay such Loans or (B) maintain such Loans outstanding, in which case, the interest rate payable to the applicable Lender on such Loans will be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent as its cost of funds to fund a Borrowing of such Loans with maturities comparable to the Interest Period applicable thereto plus the Applicable Rate.
Section 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender;
(ii) subject any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender (other than with respect to Taxes) that is not otherwise accounted for in the definition of the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or this clause (a);
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate or, in the case of a Change in Law with respect to Taxes, making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank (whether of principal, interest or any other amount)) then, from time to time within ten days after demand by such Lender or such Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent) (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. No Lender, Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender shall request that the Borrower pay any additional amount pursuant to this Section 3.04(a) unless it shall concurrently make similar requests to other borrowers similarly situated and affected by such Change in Law and from whom such Lender, Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender is entitled to seek similar amounts.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any Issuing Bank reasonably determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Bank or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or Issuing Banks holding company, if any, regarding liquidity or capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or Issuing Banks capital or on the capital of such Lenders or Issuing Banks holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or such Issuing Bank or the Loans made by or Letters of
132
Credit issued by it to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or Issuing Banks holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or Issuing Banks policies and the policies of such Lenders or Issuing Banks holding company with respect to liquidity or capital adequacy), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender or such Issuing Bank 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) (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or Issuing Banks holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than one hundred and eighty days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or Issuing Banks intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency liabilities), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan made to the Borrower; provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
Section 3.05 Funding Losses. Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, which demand shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount (provided that such calculation will not in an way require disclosure of confidential or price-sensitive information or any other information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law), the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost, liability or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
133
(b) any failure by the 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 the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.07;
including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits or margin) actually incurred by reason of 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender may make any demand under this Section 3.05 (i) with respect to the floor specified in the parenthetical in the first sentence of the definition of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate or (ii) in connection with any prepayment of interest on Revolving Loans.
Section 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material economic, legal or regulatory respect; provided that nothing in this Section 3.06 shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.02 or 3.04.
(b) Suspension of Lender Obligations. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans from one Interest Period to another Interest Period, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurocurrency Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(c) Conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lenders Eurocurrency Rate Loans no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lenders Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans of a given Class held by the Lenders of such Class holding Eurocurrency Rate Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.
134
Section 3.07 Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or ceases to make Eurocurrency Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 3.01, (iii) any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, (iv) any Lender does not accept an Extension Offer, (v) (A) any Lender shall become and continue to be a Defaulting Lender and (B) such Defaulting Lender shall fail to cure the default pursuant to Section 2.19(b) within five Business Days after the Borrowers request that it cure such default or (vi) any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender (other than a Disqualified Lender) as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.07), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04) to one or more Eligible Assignees that shall assume such obligations (any of which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.07(b)(iv);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts payable under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) such Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lenders Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent (or a lost or destroyed note affidavit in lieu thereof); provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption or deliver such Notes shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and the Notes shall be deemed to be canceled upon such failure;
(d) the Eligible Assignee 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;
(e) 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 thereafter;
(f) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender being a Non-Consenting Lender, the Eligible Assignee shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Lender being replaced was a Non-Consenting Lender; and
(g) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 10.09.
135
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an Issuing Bank may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit, and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 10.09.
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 each Lender, all affected Lenders or all the Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to a certain Class or Classes of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders or Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a Non-Consenting Lender.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
Section 3.08 Survival. All of the Borrowers obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
Section 4.01 Conditions to Initial Borrowing.
The obligation of each Lender to extend credit to the Borrower and of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder on the Closing Date is subject only to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 11.01, of each of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and in each case subject to the Certain Funds Provisions:
(a) The Administrative Agents (or in the case of clause (v), the Term Loan Agents receipt (as a non-fiduciary bailee of the Collateral Agent)) of the following, each of which may be originals, facsimiles or copies in .pdf format, unless otherwise specified:
(i) if the amount of the Initial Revolving Borrowing exceeds $0, a Committed Loan Notice duly executed by the Borrower and delivered as forth in Section 2.01(b), which, if delivered, shall be deemed to be conditioned on the consummation of the Transactions;
(ii) this Agreement duly executed by the Borrower and Holdings;
(iii) the Guaranty and the Security Agreement, in each case, duly executed by the Borrower and each other Loan Party;
(iv) the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement with acknowledgment pages thereto duly executed by the Borrower and each other Loan Party;
136
(v) original certificated securities (as defined in the UCC), if any, representing Pledged Equity issued by the Borrower and, if delivered to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement and constituting Collateral, the Pledged Equity of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower, in each case, accompanied by undated stock powers or transfer powers executed in blank;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attaching: (A) certificates of good standing from the secretary of state or other applicable office of the state of organization or formation of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, (B) resolutions or other applicable action of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, (C) an incumbency certificate and/or other certificate of Responsible Officers of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, 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 it is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date and (D) the Organization Documents of each Loan Party;
(vii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower that the conditions specified in clauses (c), (e) and (f) below have been satisfied or will be satisfied promptly upon the funding of the Initial Revolving Loans;
(viii) an opinion from Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties with respect to matters of New York and certain aspects of Delaware law; and
(ix) a certificate from the chief financial officer or other officer with equivalent duties of the Borrower as to the Solvency (after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date) of the Borrower, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I;
provided, for the avoidance of doubt (i) each reference to Loan Parties in this clause (a) shall include Nestlé Waters North America Holdings Inc. and each of its Subsidiaries (the Target Loan Parties) that shall become, or are required to become, Loan Parties upon consummation of the Acquisition but (ii) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, certificates and resolutions by the Target Loan Parties is not a condition precedent under this Section 4.01; it being agreed that each Loan Document (and related authorizing resolutions) and certificates to be executed and/or delivered on the Closing Date by or on behalf of a Target Loan Party will be executed and delivered in escrow prior to the consummation of the Acquisition and automatically released from escrow upon funding of the Initial Revolving Loans and the consummation of the Acquisition, and upon such release each Target Loan Party will be deemed to have made the Specified Representations with respect to it.
(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder on the Closing Date (and all fees and expenses required to be paid under the Commitment Letter and any related fee letter on the Closing Date) to the extent invoiced in reasonable detail at least two Business Days before the Acquisition Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed to by the Borrower) shall have been paid in full, it being agreed that such fees and expenses may be paid with the proceeds of the initial funding of the Revolving Loans;
(c) Confirmation from the Borrower (in the form of an officers certificate) that prior to or substantially concurrently with the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date,
(i) each of the following shall have been or will be consummated: the Equity Contribution; the issuance of Senior Notes under the Notes Indenture; and the funding of the Initial Term Loans under the Term Loan Facility pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement;
137
(ii) the Acquisition shall have been or will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement; and
(iii) since its execution, the Acquisition Agreement has not been amended, supplemented, waived or modified pursuant to its terms and no express consent thereunder has been given by the Borrower in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders (taken as a whole), in their respective capacities as such, without the consent of the Commitment Parties (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that each Commitment Party shall be deemed to have consented to such amendment, supplement, waiver, modification or consent unless it shall object in writing thereto within five (5) Business Days of receipt of written notice of such amendment, waiver, modification or consent; provided further (A) an amendment, supplement, waiver or modification of the Acquisition Agreement that does not increase the cash purchase price thereunder to be paid on the Closing Date or that has the effect of reducing the purchase price thereunder, will, in each case, be deemed not to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and any such reduction will be allocated (1) first, to reduce the Equity Contribution until the Equity Contribution equals the Minimum Equity Contribution, (2) second, to the reduce the Senior Notes and the Initial Term Loans on a pro rata basis until the Senior Notes are reduced to $300,000,000, and (3) thereafter, to reduce the Initial Term Loans; (B) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification of the Acquisition Agreement that has the effect of increasing the purchase price thereunder will be deemed not to be materially adverse to the Lead Arrangers if such increase is not funded with indebtedness for borrowed money; (C) any change to the definition of Material Adverse Effect, Outside Date or the Xerox provisions contained in the Acquisition Agreement (in each case, as in effect on February 16, 2021) will be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lead Arrangers.
(d) The Commitment Parties will have received at least three Business Days (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) prior to the Closing Date (a) all outstanding documentation and other information about the Loan Parties required under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and (b) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a legal entity customer under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a customary FinCEN beneficial ownership certificate, that in each case has been requested in writing at least ten Business Days (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations shall be accurate in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date; provided that, a failure of an Acquisition Agreement Representation to be accurate will not result in a failure of a condition precedent under this Section 4.01, unless such failure results in a failure of a condition precedent to Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement or such failure gives Borrower the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligation to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement; provided further that to the extent that the Acquisition Agreement Representations and the Specified Representations specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be accurate in all material respects as of such earlier date.
(f) Since the date of the Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) that would result in the failure of a condition precedent to the Borrowers obligation to consummate the Acquisition under the Acquisition Agreement or that would give it the right (taking into account any notice and cure provisions) to terminate its obligations pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement.
138
(g) The Commitment Parties have received (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets, consolidated income statements, and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Acquired Business as of the last day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, (ii) for each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) ended on or after September 30, 2020 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Acquired Business as of the last day of such fiscal quarter, together with the related unaudited consolidated income statement and statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case, prior to giving effect to the Transactions (the financial statements described in this clause (ii), the Interim Financial Statements) and (iii) an unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related unaudited pro forma consolidated income statement of the Acquired Business as of, and for the twelve-month period ended, September 30, 2020 or such later balance sheet date delivered pursuant to the preceding clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, if any, prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such income statement), which need not be prepared in compliance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act or include adjustments for purchase accounting (including adjustments of the type contemplated by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (formerly SFAS 141R)).
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11.01, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement or funded Loans hereunder shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 4.01 to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
Section 4.02 Conditions to All Borrowings After the Closing Date. Except as set forth in Section 2.16(f) with respect to Incremental Loans which are part of a FILO Tranche, the obligation of each Lender to honor a Committed Loan Notice, of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit and of the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans, in each case, after the Closing Date, is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the 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 Borrowing or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit; 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; provided, further, for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.05(a) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.
(b) As of the date of such Borrowing or the date of any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date (immediately prior to giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made) or would result after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.
(c) As of the date of such Borrowing and after giving effect thereto the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount.
(d) If applicable, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof and, if applicable, the applicable Issuing Bank shall have received an Issuance Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Swing Line Loan Request in accordance with the requirements hereof.
139
Each Committed Loan Notice (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to another Type or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) and each Issuance Notice submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the condition specified in Sections 4.02(a), (b) and (c) has been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Borrowing or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants each of the following to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in each case, to the extent and, unless otherwise specifically agreed by the Borrower, only on the dates required by Section 2.16 or Article IV, as applicable.
Section 5.01 Organization, Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Material Subsidiary,
(a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (to the extent such concepts exist in such jurisdiction);
(b) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority to (i) own its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) in the case of the Loan Parties, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and consummate the Transactions;
(c) is duly qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concepts exist in such jurisdiction) 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 applicable Laws; and
(e) has all requisite governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted;
except in each case referred to in clauses (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action.
(b) Neither the execution, delivery nor performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party nor the consummation of the Transactions will,
(i) contravene the terms of any of its Organization Documents;
(ii) result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any assets of such Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary, under (A) any Contractual Obligation relating to Material Indebtedness of a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries or their respective property is subject;
140
(iii) violate any applicable Law; or
(iv) require any approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation relating to Material Indebtedness, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date;
except with respect to any breach, contravention or violation (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clauses (ii), (iii)and (iv), to the extent that such breach, contravention or violation has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization. No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for,
(a) filings necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties;
(b) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings that have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral Documents); and
(c) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in 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 party hereto and thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and principles of good faith and fair dealing.
Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Annual Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with the Accounting Principles (as in effect on the Closing Date (or the date of preparation)) consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein. The Interim Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Nestlé US and Canada Domestic Waters Business as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby in accordance with the Accounting Principles (as in effect on the Closing Date (or the date of preparation)) consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, subject only to normal year-end audit and adjustments, the absence of footnotes and to any other adjustments described therein.
141
(b) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has resulted in, and is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets and statements of comprehensive income (loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time made and at the time the forecasts are delivered, it being understood that (i) no forecasts are to be viewed as facts, (ii) any forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties or the Sponsor, (iii) no assurance can be given that any particular forecasts will be realized and (iv) actual results may differ and such differences may be material.
Section 5.06 Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 Labor Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.07 or except as has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened and (b) hours worked by and payment made based on hours worked to employees of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary have not been in material violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Laws dealing with wage and hour matters.
Section 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Loan Party and each Restricted Subsidiary has good and valid record title in fee simple 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 Permitted Liens and except where the failure to have such title or other interest has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.09 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits (including having obtained and maintained all Environmental Permits required for the operation of their respective businesses) and (ii) none of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to any pending, or to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened Environmental Claim or any other Environmental Liability or is aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability or the revocation or modification of any Environmental Permit, and (iii) there are no agreements in which the Loan Parties or the Restricted Subsidiaries have assumed or undertaken responsibility for any known or reasonably likely material liability or material obligation of any other person arising under or relating to Environmental Laws.
(b) None of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has used, released, treated, stored, transported or disposed of Hazardous Materials, at or from any currently or formerly owned or operated real estate or facility relating to its business, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, currently owns or operates (or formerly owned or operated) any real estate or facility that is contaminated by any Hazardous Substances, in each case, in a manner that has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
142
Section 5.10 Taxes. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so has not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11 [Reserved].
Section 5.12 Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully paid and (if applicable) non-assessable, and all Equity Interests owned by Holdings (in the Borrower), and by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any of their respective direct Material Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) of any Person. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.12 (i) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of each Subsidiary Guarantor and its respective direct Subsidiaries, (ii) sets forth the percentage ownership interest of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor in each such applicable Subsidiary, and (iii) identifies the Equity Interests which are required to be pledged on the Closing Date pursuant to the Collateral Documents.
Section 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) As of the Closing Date, none of the Collateral is Margin Stock. No Loan Party 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 FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or issuance of, or drawings under, any Letter of Credit, will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor is an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 5.14 Disclosure. As of the Closing Date, none of the written information and written data heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party or the Sponsor to any Agent or any Lender on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document on or prior to the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make such written information and written data taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which it was delivered, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all modifications and supplements to such written information and written data, in each case, furnished after the date on which such written information or such written data was originally delivered and prior to the Closing Date); it being understood that for purposes of this Section 5.14, such written information and written data shall not include projections, pro forma financial information, financial estimates, forecasts or other forward-looking information or information of a general economic or general industry nature or prepared by the Lead Arrangers.
143
Section 5.15 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries own or have a valid right to use, all the intellectual property necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such rights, has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Borrower, the operation of the respective businesses of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or violate any intellectual property rights held by any Person except for such infringements, misappropriations or violations that have not resulted in, or are not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any Intellectual Property owned by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that, has resulted in, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.16 Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.
Section 5.17 USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and OFAC.
(a) To the extent applicable, each of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (b) the USA PATRIOT Act and other similar anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
(b) Each of the Loan Parties and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors and employees, and to the Borrowers knowledge, their respective agents, Affiliates and representatives, have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which they operate and the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures appropriate for their business designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws. The Borrower will not directly, or to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans in violation of the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.
(c) None of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is, (a) the subject or target of any Sanctions, (b) included on OFACs List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMTs Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, the Investment Ban List or any other Sanctions list, or (c) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction (each, a Sanctioned Person). The Borrower will not directly, or to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit or otherwise knowingly make available such proceeds to any Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person that, at the time of such financing, is (a) the subject or target of any Sanctions, (b) included on OFACs List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMTs Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, the Investment Ban List or any other Sanctions list, or (c) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.
Section 5.18 Collateral Documents. Except as otherwise contemplated hereby or under any other Loan Documents, the provisions of the Collateral Documents, together with such filings and other actions required to be taken hereby or by the applicable Collateral Documents or contemplated by the Collateral Documents (including the delivery to Collateral Agent (or its agents or bailees) of any Pledged Debt and any Pledged Equity required to be delivered pursuant to the applicable Collateral Documents), are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first-priority perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on all right, title and interest of Holdings, the Borrower and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in and to the ABL Priority Collateral, and a legal, valid and enforceable second-priority perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on all right, title and interest of Holdings, the Borrower and the applicable Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in and to the Term Priority Collateral, in each case, as described therein.
144
Section 5.19 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the Revolving Loans (including the Swing Line Loans) and the Letters of Credit issued hereunder in compliance (and not in contravention of) applicable Laws and each Loan Document.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to:
Section 6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender each of the following:
(a) Audited Annual Financial Statements. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date) or, in the case of the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date, one hundred and fifty (150) days after the end of such fiscal year (subject for any fiscal year to a 30-day extension in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), stockholders equity and cash flows for such fiscal year together with related notes thereto, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (if ending after the Closing Date), prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of any accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any qualification arising from a limitation in scope or as to the Borrowers ability to continue as a going concern, other than any such qualification resulting from or relating to (i) an actual or anticipated breach of a Financial Covenant, (ii) an upcoming maturity date or
(iii) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Person other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iv) changes in accounting principles or practices.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021), or in the case of the first three such fiscal quarters ending after the Closing Date, within seventy-five (75) days after the end of each such fiscal quarter, (i) a condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, (ii) the related condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (iii) the related condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth, in each case of clauses (ii) and (iii), in comparative form, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, in each case if ended after the Closing Date, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in material compliance with the Accounting Principles, subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(c) Budget; Projections. Prior to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, on or prior to the date financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (commencing with the first fiscal year ending after the Closing Date), a consolidated budget for the following fiscal year on an annual basis in form and substance consistent with the budget customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use.
145
(d) Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b), such supplemental financial information (which need not be audited) as is 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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (i) the applicable financial statements of any Person of which the Borrower is a Subsidiary (such Person, a Parent Entity) or (ii) the Borrowers or a Parent Entitys Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to each of clauses (i) and (ii), (A) to the extent such information relates to a Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by such supplemental financial information (which need not be audited) as is necessary to eliminate the accounts of such Parent Entity and each of its Subsidiaries, other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (B) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of any accounting firm of nationally recognized standing or other accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any qualification arising from a limitation in scope or as to the Borrowers ability to continue as a going concern, other than any such qualification resulting from or relating to (i) an actual or anticipated breach of a Financial Covenant, (ii) an upcoming maturity date or (iii) activities, operations, financial results or liabilities of any Person other than the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iv) changes in accounting principles or practices or Subsidiaries of the Parent Entity (other than Holdings and its Subsidiaries). Any financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall not be required to contain purchase accounting adjustments to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such financial statements.
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender each of the following:
(a) Compliance Certificate. No later than five Business Days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate; provided that if such Compliance Certificate demonstrates a Financial Covenant Event of Default, a notice of an intent to cure (a Notice of Intent to Cure) pursuant to Section 8.02 may be delivered along with or prior to delivery of such Compliance Certificate, to the extent permitted thereunder.
(b) SEC Filings. Promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports, proxy statements and registration statements which Holdings or the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary files with the SEC (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered to the Administrative Agent), 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 to any other clause of this Section 6.02; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in this Section 6.02(b) may be satisfied by causing such information to be publicly available on the SECs EDGAR website or another publicly available reporting service.
(c) Information Regarding Collateral. The Borrower agrees to notify the Collateral Agent (within 30 calendar days, or such longer period of time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the occurrence of such event (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) of any change,
146
(i) in the legal name of any Person required to be a Loan Party;
(ii) in the identity or type of organization of any Person required to be a Loan Party;
(iii) in the jurisdiction of organization of any Person required to be a Loan Party; or
(iv) in the location (within the meaning of Section 9-307 of the UCC) of any Person (to the extent not a registered organization (as defined in Section 9-102 of the UCC)) required to be a Loan Party.
(d) Other Information. Such additional information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent 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.
(e) Borrowing Base Certificate.
(i) On or prior to the 20th calendar day after the last day of each calendar month (the period ending on such date, a Fiscal Month), a Borrowing Base Certificate as of the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Month; provided that (1) during the continuance of any Cash Dominion Period and only for so long as such Cash Dominion Period is continuing, the Borrower shall deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate a weekly basis within three Business Days after the end of each week, and (2) any Borrowing Base Certificate that the Borrower elects to deliver more frequently than otherwise required in this clause (e)(i) will be delivered at such increased frequency for at least 60 consecutive calendar days following the initial delivery thereof; provided, further, that (a) a revised Borrowing Base Certificate based on the Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered shall be delivered prior to (x) the consummation of a sale or other disposition or transfer (or merger, consolidation or amalgamation that constitutes a sale or disposition (other than ordinary course dispositions) or otherwise results in the transfer) of any eligible assets of a Loan Party or a Lien Release Event that constitute more than an amount equal to the greater of $20,000,000 and 7.50% of the Borrowing Base to any Person other than a Domestic Loan Party and (y) any occurrence of a Guaranty Release Event in respect of a Loan Party the assets of which comprise any portion of the Borrowing Base, in each case, removing all such assets from the Borrowing Base, which revised Borrowing Base Certificate shall demonstrate that, after giving pro forma effect to the removal of such assets from the Borrowing Base, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments does not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (b) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, any sale, disposition or transfer that is subject to the foregoing terms of clause (a) shall be permitted only if the Borrower complies with the terms of such clause (a).
(ii) Concurrently with the delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to clause (e)(i) above and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, all delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(A) a detailed aging of the Borrowers Accounts, including all invoices aged by invoice date (with an indication of payment terms by invoice), by division, prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a summary specifying the name and balance due for each Account Debtor;
147
(B) a schedule detailing the Borrowers Inventory, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by location (showing Inventory in transit, any Inventory located with a third party under any consignment, bailee arrangement, or warehouse agreement), by class (raw material, work-in-process and finished goods), by division, by product type, by volume on hand, by lot code and by manufacture and expiration date, which Inventory shall be valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market and adjusted for Reserves as the Administrative Agent has previously indicated to the Borrower are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be appropriate;
(C) a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Borrower to determine Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory, such worksheets detailing the Accounts and Inventory excluded from Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory and the reason for such exclusion; and
(D) a reconciliation of the Borrowers Accounts and Inventory between (A) the amounts shown in the Borrowers general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above, and (B) the amounts and dates shown in the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above and the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to clause (l) above as of such date;
(iii) as soon as available but in any event concurrently with the delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the month then ended, a schedule and aging of the Borrowers accounts payable, delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.02 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on the Borrowers website on the Internet at the website addresses listed on Schedule 11.02, or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers behalf on Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak 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: (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the 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 (B) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, Borrower Materials) by posting the Borrower Materials on Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak or another similar electronic system (the Platform) and (b) certain of the Lenders may have personnel who do not wish to receive any information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, that is not Public-Side Information, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (i) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked PUBLIC which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word PUBLIC shall appear prominently on the first page thereof (and by doing so shall be deemed to have represented that such information contains only Public-Side Information); (ii) by marking Borrower Materials PUBLIC, the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as containing only Public-Side Information
148
(provided however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.08); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated Public-Side Information; and (iv) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public-Side Information.
For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
Section 6.03 Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for prompt further notification by the Administrative Agent to each Lender of:
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;
(b) (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation or proceeding between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any arbitrator or Governmental Authority or (ii) the filing or commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, in any such case referred to in clause (i) through (iii), has resulted, or is reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) (i) any notice of any Environmental Claim, or (ii) any unpermitted release of Hazardous Materials at any real property or facility owned or operated by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that, in the case of either of the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth a summary description of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
Section 6.04 Payment of Certain Taxes. Pay all federal, state and other Taxes levied or imposed upon it or upon its properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with the Accounting Principles or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in 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 incorporation or organization, as applicable; and
(b) take all reasonable action to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect those of its rights (including with respect to Intellectual Property), licenses, permits, privileges, and franchises, that are material to the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties taken as a whole;
except in the case of clause (a) or (b), (i) in connection with a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents (including transactions permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05), (ii) with respect to any Immaterial Subsidiary, or (iii) to the extent that failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
149
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted), except to the extent the failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.
(a) Except when the failure to do so has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, maintain or cause to be maintained with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of its management) are financially sound and reputable at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed or with a Captive Insurance Subsidiary, 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 and of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, and furnish to the Administrative Agent, which, absent a continuing Event of Default, shall not be made more than once in any twelve month period, upon reasonable written request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.
(b) Subject to Section 6.16 each such policy of insurance shall as appropriate and is customary and, with respect to jurisdictions outside the United States, to the extent available in such jurisdiction without undue cost or expense,
(i) name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder (with respect to liability insurance), and
(ii) to the extent covering Collateral in the case of property insurance, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the loss payee thereunder;
provided that (A) absent a Specified Event of Default that is continuing, any proceeds of any such insurance shall be delivered by the insurer(s) to Holdings, the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and may be applied in accordance with (or, if this Agreement does not provide for application of such proceeds, in a manner that is not prohibited by) this Agreement and (B) this Section 6.07(b) shall not be applicable to (1) business interruption insurance, workers compensation policies, employee liability policies or directors and officers policies, (2) policies to the extent the Collateral Agent cannot have an insurable interest therein or is unable to be named as an additional insured or loss payee thereunder or (3) the extent unavailable from the relevant insurer after the Borrowers use of its commercially reasonable efforts.
Section 6.08 Compliance with Laws. (a) Comply with the requirements of all Laws (including applicable Environmental Laws and the maintenance, continuation or acquisition of all required licenses and permits) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or to its business or products or property, except to the extent the failure to comply therewith has not resulted in, or is not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) comply with the requirements of USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA, OFAC, UK Bribery Act of 2010 and other anti-terrorism, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering Laws; provided that the requirements set forth in this Section 6.08, as they pertain to compliance by any Foreign Subsidiary with the USA PATRIOT ACT, FCPA, OFAC and UK Bribery Act of 2010 are subject to and limited by any Law applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary in its relevant local jurisdiction.
150
Section 6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects shall be made of all material financial transactions and material matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that Foreign Subsidiaries may maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization or operations and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder), in each case, to the extent necessary to prepare the financial statements described in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b).
Section 6.10 Inspection Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 6.10(d), permit representatives of the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants (subject to such accountants policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired but subject to any restrictions in leases, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that (a) 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 under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year absent the continuation of an Event of Default and only one such time shall be at the Borrowers expense and (b) when an Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or any of their respective representatives) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrowers independent public accountants. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.08.
(b) Subject to Section 6.10(d), at any time in the Administrative Agents reasonable discretion upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, and at such other times not more frequently than (1) once per 12-month period if subclause (2) does not apply and (2) twice per 12-month period during any period commencing upon the date on which Specified Excess Availability has been less than the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for five consecutive Business Days and ending on the date on which Specified Excess Availability has been at least equal to the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for 20 consecutive calendar days, the Loan Parties will, at the expense of the Borrower and upon the Administrative Agents request, permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent to conduct field examinations at reasonable business hours and upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower; provided that if a field examination has commenced (or if an appraiser or consultant has been engaged for purposes of conducting such field examination) pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (2) but such field examination has not been completed prior to such time as Specified Excess Availability has been at least equal to the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for 20 consecutive calendar days, such field examination will nevertheless be completed at the expense of the Borrower; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may conduct one additional field examination in each 12-month period at the expense of the Lenders. The Loan Parties will reasonably cooperate with the Administrative Agent and such Persons in the conduct of such field examinations. The Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of any field examination Report to any Lender upon such Lenders request.
151
(c) Subject to Section 6.10(d), at any time in the Administrative Agents reasonable discretion upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, and at such other times not more frequently than (1) once per 12-month period if subclause (2) does not apply and (2) twice per 12-month period during any period commencing upon the date on which Specified Excess Availability has been less than the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for five consecutive Business Days and ending on the date on which Specified Excess Availability has been at least equal to the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for 20 consecutive calendar days, the Loan Parties will, at the expense of the Borrower and upon the Administrative Agents request, permit any appraiser or consultant to conduct appraisals of the Collateral at reasonable business hours and upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower; provided that if an appraisal of the Collateral has commenced (or if an appraiser or consultant has been engaged for purposes of conducting such appraisal) pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (2) but such appraisal has not completed prior to such time as Specified Excess Availability has been at least equal to the greater of $37,500,000 and 15.0% of the Maximum Borrowing Amount then in effect for 20 consecutive calendar days, such field examination will nevertheless be completed at the expense of the Borrower; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may conduct one additional appraisal of the Collateral in each 12- month period at the expense of the Lenders. The Loan Parties will reasonably cooperate with the Administrative Agent and the applicable appraiser or consultant in the conduct of such appraisals. Such appraisals will be prepared in a form and on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals to include, without limitation, information required by applicable law and by the internal policies of the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of any appraisal Report to any Lender upon such Lenders request.
(d) For each of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c), to the extent the Administrative Agent elects to retain any appraiser or consultant, other than the Administrative Agents internal auditors, or any other appraiser or consultant previously approved by the Borrower (it being agreed that, as of the Closing Date, the Borrower approves Hilco, KPMG, FTI, Great American, Sector 3, Durkin Group and Gordon Brothers), the selection of such appraiser or consultants will be selected in consultation with the Borrower.
Section 6.11 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security. Subject to any applicable limitation in any Loan Document (including Section 6.12), at the Borrowers expense, take the following actions within ninety days of the occurrence of any Grant Event (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion):
(i) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver the Guaranty (or a joinder thereto), which may be accomplished by executing a Guaranty Supplement;
(ii) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver the Security Agreement (or a supplement thereto), which may be accomplished by executing a Security Agreement Supplement;
(iii) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver any applicable Intellectual Property Security Agreements with respect to registered Intellectual Property that it owns and that constitutes Collateral;
(iv) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event to execute and deliver an acknowledgement of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or a supplement thereto);
(v) cause the Restricted Subsidiary subject of the Grant Event (and any Loan Party of which such Restricted Subsidiary is a direct Subsidiary) to (A) deliver (or deliver to the Term Loan Agent in accordance with the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) any and all certificates representing its Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that constitute, or are required to be, Collateral and are required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Agreement, accompanied by
152
undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank (or any other documents customary under local law), (B) execute and deliver a counterparty signature to the Global Intercompany Note (or joinder thereto) and (C) deliver (or deliver to the Term Loan Agent in accordance with the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) all instruments evidencing Indebtedness held by such Restricted Subsidiary that constitute Collateral and are required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Agreement, endorsed in blank, to the Collateral Agent;
(vi) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, take and cause the Restricted Subsidiary the subject of the Grant Event and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to this Agreement that directly holds Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary to take such customary actions as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in the Term Loan Collateral Agent in accordance with the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) perfected Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary and the personal property and fixtures of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by the Loan Documents, 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);
provided that without limiting the obligations set forth above, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will consult in good faith with the Borrower to reduce any stamp, filing or similar taxes imposed as a result of the actions described in the foregoing provisions.
Section 6.12 Further Assurances. Subject to Section 6.11 and any applicable limitations in any Collateral Document, and in each case at the expense of the Borrower, promptly upon the reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (a) 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 (b) 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents (but in no event broader than the deliverables contemplated under Section 6.11). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, neither Holdings, the Borrower, nor any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to, nor will the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent be authorized to take any Prohibited Perfection Action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in the event that a Foreign Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the proviso to the definition of Excluded Subsidiary, such Loan Party shall grant a perfected lien on substantially all of its assets pursuant to arrangements reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, subject to customary limitations in such jurisdiction as may be reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, and nothing in the definition of Excluded Assets or Excluded Equity Interests or other limitation in this Agreement (other than as set forth in this paragraph) shall in any way limit or restrict the pledge of assets and property by any such Foreign Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.
Further, the Loan Parties shall not be required to perform any periodic collateral reporting, if any, with any frequency greater than once per fiscal year (provided that this clause shall not limit the obligation of the Loan Parties to comply with Section 6.02(c), Section 6.10 or Section 6.11).
Section 6.13 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or designate (or re-designate, as the case may be) any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:
153
(a) immediately before and after such designation (or re-designation), no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the Investment resulting from the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as described above is permitted by Section 7.02;
(c) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless it is also designated as an unrestricted subsidiary under the Notes Indenture, the Term Loan Credit Agreement or the documentation governing any other Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof); and
(d) (i) a revised Borrowing Base Certificate based on the Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered shall be delivered prior to the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary holding eligible assets that constitute more than an amount equal to the greater of $20,000,000 and 7.50% of the Borrowing Base as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, which revised Borrowing Base Certificate shall demonstrate that, after giving pro forma effect to the removal of such eligible assets from the Borrowing Base, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments does not exceed the Maximum Borrowing Amount and (ii) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is subject to the foregoing terms of clause (d)(i) shall be permitted only if the Borrower complies with the terms of such clause (d)(i).
The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value as of such date of the Borrowers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment(s) to date therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness and Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time and a return on any Investment by the Borrower in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such designation of the Borrowers or its Restricted Subsidiarys (as applicable) Investment in such Subsidiary. Except as set forth in this paragraph, no Investment will be deemed to exist or have been made, and no Indebtedness or Liens shall be deemed to have been incurred or exist, by virtue of a Subsidiary becoming an Excluded Subsidiary or an Excluded Subsidiary becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. For all purposes hereunder, the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to constitute a concurrent designation of any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 6.14 Cash Receipts.
(a) To the knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, Schedule 6.14 hereto lists all DDAs and Concentration Accounts that are maintained by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, setting forth (i) the name of the financial institution at which such DDA or Concentration Account is maintained and (ii) the account number(s) assigned to such DDAs or Concentration Accounts by such financial institution.
(b) Each Loan Party shall, within 120 days of the Closing Date (or such longer period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) (i) instruct each financial institution for a DDA to cause all amounts on deposit and available at the close of each Business Day in such DDA (net of any Required Minimum Balance), to be swept to one of the Loan Parties concentration accounts (each, a Concentration Account) no less frequently than on a daily basis, such instructions to be irrevocable unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into or maintain a blocked account agreement (each, a Blocked Account Agreement), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the Administrative Agent and any financial institution with which such Loan Party maintains (x) a DDA or (y) a Concentration Account into which the DDAs are swept (collectively, the Blocked Accounts); and (iii) deliver to the Administrative Agent notifications in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent executed on behalf of each applicable Loan Party and addressed to such Loan Partys Credit Card Processors (each, a Credit Card Notification).
154
If such Blocked Account Agreements cannot be put in place within 120 days after the Closing Date after any such Loan Partys use of commercially reasonable efforts, subject to extensions agreed to by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall be required to move the applicable DDAs and Concentration Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) to accounts maintained by the Administrative Agent or another bank that has executed such Blocked Account Agreements. In the event that any Loan Party acquires any DDA or Concentration Account after the Closing Date in connection with an Investment permitted hereunder or otherwise that will, following the integration of such DDA or Concentration Account into the cash management procedures of the Borrower, constitute a Blocked Account, such Loan Party shall enter into a Blocked Account Agreement with respect thereto within 120 days following the date such DDA or Concentration Account is acquired (or, in each case, such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its reasonable discretion). For purposes of this Section 6.14, a DDA or Concentration Account shall include any related reinvestment account.
(c) Each Blocked Account Agreement relating to any Concentration Account and Credit Card Notification shall require, after the delivery of notice of Cash Dominion Period from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and the other parties to such Blocked Account Agreement or Credit Card Notification (that the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, provide upon its becoming aware of such a Cash Dominion Period), the ACH or wire transfer no less frequently than once per Business Day (unless the Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall have occurred), of all available cash balances and cash receipts, including all Credit Card Accounts Receivable and the then contents or then entire ledger balance of each Blocked Account relating to any Concentration Account (net of such minimum balance as may be required to be maintained in the subject Blocked Account by the bank at which such Blocked Account is maintained (the Required Minimum Balances)), to an account maintained by the Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent Account). All amounts received in the Administrative Agent Account shall be applied (and allocated) by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.07(b)(ii); provided that if the circumstances described in Section 9.03 are applicable, all such amounts shall be applied in accordance with such Section 9.03. Each Loan Party agrees that it will not cause any proceeds of any Blocked Account relating to any Concentration Account to be otherwise redirected. At all times, the Loan Parties shall maintain all of their cash and Cash Equivalents in (i) Blocked Accounts, (ii) DDAs, (iii) Excluded Accounts or (iv) securities accounts subject to the control of the Administrative Agent, and at any time a Cash Dominion Period exists and is continuing, amounts shall be swept from the Blocked Accounts relating to any Concentration Account to the Administrative Agent Account as provided herein, except for Required Minimum Balances.
(d) The Loan Parties may close DDAs or Blocked Accounts and/or open new DDAs or Blocked Accounts, subject (i) in the case of opening any new DDAs, to the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in this Section 6.14 with respect to such new DDAs and (ii) in the case of opening any new Blocked Accounts, to the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Blocked Account Agreement consistent with the provisions of this Section 6.14 and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent within 120 days of the opening thereof (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion). Unless consented to in writing by the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties will not enter into any agreements with credit card processors unless contemporaneously therewith a Credit Card Notification is executed by a Loan Party and a copy thereof is delivered to the Administriative Agent.
155
(e) The Administrative Agent Account shall at all times be under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Loan Party has any right of withdrawal from the Administrative Agent Account (except as provided in Section 2.07(b)(ii) or Section 9.03), (ii) the funds on deposit in the Administrative Agent Account shall at all times continue to be collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, and (iii) the funds on deposit in the Administrative Agent Account shall be applied as provided in this Agreement and the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement. In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.14, any Loan Party receives or otherwise has dominion and control of any proceeds or collections required to be transferred to the Administrative Agent Account pursuant to Section 6.14(c), such proceeds and collections shall be held in trust by such Loan Party for the Administrative Agent, and shall promptly be deposited into the Administrative Agent Account or dealt with in such other fashion as such Loan Party may be instructed by the Administrative Agent.
(f) Upon the commencement of a Cash Dominion Period and for so long as the same is continuing, the Administrative Agent may direct that all amounts in the Blocked Accounts which are Concentration Accounts be paid to the Administrative Agent Account. So long as no Cash Dominion Period has commenced and is continuing in respect of which the Administrative Agent has delivered notice as contemplated by paragraph (c) of this Section 6.14, the Loan Parties may direct, and shall have sole control over, the manner of disposition of funds in the Blocked Accounts.
(g) Any amounts held or received in the Administrative Agent Account (including all interest and other earnings with respect thereto, if any) at any time (i) when the Termination Conditions have been satisfied or (ii) all Events of Default have been cured and no Cash Dominion Period exists, shall (subject, in the case of clause (i), to the provisions of the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement) be remitted to an account of the Borrower.
Section 6.15 Change in Nature of Business. Engage only in material lines of business that are substantially consistent with those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and lines of business that are reasonably similar, corollary, ancillary, incidental, synergistic, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, in each case as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
Section 6.16 Post-Closing Matters. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take each of the actions set forth on Schedule 6.16 within the time period prescribed therefor on such schedule (as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent).
Section 6.17 Use of Proceeds.
(a) The proceeds of Revolving Loans will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the financing of transactions that are not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement; provided that the proceeds of the Initial Revolving Loans will be used on the Closing Date as set forth in the definition of Initial Revolving Loans.
(b) Letters of Credit will be used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including supporting transactions not prohibited by the Loan Documents.
156
Section 6.18 Company Specified Representations. On the Closing Date, upon the release of each Loan Document executed and delivered in escrow by the Target Loan Parties in accordance with Section 4.01, each Target Loan Party will make the Specified Representations with respect to it.
Section 6.19 Designation of Borrowers. On or after the Closing Date, the Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate any Loan Party as a Borrower (any such Loan Party, upon becoming a Borrower, a Co-Borrower) by delivery to the Administrative Agent of the Borrower Joinder in the form of Exhibit N (a Borrower Joinder) executed by such Loan Party, each other Guarantor and the Borrower; provided, that
(a) any such Co-Borrower is organized in the United States or any other jurisdiction approved by the Administrative Agent and each Lender in its sole discretion;
(b) the representations and warranties set forth 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 Borrower Joinder with respect to such Co-Borrower with the same effect as if made on such date; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such date;
(c) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on and as of the date of the Borrower Joinder;
(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Borrower Joinder (i) all documentation and other information about the Co-Borrower required under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, and (ii) to the extent such Co-Borrower qualifies as a legal entity customer a Beneficial Ownership Certification for such new Loan Party, that in each case has been requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date of the Borrower Joinder.
Upon receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit such Borrower Joinder and the related documents delivered pursuant to this Section 6.19 to each of the Lenders; provided that the failure to do so by the Administrative Agent shall not in any way affect the status of any such Co-Borrower as a Borrower hereunder.
The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any amendment to this Agreement or to any other Loan Document as may be necessary or appropriate in order to establish any additional Borrower pursuant to this Section 6.19 and such technical amendments, and other customary amendments with respect to provisions of this Agreement relating to taxes for borrowers, in each case as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Co- Borrower in connection therewith.
Upon the later of execution and delivery of a Borrower Joinder by a Co-Borrower and the countersignature of the Administrative Agent thereto, each such Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for the obligations of each other Borrower hereunder with respect to each Class of Loans on an individual tranche basis, including with respect to the payment of principal of and interest on all Loans on an individual tranche basis, the payment of amounts owing in respect of Letters of Credit and the payment of fees and indemnities and reimbursement of costs and expenses. Each Co-Borrower is accepting joint and several liability hereunder in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the
157
Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them. Each Co-Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, 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 Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of all of the Borrowers without preferences or distinction among them. If and to the extent that any of the Borrowers shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of such Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event each other Borrower will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligations. Each Co-Borrower further agrees that Triton Water Holdings, Inc. will be such Co-Borrowers agent for administrative, mechanical, and notice provisions in this Agreement and any other Loan Document and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that each Co-Borrower will have the same rights under the Loan Documents as if it is the Borrower and for any other purposes under the provisions of this Agreement, including the affirmative and negative covenants, each such Co-Borrower will be treated as a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon written notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, any Co-Borrower may cease to be a Borrower hereunder and shall no longer have any rights to borrow additional Loans hereunder or cause the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Borrower (unless it is released in accordance with Section 10.11) shall continue to be a Loan Party, a Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement) and a Guarantor and its obligations in its capacity as a Loan Party, a Guarantor (as defined in the Security Agreement) and a Guarantor shall continue pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as the Termination Conditions are not satisfied, the Borrower shall not (and, with respect to Section 7.10 only, Holdings shall not), nor shall the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to:
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, that secures Indebtedness other than the following:
(a) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(a), including obligations under any Loan Document, Incremental Loans and Extended Loans;
(b) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(b), including the Term Loan Obligations, subject to an Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) Liens existing on the Closing Date or incurred pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Closing Date; provided that such Liens are set forth on Schedule 7.01 if such Liens secure obligations in excess of $10,000,000 on the Closing Date; provided further than such Liens shall not include Liens incurred under Sections 7.01(a) and 7.01(b);
(d) Liens securing obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(d), including in respect of Attributable Indebtedness, Capitalized Lease Obligations, and Indebtedness financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within two hundred and seventy days after completion of the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens and (ii) 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, or acquired, constructed, repaired, replaced or improved with the proceeds of such Indebtedness; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender or its affiliates;
158
(e) Liens in favor of a Loan Party securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03;
(f) Liens securing Obligations in respect of any Hedge Agreement and other Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(f);
(g) (i) Liens on assets of Non-Loan Parties and (ii) Liens on Excluded Assets in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) 15.0% of Closing Date EBITDA and (y) 15.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA;
(h) Liens securing obligations in respect of Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt or Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt and any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(h); provided, that if secured, the Liens in respect thereof are at all times subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that may be executed from time to time and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(i) Liens securing obligations in respect of Incremental Equivalent Debt (other than to the extent such Indebtedness is only permitted to be incurred as unsecured Indebtedness) and other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(i)and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing; provided that such Liens securing such other Indebtedness are permitted by Section 7.01(ll)(i); provided, further, that if secured, the Liens in respect thereof are at all times subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that may be executed from time to time and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(j) Liens securing obligations in respect of Permitted Ratio Debt (other than to the extent such Indebtedness is only permitted to be incurred as unsecured Indebtedness) and other Indebtedness permitted by Sections 7.03(j); provided that such Liens securing such other Indebtedness are permitted by Section 7.01(ll)(i); provided, further, that if secured, the Liens in respect thereof are at all times subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that may be executed from time to time and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(k) Liens on property or assets contributed to the equity capital of the Borrower or a Loan Party or received in exchange for Equity Interests of the Borrower or a Parent Entity made after the Closing Date solely to the extent Not Otherwise Applied;
(l) (i) Liens existing on property at the time of (and not in contemplation of) its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person or on Equity Interests of any Person, in each case, at the time such Person becomes (and not in contemplation of such Person becoming) a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case after the Closing Date; provided that (A) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than (1) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (2) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (3) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens) and (B) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03, (ii) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement relating to an Investment and (iii) Liens incurred in connection with escrow arrangements or other agreements relating to an Acquisition Transaction or Investment permitted hereunder;
159
(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 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment or (ii) consisting of or created by an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition or created in connection with a Disposition, to the extent such Investment or Disposition would have been permitted on the date of creation of such Lien;
(n) (i) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, health, disability or employee benefits, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or similar legislation or regulation or other insurance-related obligations (including in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) 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 Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries;
(o) (i) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto and (ii) deposits and Liens on cash securing obligations to insurance companies with respect to insurable liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(p) 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;
(q) Liens on Securitization Assets or otherwise arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;
(r) Liens in respect of the cash collateralization of letters of credit;
(s) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 or 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on the 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 not for speculative purposes 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 setoff) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(t) Liens securing Cash Management Obligations;
(u) Liens that are customary contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions in the ordinary course of business (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness), (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(v) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens, or other customary Liens (other than in respect of Indebtedness) in favor of landlords, so long as, in each case, such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or, if more than sixty (60) days overdue, are unfiled and that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with the Accounting Principles;
160
(w) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor or secured by a lessors, sublessors, licensors or sublicensors interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as lessee or licensee in the ordinary course of business;
(x) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located;
(y) 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 Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(z) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiarys obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;
(aa) (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than thirty days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with the Accounting Principles or that are (individually or in the aggregate) not material and (ii) Liens for property taxes on property the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has decided to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment or charge is to such property;
(bb) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning and building code restrictions and plan agreements, development agreements and contract zoning agreements), encroachments, survey exceptions, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph and telephone and cable television lines, gas and oil pipelines and other similar purposes, reservations of rights, servitudes, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and title defects affecting real property that, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the use of the property for its intended purpose, and any other exceptions to title on the Mortgage Policies (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) provided in accordance with the Term Loan Credit Agreement;
(cc) Liens arising from judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(g);
(dd) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business (including any other agreement under which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has granted rights to end users to access and use the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys products, technologies, facilities or services) which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ee) Liens (i) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business and (ii) on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or documentary letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or such other goods in the ordinary course of business;
(ff) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods and services entered into by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
161
(gg) Liens imposed by law or incurred pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title (including contractual Liens in favor of sellers and suppliers of goods) incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not constituting borrowed money that are not overdue for a period of more than sixty days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with the Accounting Principles (if so required);
(hh) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements 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;
(ii) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents earmarked to be used to satisfy or discharge Indebtedness where such satisfaction or discharge of such Indebtedness is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement;
(jj) servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements, subdivision agreements and other agreements with governmental authorities pertaining to the use or development of any of the assets or properties of the Person; provided that the same do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the affected properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(kk) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar public filings;
(ll) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (B) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (C) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens, (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03 and (iii) if the Lien so replaced, renewed or extended was required to be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement providing for subordination of such Lien to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations, then such modification, replacement, renewal or extension Lien shall also be subject to such an Intercreditor Agreement;
(mm) Liens securing:
(i) a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness; provided that:
(A) such Indebtedness was permitted by Section 7.03 and was secured by a Permitted Lien;
(B) such Permitted Refinancing is permitted by Section 7.03; and
(C) the Lien does not extend to any additional property, other than (A) after-acquired property covered by any applicable grant clause, (B) property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, (C) proceeds and products of assets covered by such Liens and (D) if the Lien securing the Indebtedness so refinanced was required to be subject to an Intercreditor Agreement providing for subordination of the Lien securing such Indebtedness to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations, then such Permitted Refinancing shall also be subject to such an Intercreditor Agreement; and
162
(nn) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03 to the extent that the underlying Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is permitted to be secured by a Lien;
(oo) Liens securing Pari Passu Lien Debt and/or Junior Lien Debt; provided that:
(i) such Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Ratio Debt; and
(ii) such Liens (other than with respect to purchase money and similar obligations) are, in each case, subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement (or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance similar to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, providing for subordination of such Liens to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations) or a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable; and
(pp) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred not to exceed the greater of (i) $558,257,000 (i.e. approximately 100.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 100.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, in each case, determined as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred (or commitments with respect thereto are received); provided that it is agreed that Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (pp) may be made pari passu with or junior to the Liens securing the Facilities under this Agreement and, in each case, Liens that are pari passu with such Liens.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, in the event that any Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Lien is incurred or such later time, as applicable; provided that all Liens securing Indebtedness under (a) the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.01(a), and (b) the Term Loan Credit Agreement on the Closing Date will be deemed incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.01(b), and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph. With respect to any Liens securing Indebtedness that was permitted to be incurred hereunder on the date of such incurrence, any Lien securing the Increased Amount of such Indebtedness shall also be permitted hereunder after the date of such incurrence.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.01, (i) any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on ABL Priority Collateral pursuant to clauses (b), (h), (i), (j), (mm), (oo) or (pp) above, shall be subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or another Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that provides that such Liens shall rank on a junior lien basis in respect of the ABL Priority Collateral to the Liens on the Obligations and (ii) no Indebtedness may be secured by any Liens on any asset which comprises any component of the Borrowing Base, other than first-priority Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Obligations, and Liens that are expressly contemplated by clause (a)(ii)(y) of the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable or clause (e)(ii)(y) of the definition of Eligible Inventory.
Section 7.02 Investments. Make or hold any Investments, except:
(a) Investments,
(i) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
163
(ii) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(b) Investments existing on the Closing Date or made pursuant to legally binding written contracts in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02 (to the extent in excess of $10,000,000 on the Closing Date) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any of the foregoing; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(b) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment or such legally binding contracts as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by another clause of this Section 7.02;
(c) Permitted Acquisitions, so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied (after giving Pro Forma Effect to the making of such Permitted Acquisition);
(d) Investments (i) held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a Person merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary (or committed to be made by any such Person) to the extent that, in each case, such Investments or any such commitments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (ii) held by Persons that become Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, including Investments by Unrestricted Subsidiaries made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired), to the extent that such Investments were not made or acquired (or committed to be made or acquired) in contemplation of, or in connection with, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) Investments in Similar Businesses that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $168,000,000 (i.e. approximately 30.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 30.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(f) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $140,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 25.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(g) [reserved];
(h) Joint Venture Investments;
(i) loans and advances to Holdings (or any Parent Entity) 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 permitted to be made to Holdings (or such Parent Entity) in accordance with Section 7.06;
(j) loans or advances to any Company Person;
(i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;
(ii) in connection with such Persons purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings (or any Parent Entity); provided that, to the extent such loans or advances are made in cash, the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Equity Interests shall be contributed to Holdings in cash; and
164
(iii) for any other purpose; provided that either (A) no cash or Cash Equivalents are advanced in connection with such Investment or (B) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under this clause (iii)(B) shall not exceed the greater of (1) $28,000,000 (i.e. approximately 5.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (2) 5.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(k) Investments in Hedge Agreements;
(l) Investments consisting of promissory notes, equity securities (including rollover equity) and other Investments (including earnouts and purchase price adjustments) received in connection with Dispositions or any other transfer of assets not constituting a Disposition and Investments made with the proceeds of Dispositions or such other transfers to the extent not required to be applied to a mandatory prepayment of the Initial Term Loans;
(m) Investments in assets that are cash or Cash Equivalents or were Cash Equivalents when made;
(n) Investments consisting of extensions of trade credit or otherwise made in the ordinary course of business, including Investments consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and trade arrangements with customers, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees;
(o) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness (including Guarantees), fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments permitted (other than by reference to this Section 7.02) by Sections 7.01, 7.03, 7.04, 7.05 and 7.06, respectively;
(p) Investments (i) received in connection with the bankruptcy, workout, recapitalization or reorganization of, or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, any other Person, (ii) received in connection with the foreclosure of any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment, (iii) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons, (iv) as a result of the settlement, compromise or resolutions of litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons and (v) received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of trade credit and other credit extended in the ordinary course of business, including to vendors and suppliers;
(q) advances of payroll or other payments to any Company Person;
(r) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material, services or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons or related activities in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Investments made in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contracts and loans or advances made to distributors, vendors, suppliers, licensors and licensees;
(t) Guarantees of leases or of other obligations;
(u) (i) Investments in connection with any Permitted Reorganization and the transactions relating thereto or contemplated thereby and (ii) Investments received as Designated Non-Cash Consideration;
165
(v) Investments in connection with any deferred compensation plan or arrangement or other compensation plan or arrangement, including to a rabbi trust or to any grantor trust claims of creditors;
(w) in the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary makes any Investment after the Closing Date in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary and such Person subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, additional Investments in an amount equal to the fair market value of such Investment as of the date on which such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;
(x) Investments made in connection with or to effect the Transactions;
(y) unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that such obligations and/or liabilities, as applicable, are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law;
(z) (i) Investments in connection with intercompany cash management services, treasury arrangements and any related activities; provided that this clause (z)(i) shall not be used for any Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and (ii) Investments constituting intercompany cost-plus or transfer pricing transactions in connection with the ongoing business operations of Subsidiaries of Holdings;
(aa) Investments consisting of (i) the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing, collaborations or other similar arrangements with other Persons and/or (ii) minority equity interests in customers received as part of fee arrangements or other commercial arrangements;
(bb) (i) Investments consisting of the acquisition of debt securities issued by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the conversion to Qualified Equity Interests of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, if such Investment is a prepayment of Junior Financing, to the extent the prepayment of such debt securities or Indebtedness would have otherwise been permitted by Section 7.09(a);
(cc) (i) Investments in a Securitization Subsidiary or any Investment by a Securitization Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided however, that any such Investment in a Securitization Subsidiary is of Securitization Assets or equity, and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;
(dd) Investments made by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party with the cash or other assets received by it pursuant to a substantially concurrent Investment made in such Subsidiary that was permitted by this Section 7.02; provided that this clause (dd) shall not be used for any Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(ee) Investments in Immaterial Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such entity remains an Immaterial Subsidiary after pro forma effect of such Investment and (ii) such Investments do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (i) $85,000,000 (i.e. approximately 15.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 15.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(ff) Investments, so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied (after giving Pro Forma Effect to the making of such Investment); and
(gg) Investments that do not exceed in the aggregate the greater of (A) $558,257,000 (i.e. approximately 100.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 100.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination.
166
If any Investment is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the date of such Investment and such Person subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, such Investment shall thereupon be deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 7.02(a)(i) and to not have been made pursuant to any other clause set forth above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02 of any transaction pursuant to which
(i) a Loan Party becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or otherwise ceases to be a Loan Party and (ii) the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries retain all or any portion of their original Investment in such Person, including in any such transaction permitted pursuant to Sections 7.04, 7.05 or 7.06, such transaction shall be deemed to be an Investment in such Person at the time of such transaction in an amount equal to the portion of the original Investment in such Person that is still held by the Loan Parties.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.02, in the event that any Investment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time such Investment is made, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Investment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Investment is made or such later time, as applicable.
The amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value of such Investment, at the Borrowers option, net of any return, whether a return of capital, interest, dividend or otherwise, with respect to such Investment. To the extent any Investment in any Person is made in compliance with this Section 7.02 in reliance on a category above that is subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction on the making of Investments and, subsequently, such Person returns to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary all or any portion of such Investment (in the form of a dividend, distribution, liquidation or otherwise, but excluding intercompany Indebtedness), such return shall be deemed to be credited to the Dollar-denominated category against which the Investment is then charged. To the extent the category subject to a Dollar-denominated restriction is also subject to a percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA restriction which, at the date of determination, produces a numerical restriction that is greater than such Dollar Amount, then such Dollar equivalent shall be deemed to be substituted in lieu of the corresponding Dollar Amount in the foregoing sentence for purposes of determining such credit.
For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction on the making of Investments, the Dollar equivalent amount of the Investment denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Investment was made.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Loan Party be permitted to make Investments constituting Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur or assume any Indebtedness, other than:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents (including Incremental Loans and Extended Loans);
(b) Indebtedness in respect of or under,
167
(i) (A) one or more Credit Facilities, including the Term Loan Documents, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the sum of (x) $2,550,000,000, plus (y) the Incremental Amount (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date) plus (z) any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date), and (B) any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing, in each case, subject to the limitations set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof which respect to the permitted amount thereof;
(ii) (A) one or more Credit Facilities, including the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $770,000,000 and (B) any Permitted Refinancing in respect of the foregoing;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness under the Notes Indenture and the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and set forth on Schedule 7.03 if the principal amount of such Indebtedness on the Closing Date is in excess of $10,000,000 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, including any intercompany Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the Closing Date; provided, that all Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Non-Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Revolving Loans on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than those subordination terms contained in the Global Intercompany Note;
(d) (i) (A) Attributable Indebtedness relating to any transaction, (B) Capitalized Leases and other Indebtedness financing the use, acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed, real or capital assets, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets, so long as such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with, or within two-hundred and seventy days after, the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement and (C) Indebtedness arising from the conversion of obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any synthetic lease transactions to Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at the time any such Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to this Section 7.03(d) shall not exceed the greater of (I) $168,000,000 (i.e. approximately 30.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 30.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, in each case determined at the time of incurrence, (ii) Attributable Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Sale Leaseback Transaction otherwise permitted hereunder and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness incurred under this Section 7.03(d); provided that for the purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03(d), any lease that is not treated under the Accounting Principles (with giving effect to any right of use leases) as a capital lease at the time such lease is executed but is subsequently treated under the Accounting Principles as a capitalized lease as the result of a change in the Accounting Principles (or interpretations thereof) after the Closing Date shall not be treated as Indebtedness;
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that all Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Non-Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Revolving Loans on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than those subordination terms contained in the Global Intercompany Note;
(f) Indebtedness in respect of (i) Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) and (ii) Hedge Agreements designed to hedge against Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiarys exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), incurred not for speculative purposes, and Guarantees thereof;
(g) (i) Indebtedness incurred by a Non-Loan Party which does not exceed the greater of (A) $140,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 25.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination and (ii) Indebtedness that is recourse only to Excluded Assets;
168
(h) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(i) Incremental Equivalent Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(j) Permitted Ratio Debt and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(k) [reserved];
(l) Indebtedness,
(i) of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date pursuant to an Investment or other Acquisition Transaction permitted hereunder, which Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and is not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary that is non-recourse to (and is not assumed by any of) the Borrower, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary of such Person that is a Subsidiary on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date) and is either (A) unsecured or (B) secured only by the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary by Liens permitted under Section 7.01; and
(ii) any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing;
(m) Indebtedness incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, Acquisition Transaction or Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs and seller notes) or other similar adjustments;
(n) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements with employees incurred by such Person in connection with the Transactions, Permitted Acquisitions, Acquisition Transaction or any Investment expressly permitted hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 7.02(e), 7.02(o) or 7.02(p));
(p) 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 Holdings (or any Parent Entity) permitted by Section 7.06;
(q) Indebtedness 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 such Indebtedness that is consistent with past practices 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 and letters of credit that are cash collateralized;
(r) Indebtedness 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;
169
(s) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the 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 practices;
(t) any Qualified Securitization Financing that is not recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Borrower or any other Loan Party;
(u) (i) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as (A) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien on Collateral other than Permitted Liens and (B) the aggregate face amount of such letters of credit does not exceed the greater of (I) $56,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 10.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, determined at the time of issuance of such letter of credit and (ii) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit that are fully cash collateralized;
(v) (i) obligations in respect of Cash Management Obligations and Cash Management Obligations (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) and (ii) other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and other cash management and similar arrangements, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices and any Guarantees thereof;
(w) Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted hereunder; provided that (A) no Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary of any Junior Financing 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 and (B) if the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Guarantee shall be subordinated to the Guaranty in right of payment on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination terms with respect to such Indebtedness;
(x) Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness of, any Joint Ventures in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $140,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 25.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, determined at the time of incurrence, and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing;
(y) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $558,257,000 (i.e. approximately 100.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 100.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination, determined at the time of incurrence, and any Permitted Refinancing of the foregoing (this Section 7.03(y), the General Debt Basket);
(z) Junior Lien Debt or Indebtedness that is unsecured so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied (after giving Pro Forma Effect to the incurrence of such Junior Lien Debt or unsecured Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof);
(aa) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (z) above.
170
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Indebtedness is incurred or such later time, as applicable; provided that all Indebtedness under (a) the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.03(a) and (b) the Notes Indenture and the Term Loan Credit Agreement on the Closing Date will be deemed incurred in reliance on the exception in Section 7.03(b), and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph.
For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) 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 or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated (or percentage of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, if greater) restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced (plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses in connection therewith).
The accrual of interest and 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 or any other provision of a Loan Document. With respect to any Indebtedness and any related Liens that were permitted to be incurred under the Loan Documents on the date of such incurrence, any Increased Amount with respect to such Indebtedness after the date of such incurrence shall also be permitted under the Loan Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate or amalgamate with or into another Person, or effect a Division, except that:
(a) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction); provided that:
(i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
(ii) such merger or consolidation does not result in the Borrower ceasing to be organized under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and
(iii) in the case of a merger or consolidation of Holdings with and into the Borrower, (A) no Event of Default shall exist at such time or after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, (B) after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, the direct parent of the Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (C) such direct parent of the Borrower shall concurrently become a Guarantor and pledge 100.0% of the Equity Interest of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
171
(b) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary or liquidate or dissolve;
(c) any merger the purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize a Restricted Subsidiary in another jurisdiction shall be permitted;
(d) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form; provided (i) no Event of Default shall result therefrom and (ii) the surviving Person (or the Person who receives the assets of such dissolving or liquidated Restricted Subsidiary) shall be a Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, and so long as the Liens of the Administrative Agent securing the Obligations are not impaired by any such transaction, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person; provided that:
(i) the 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 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 or the District of Columbia;
(B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(C) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Guaranty confirmed that its Guarantee of the Obligations shall apply to the Successor Borrowers 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 Borrowers obligations under this Agreement;
(E) [Reserved]; and
(F) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement, and, with respect to such opinion of counsel only, including customary organization, due execution, no conflicts and enforceability opinions to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
it being agreed that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement;
172
(f) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment, Acquisition Transaction or other transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents (other than by Section 7.02(o) or 7.02(p));
(g) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary may conduct a Division that produces two or more surviving or resulting Persons; provided that
(i) if a Division is conducted by the Borrower, then each surviving or resulting Person shall constitute a Borrower for all purposes of the Loan Documents (unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents in its reasonable discretion) and shall remain jointly and severally liable for all Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations, where applicable) of the Borrower immediately prior to such Division and otherwise comply with Section 7.04(e);
(ii) if a Division is conducted by Holdings, then all of the Equity Interests of the Borrower must be owned by only one Person that survives or results from such Division, and such Person owning such Equity Interests in the Borrower shall otherwise comply with Section 7.10(b), become a Guarantor and pledge 100.0% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower to the Collateral Agent; and
(iii) if a Division is conducted by a Loan Party other than the Borrower or Holdings, then each surviving or resulting Person of such Division shall also be a Loan Party unless and to the extent any such surviving or resulting Loan Party is the subject of a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05 (other than Section 7.05(e)) or otherwise would constitute an Excluded Subsidiary; provided further that such surviving or resulting Person not becoming a Loan Party and the assets and property of such surviving or resulting Person not becoming Collateral shall, in each case, be treated as an Investment and shall be permitted under this Section 7.04(g)(iii) solely to the extent permitted under Section 7.02;
(h) as 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)); and
(i) the Transactions may be consummated.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, amalgamation or Division of any Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary effected in accordance with this Section 7.04, the Borrower shall or shall cause, with respect to each surviving Restricted Subsidiary (or new direct Parent Entity) (a) to promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (i) such information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and (ii) a Beneficial Ownership Certification and (b) to 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents in accordance with Section 6.11 and as promptly as practicable.
173
Section 7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out, used or surplus property (including for purposes of recycling), whether now owned or hereafter acquired and Dispositions of property of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that is no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business or economically practicable or commercially desirable to maintain;
(b) Dispositions of property 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 or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property; provided that to the extent the property being transferred constitutes Collateral such replacement property shall constitute Collateral;
(d) Dispositions of property to or among the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)), Section 7.04 (other Section 7.04(g)(i)) and Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(d)) and Permitted Liens;
(f) Dispositions of property pursuant to Sale Leaseback Transactions; provided that (i) no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists) and (ii) such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(h) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including the provision of software under an open source license), which do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
(i) Dispositions of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event;
(j) Dispositions; 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) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (j) for a purchase price in excess of the greater of $140,000,000 (i.e. approximately 25.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and 25.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition, the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.0% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided however, that for the purposes of this clause (ii) each of the following shall be deemed to be cash;
(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the 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 Borrower and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing;
174
(B) any securities received by such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within one hundred and eighty 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 the greater of (I) $196,000,000 (i.e. approximately 35.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (II) 35.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and
(iii) such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition
(this clause (j), the General Asset Sale Basket);
(k) 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;
(l) Dispositions or discounts of accounts receivable and related assets in connection with the collection, compromise or factoring thereof;
(m) Dispositions (including issuances or sales) of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness owing to, or of other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary the assets of which consist primarily (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) of cash and Cash Equivalents received from an Investment by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary into it);
(n) Dispositions to the extent of any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon permitted by such provision) for use in any business conducted by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code (or comparable or successor provision);
(o) Dispositions in connection with the unwinding of any Hedge Agreement;
(p) Dispositions by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of assets in connection with the closing or sale of a facility in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which consist of fee or leasehold interests in the premises of such facility, the equipment and fixtures located at such premises and the books and records relating exclusively and directly to the operations of such facility; provided that as to each and all such sales and closings, (i) no Event of Default shall result therefrom and (ii) such sale shall be on commercially reasonable prices and terms in a bona fide arms-length transaction;
(q) Dispositions (including bulk sales) of the inventory of a Loan Party not in the ordinary course of business in connection with facility closings, at arms length;
(r) Disposition of Securitization Assets to a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided that such Disposition shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition;
175
(s) the lapse, abandonment or discontinuance of the use or maintenance of any Intellectual Property if previously determined by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in its reasonable business judgment that such lapse, abandonment or discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business;
(t) Disposition of any property or asset with a fair market value not to exceed with respect to any transaction the greater of (i) $56,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 10.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the date of the Disposition;
(u) Disposition of assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder that the Borrower determines will not be used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and
(v) Dispositions of Excluded Assets by Non-Loan Parties and Dispositions of Excluded Assets by Loan Parties for fair market value.
To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, and without limiting the provisions of Section 10.11 the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to, and shall, take any actions reasonably requested by the Borrower in order to effect the foregoing (and the Lenders hereby authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to conclusively rely on any such certification by the Borrower in performing its obligations under this sentence). The amount of any Disposition shall equal the fair market value of the assets that were disposed, and the proceeds (including all Proceeds) of any Disposition shall be the cash and Cash Equivalents and the fair market value of other property received in connection with such Disposition.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Loan Party be permitted to Dispose of any Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 7.06 Restricted Payments. Make any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and to any other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, to the Borrower or any such other Restricted Subsidiaries and to each Person that owns Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary ratably according to their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests or as otherwise permitted by or required by the applicable Organization Documents of such non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary);
(b) the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries may declare and make Restricted Payments payable in the form of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted to be incurred under Section 7.03) of such Person;
(c) Restricted Payments made in connection with the Transactions;
(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)), 7.04 (other than a merger or consolidation involving the Borrower) or 7.07 (other than Section 7.07(a), (j) or (k) or (o));
176
(e) Restricted Payments that occur upon or in connection with the exercise of stock options or warrants or similar rights if such Restricted Payments represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or similar rights or tax withholding obligations with respect thereto;
(f) Restricted Payments of Equity Interests in, Indebtedness owing from and/or other securities of or Investments in, any Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiaries the assets of which consist primarily (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) of cash or Cash Equivalents received from an Investment by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary into it);
(g) the Borrower may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow Holdings or any Parent Entity to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of Holdings (or of any Parent Entity) held by any Management Stockholder, including pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any separation, stock subscription, shareholder or partnership agreement) with any employee, director, consultant or distributor of the Borrower (or any Parent Entity) or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, the aggregate Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 7.06(g) after the Closing Date together with the aggregate amount of loans and advances to Holdings made pursuant to Section 7.02(j) in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by this clause (g) shall not exceed:
(i) the greater of (A) $56,000,000 (i.e. approximately 10.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 10.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of measurement in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years; plus
(ii) an amount not to exceed the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; plus
(iii) to the extent contributed in cash to the common Equity Interests of the Borrower and Not Otherwise Applied, the proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity, in each case to a Person that is or becomes a Management Stockholder that occurs after the Closing Date; plus
(iv) the amount of any cash bonuses, nonqualified deferred compensation or other compensation otherwise payable to any future, present or former Company Person that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests of Holdings or a Parent Entity, Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus
(v) payments made in respect of withholding or other similar taxes payable upon repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests of Holdings or a Parent Entity or its Subsidiaries or otherwise pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee or director stock option or profits interest plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement;
(h) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to Holdings or to any Parent Entity:
(i) the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or make dividends or distributions to allow any direct or indirect corporate parent (or entity treated as a corporation for Tax purposes) thereof to pay) the Tax liability (including estimated Tax payments) to each foreign, federal, state or local jurisdiction in respect of which a Tax return is filed by Holdings (or such direct or indirect corporate parent) that includes the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries (including in the case
177
where the Borrower and any Subsidiary is a disregarded entity for income Tax purposes), to the extent such Tax liability does not exceed the lesser of (A) the Taxes (including estimated Tax payments) that would have been payable by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries as a stand-alone Tax group (assuming that the Borrower was classified as a corporation for income Tax purposes) and (B) the actual Tax liability (including estimated Tax payments) of the Tax group that includes the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries and Holdings (or such direct or indirect corporate parent), reduced in the case of clauses (A) and (B) by any such Taxes paid or to be paid directly by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided that any such distributions attributable to Tax liability in respect of income of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted only to the extent that cash distributions were made by such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or another Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for such purpose in an aggregate amount that the Borrower determines in its reasonable discretion is necessary to pay such Tax liability on behalf of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(ii) the proceeds of which will be used to pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay) operating costs and expenses (including, following the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, Public Company Costs) of Holdings or any Parent Entity incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(iii) the proceeds of which will be used to pay franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain its (or any of such Parent Entitys) corporate or legal existence;
(iv) to finance any Investment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) Holdings and the Borrower shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (which shall be a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o))) or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in order to consummate such Investment;
(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to pay) costs, fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any successful or unsuccessful equity or debt offering permitted by this Agreement; and
(vi) the proceeds of which (A) will be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of Holdings or any Parent Entity to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) will be used to make payments permitted under Sections 7.07(e), (h), (k) and (q) (but only to the extent such payments have not been and are not expected to be made by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary);
(i) Restricted Payments (i) made in connection with the payment cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted by the Loan Documents or (ii) to honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and to make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection therewith;
178
(j) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Borrowers, Holdings or a Parent Entitys common stock following the first public offering of the Borrowers common stock or the common stock of any Parent Entity after the Closing Date, of up to the sum of (A) 6.0% per annum of the net proceeds received by or contributed to the Borrower in or from any such public offering, other than public offerings with respect to the Borrowers common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8, and (B) an amount equal to 7.0% of the Market Capitalization at the time of such public offering;
(k) repurchases of Equity Interests (i) deemed to occur on the exercise of options by the delivery of Equity Interests in satisfaction of the exercise price of such options or (ii) in consideration of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director or officer (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing), including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options or the vesting of any equity awards;
(l) payments or distributions to satisfy dissenters rights (including in connection with or as a result of the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement of any claims or actions, whether actual, contingent or potential) pursuant to or in connection with a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer of assets or other transaction permitted by the Loan Documents;
(m) payments or distributions of a Restricted Payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if at the date of declaration such Restricted Payment would have been permitted hereunder;
(n) Restricted Payments (not consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents) made in lieu of fees or expenses (including by way of discount), in each case in connection with any receivables financing (including any Qualified Securitization Financing) permitted under Section 7.03;
(o) the Borrower may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity to) (i) redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire in whole or in part any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Equity Interests of any Parent Entity (Treasury Equity Interests), in exchange for, or with the proceeds (to the extent contributed to Holdings or the Borrower substantially concurrently) of the sale or issuance (other than to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of, other Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests (Refunding Equity Interests) that are Not Otherwise Applied and (ii) declare and pay dividends on any Treasury Equity Interests out of any such proceeds;
(p) redemptions in whole or in part of any of its Equity Interests for another class of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, except to the extent issued by the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary) or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests (and in no event shall such contribution or issuance so utilized increase the Available Equity Amount) (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, except to the extent issued by the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary);
(q) Restricted Payments constituting or otherwise made in connection with or relating to any Permitted Reorganization; provided that if immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Permitted Reorganization and the transactions to be consummated in connection therewith, any distributed asset ceases to be owned by the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary (or any entity ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary), the applicable portion of the Borrower or such Restricted Payment must be otherwise permitted under another provision of this Section 7.06 (and constitute utilization of such other Restricted Payment exception or capacity);
179
(r) Restricted Payments, so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied (after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Restricted Payment);
(s) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments (the proceeds of which may be utilized by Holdings to make additional Restricted Payments) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of,
(i) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to the Available Equity Amount at such time; and
(ii) the greater of (A) $280,000,000 (i.e. approximately 50.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (B) 50.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of determination;
(t) Restricted Payments not to exceed (in aggregate with any amounts under Section 7.09(a)(xi)) the Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds.
The amount set forth in Section 7.06(s)(ii) may, in lieu of Restricted Payments, be utilized by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) make or hold any Investments without regard to Section 7.02 or (ii) prepay, repay redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof any Junior Financing without regard to Section 7.09(a).
The amount of any Restricted Payment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property subject to the Restricted Payment at the time such Restricted Payment is made. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, in the event that any Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time such Restricted Payment is made, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify, or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date such Restricted Payment is made or such later time, as applicable.
Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, other than:
(a) transactions between or among the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;
(b) transactions on terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate (as determined by the Borrower in good faith);
(c) the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses (including the Transaction Expenses) related to the Transactions;
(d) the issuance or transfer of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity to any Affiliate of the Borrower or any former, current or future officer, director, manager, employee or consultant (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity;
180
(e) (i) the payment of indemnities and expenses (including reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses) to the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements and (ii) so long as no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the payment of (A) management, consulting, monitoring, advisory and other fees, indemnities and expenses to the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements (plus any unpaid management, consulting, monitoring, advisory and other fees accrued in any prior year) and (B) any Sponsor Termination Fees pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreements; provided that payments that would otherwise be permitted to be made under this Section 7.07(e) but for a Specified Event of Default may accrue during the continuance of such Event of Default and be paid when such Event of Default is no longer continuing;
(f) employment and severance arrangements and confidentiality agreements among Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option, profits interest and other equity plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;
(g) the licensing of trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property in the ordinary course of business to permit the commercial exploitation of Intellectual Property between or among Affiliates and Subsidiaries of the Borrower;
(h) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) any agreement, instrument or arrangement as in effect as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 to the extent the amount of consideration payable per fiscal year thereunder exceeds $10,000,000 or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Closing Date);
(j) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(d)) and Investments permitted under Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(o)) and Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05 (including transition service agreements and other agreements executed in connection therewith);
(k) so long as no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, customary payments by the Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Holdings in good faith; provided that payments that would otherwise be permitted to be made under this Section 7.07(k) but for a Specified Event of Default may accrue during the continuance of such Event of Default and be paid when such Event of Default is no longer continuing;
(l) transactions in which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (b) of this Section 7.07 (without giving effect to the parenthetical phrase at the end thereof);
(m) any transaction with consideration valued at less than the greater of (i) $112,000,000 (i.e. approximately 20.0% of Closing Date EBITDA) and (ii) 20.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the applicable date of measurement;
181
(n) investments by the Sponsor in securities of Holdings or Indebtedness of Holdings, Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms;
(o) payments to or from, and transactions with, Joint Ventures;
(p) any Disposition of Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing;
(q) the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating to registration rights and indemnities provided to shareholders of Holdings or any Parent Entity pursuant to the stockholders agreement or the registration and participation rights agreement entered into on the Closing Date in connection therewith;
(r) the payment of any dividend or distribution within sixty days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration (i) such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) no Event of Default occurred and was continuing;
(s) transactions between the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries and any person, a director of which is also a director of the Borrower or any direct or indirect Parent Entity of the Borrower; provided however, that (i) such director abstains from voting as a director of the Borrower or such direct or indirect Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other person and (ii) such Person is not an Affiliate of Holdings for any reason other than such directors acting in such capacity;
(t) payments, loans (or cancellation of loans) or advances to employees or consultants that are (i) approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Holdings or either Borrower in good faith, (ii) made in compliance with applicable law and (iii) otherwise permitted under this Agreement; and
(u) transactions (i) with Holdings in its capacity as a party to any Loan Document or to any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to (A) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03 (including Permitted Refinancings thereof) or (B) the Acquisition Agreement, any other agreements contemplated thereby or any agreement, document or instrument governing or relating to any Permitted Acquisition (whether or not consummated) and (ii) with any Affiliate in its capacity as a lender under the Term Loan Facility in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 7.08 Negative Pledge. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that prohibits any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) (i) that is not a Loan Party, to pay dividends or distributions to (directly or indirectly), or to make or repay loans or advances to, any Loan Party or (ii) that is (or is required to be) a Loan Party, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person (other than Excluded Assets) for the benefit of the Lenders to secure the Obligations under the Loan Documents (other than Incremental Facilities that are not intended to be secured on a first lien basis);
provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that:
(a) (i) exist on the Closing Date, including Contractual Obligations governing Indebtedness incurred on the Closing Date to finance the Transactions, (ii) any other Contractual Obligations executed on the Closing Date in connection with the Transactions and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of Contractual Obligations described in clauses (i) or (ii);
182
(b) 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 or binding with respect to any asset at the time such asset was acquired;
(c) are Contractual Obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or to the extent applicable only to Excluded Assets;
(d) are restrictions that arise in connection with (A) any Lien permitted by Section 7.01 and relate to the property subject to such Lien or (B) any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05 applicable pending such Disposition;
(e) are joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to Joint Ventures and applicable solely to such Joint Venture;
(f) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of or that secures such Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof;
(g) are restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses or agreements governing a disposition of assets, trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto;
(h) comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(i) are customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;
(j) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(k) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers or trade counterparties under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(l) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Section 7.01;
(m) comprise restrictions that are, taken as a whole, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower (i) no more restrictive with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than customary market terms for Indebtedness of such type, (ii) no more restrictive than the restrictions contained in this Agreement, or not reasonably anticipated to materially and adversely affect the Loan Parties ability to make any payments required hereunder;
(n) apply by reason of any applicable Law, rule, regulation or order or are required by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(o) customary restrictions contained in Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(g), (h), (i), (j), (l), (m), (x) or (y);
183
(p) Contractual Obligations that are subject to the applicable override provisions of the UCC;
(q) customary provisions (including provisions limiting the Disposition, distribution or encumbrance of assets or property) included in sale leaseback agreements or other similar agreements;
(r) net worth provisions contained in agreements entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to meet its ongoing obligations;
(s) restrictions arising in any agreement relating to (i) any Cash Management Obligation to the extent such restrictions relate solely to the cash, bank accounts or other assets or activities subject to the applicable Cash Management Services, (ii) any treasury arrangements and (iii) any Hedge Agreement;
(t) restrictions on the granting of a security interest in Intellectual Property contained in non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses or cross-licenses by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Intellectual Property, which licenses, sublicenses and cross-licenses were entered into in the ordinary course of business; and
(u) other restrictions or encumbrances imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section; provided that no such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing is, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those in effect prior to the relevant amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Section 7.09 Junior Debt Prepayments; Amendments to Junior Financing Documents.
(a) Prepayments of Junior Financing. Prepay, repay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the date that is one year before the scheduled maturity thereof any Junior Financing (any such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction, a Junior Debt Repayment), except:
(i) Junior Debt Repayments with the proceeds of, or in exchange for, any (A) Permitted Refinancing or (B) other Junior Financing or Junior Lien Debt;
(ii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests;
(iii) Junior Debt Repayments of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owed to Holdings, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(iv) Junior Debt Repayments of Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date in connection with a transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents; provided that such Indebtedness was incurred prior to such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and not in contemplation thereof;
(v) Junior Debt Repayments within 60 days of giving notice thereof if at the date of such notice, such payment would have been permitted hereunder;
184
(vi) Junior Debt Repayments made in connection with the Transactions;
(vii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of the payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments, payments of fees, expenses, penalty interest and indemnification obligations when due, other than payments prohibited by any applicable subordination provisions;
(viii) Junior Debt Repayments consisting of a payment to avoid the application of Section 163(e)(5) of the Code (an AHYDO Catch Up Payment);
(ix) Junior Debt Repayments, so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied (after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Junior Debt Repayment);
(x) Junior Debt Repayments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of:
(A) Junior Debt Repayments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Equity Amount at such time; and
(B) the greater of (A) 75.0% of Closing Date EBITDA (i.e. $420,000,000) and (B) 75.0% of TTM Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower on a Pro Forma Basis as of the applicable date of determination; and
(xi) Junior Debt Repayments not to exceed (in aggregate with any amounts under Section 7.06(t)) the Distributable Asset Sale Proceeds;
provided however, that each of the following shall be permitted: payments of closing and consent fees related to Junior Financing, indemnity and expense reimbursement payments in connection with Junior Financing, and mandatory prepayments, mandatory redemptions and mandatory purchases, in each case pursuant to the terms of Junior Financing Documentation.
The amount set forth in Section 7.09(a)(x)(B) may, in lieu of Junior Debt Repayments be utilized by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) make or hold any Investments without regard to Section 7.02 or (ii) make any Restricted Payments without regard to Section 7.06.
The amount of any Junior Debt Repayment at any time shall be the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property used to make the Junior Debt Repayment at the time such Junior Debt Repayment is made. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.09(a), in the event that any prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories set forth above, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction is made, divide, classify, or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify (as if incurred at such time), such prepayment, repayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or satisfaction (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant on the date it was made or such later time, as applicable.
(b) Amendments to Junior Financing Documents. Amend, modify or change in any manner without the consent of the Administrative Agent, any Junior Financing Documentation unless (i) such amendment, modification or change is permitted pursuant to any applicable intercreditor or subordination agreement or (ii) the Borrower determines in good faith that the effect of such amendment, modification or waiver is not, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders, in each case, other than as a result of a Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided that, in each case, a certificate of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to such amendment or other modification, together with a reasonably detailed description of such amendment or modification, stating
185
that the Borrower has reasonably determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy such foregoing requirement shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy such foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonably detailed description of the basis upon which it disagrees).
Section 7.10 Passive Holding Company.
(a) In the case of Holdings, engage in any active trade or business, it being agreed that the following activities (and activities incidental thereto) will not be prohibited:
(i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Borrower;
(ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance);
(iii) the performance of its obligations and payments with respect to (i) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.03, any Qualified Holding Company Debt or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing, or (ii) the Acquisition Agreement and the other agreements contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement;
(iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance of its Equity Interests (including Qualified Equity Interests);
(v) making (i) payments or Restricted Payments to the extent otherwise permitted under this Section 7.10 and (ii) Restricted Payments with any amounts received pursuant to transactions permitted under, and for the purposes contemplated by, Section 7.06;
(vi) the incurrence of Qualified Holding Company Debt;
(vii) making contributions to the capital of its Subsidiaries;
(viii) guaranteeing the obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in each case solely to the extent such obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not prohibited hereunder;
(ix) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group that includes Holdings and the Borrower;
(x) holding any cash or property received in connection with Restricted Payments made by the Borrower in accordance with Section 7.06 pending application thereof by Holdings;
(xi) providing indemnification to officers and directors;
(xii) making Investments in assets that are Cash Equivalents; and
(xiii) activities incidental to the businesses or activities described in clauses (i) to (xii) of this Section 7.10(a).
186
(b) Holdings may not merge, amalgamate dissolve, liquidate or consolidated with or into any other Person; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person if the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or
(ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not Holdings or is a Person into which Holdings has been liquidated,
(A) the Successor Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia,
(B) the Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
(C) the Successor Holdings shall pledge 100.0% of the Equity Interest of the Borrower to the Collateral Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
(D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement or any Collateral Document comply with this Agreement and, with respect to such opinion of counsel only, including customary organization, due execution, no conflicts and enforceability opinions to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
it being agreed that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, amalgamation or Division of Holdings effected in accordance with this Section 7.10, the Borrower shall or shall cause, with respect to the surviving Person (or new direct Parent Entity or Successor Holdings) (x) promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent for further distribution by the Administrative Agent to each Lender (1) such information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and (2) a Beneficial Ownership Certification and (y) 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 or Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents as promptly as practicable.
Section 7.11 Amendments to Organizational Documents and Changes to Fiscal Year.
(a) amend, supplement, waive or otherwise modify any provision of its Organization Documents in a manner that would be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (taken as a whole); or
(b) make any change in its fiscal year.
187
ARTICLE VIII.
FINANCIAL COVENANT
So long as the Termination Conditions have not been satisfied, the Borrower and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries covenant and agree that:
Section 8.01 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. (i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Covenant Trigger Event, the Borrower shall not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.00 to 1.00 for any Test Period measured for the most recent Test Period then ended prior to the Covenant Trigger Event coming into effect and each Test Period ending thereafter until the Covenant Trigger Event is no longer continuing, and (ii) the Borrower shall deliver, upon the initial occurrence of a Covenant Trigger Event and then quarterly during the continuance of such Covenant Trigger Event, together with the Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) (each such date, a Covenant Test Date), a certification (x) with a reasonably detailed calculation of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and (y) demonstrating compliance with this Section 8.01, in each case, calculated based on the last Compliance Certificate delivered (or concurrently delivered) or required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a).
Section 8.02 Borrowers Right to Cure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01, in the event that the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is less than the amount set forth in Section 8.01 on the last day of any fiscal quarter falling after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Covenant Trigger Event, any equity contribution (in the form of common equity or other equity that is not a Disqualified Equity Interest) made to Holdings following the occurrence of a Covenant Trigger Event for such Test Period and on or prior to the day that is 15 Business Days after a Covenant Test Date (each such date, a Cure Expiration Date) in respect of the applicable Test Period and Not Otherwise Applied and designated by the Borrower on the date of such contribution as a Specified Equity Contribution will be included in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA solely for the purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.01 at the end of such fiscal quarter and any subsequent period that includes such fiscal quarter (any such equity contribution, a Specified Equity Contribution); provided that,
(a) the Borrower shall not be permitted to so request that a Specified Equity Contribution be included in the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with respect to any fiscal quarter unless, after giving effect to such requested Specified Equity Contribution, there would be at least two fiscal quarters in the Relevant Four Fiscal Quarter Period in which no Specified Equity Contribution has been made;
(b) no more than five Specified Equity Contributions will be made in the aggregate;
(c) any proceeds of Specified Equity Contributions will be disregarded for all other purposes under the Loan Documents (including calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of determining basket levels, pricing and other items governed by reference to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or any ratio-based basket and the other negative covenants);
(d) there shall be no reduction in Indebtedness pursuant to a cash netting provision with the proceeds of any Specified Equity Contribution for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.01 for the fiscal quarter for which such Specified Equity Contribution was made and there shall only be a reduction of Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 8.01 in future fiscal quarters to the extent the proceeds of the Specified Equity Contribution are actually applied to repay Indebtedness as permitted hereunder;
188
(e) the proceeds of such Specified Equity Contribution shall have been contributed to the Borrower as cash common equity;
(f) no Lender shall be required to make any new extension of credit under a Loan Document after receipt by the Administrative Agent of any Notice of Intent to Cure if the Borrower has not at such time received the proceeds of such Specified Equity Contribution; and
(g) the amount of any Specified Equity Contribution will be no greater than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in compliance with Section 8.01.
ARTICLE IX.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 9.01 Events of Default. Each of the events referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of this Section 9.01 constitutes an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any fee payable pursuant to the terms of a Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or, in the case of Section 7.10, Holdings, fails to perform or observe any covenant contained in,
(i) Section 6.02(e) (and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within five Business Days, or, during the continuance of any Cash Dominion Period (other, than a Cash Dominion Period which arises due to a breach of this clause (b)(i)) within three Business Days after the occurrence thereof);
(ii) Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.05(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower),
(iii) Section 6.14 (and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within five Business Days, other than during the continuance of any Cash Dominion Period (other, than a Cash Dominion Period which arises due to a breach of this clause (b)(iii)));
(iv) Section 6.18;
(v) Article VII;
(vi) Section 8.01 (any such failure to observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 8.01, a Financial Covenant Event of Default); or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other covenant (not specified in Section 9.01(a) or Section 9.01(b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made or deemed by any Loan Party in any Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of a Loan Document shall be untrue in any material respect (or, with respect to any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be untrue in any respect) when made or deemed made; and in the case of any representation and warranty made or deemed made after the Closing Date,
189
such representation or warranty shall remain untrue (in any material respect or in any respect, as applicable) or uncorrected for a period of thirty days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; provided that (i) this clause (d) shall be limited on the Closing Date to the Specified Representations and (ii) any breach of a representation or warranty relating to a matter described in Section 9.01(i) shall not result in a Default or an Event of Default under this Section 9.01(d) or any other provision of a Loan Document; or
(e) Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor:
(i) fails to make any payment of any principal beyond the applicable grace period, if any, whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, in respect of its Material Indebtedness; or
(ii) fails to perform or observe any other covenant contained in an agreement governing its Material Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, the effect of which failure or other event is to cause, or permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice, if required, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity, in each case pursuant to its terms; or
(iii) suffers to exist under any Hedge Agreement any (i) event of default as to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor is the defaulting party or (ii) Termination Event (or such comparable term as may be defined in such Hedge Agreement) as to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor is an Affected Party (or such comparable term as may be defined in such Hedge Agreement), in each case, as a result of which the applicable contract counterparty has taken or is taking any Enforcement Action and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor is greater than the Threshold Amount;
provided that (A) this Section 9.01(e) shall not apply to any failure if it has been remedied, cured or waived, in accordance with the terms of such Material Indebtedness and (B) Section 9.01(e)(ii) shall not apply (1) to any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; (2) [reserved]; (3) to the conversion of, or the satisfaction of any condition to the conversion of, any Indebtedness that is convertible or exchangeable for Qualified Equity Interests; (4) to a customary change of control put right in any indenture governing any such Indebtedness in the form of notes; or (5) to a refinancing of Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. (i) Any Loan Party or a Significant Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) (A) institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (B) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or (C) applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; (ii) any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed for a Loan Party or a Significant Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) without the application or consent of such Loan Party or such Significant Subsidiary and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty calendar days; (iii) any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to a Loan Party or a Significant Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) is instituted without the consent of such Loan Party or Significant Subsidiary and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty calendar days; or (iv) an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
190
(g) Judgments. There is entered against a Loan Party a final, enforceable and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction 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 its obligation) or another indemnity obligation) and such judgment or order is not satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded for a period of sixty consecutive days; or
(h) Invalidity of Loan Documents. The material provisions of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, at any time after their execution and delivery and for any reason cease to be in full force and effect, except (i) as permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05), (ii) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions or (iii) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
(i) Collateral Documents and Guarantee. Any:
(i) Collateral Document with respect to a material portion of the Collateral with a fair market value exceeding the Threshold Amount after its execution and delivery shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, except (A) as otherwise permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents, (B) resulting from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or any of their agents or bailees to maintain possession or control of Collateral, (C) resulting from the making of a filing, or the failure to make a filing, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, (D) as to Collateral consisting of real property to the extent that (1) such losses are covered by a lenders title insurance policy or (2) a deficiency arose through no fault of a Loan Party and such deficiency is corrected with reasonable diligence upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof, (E) as a result of the satisfaction of the Obligations or Termination Conditions or (F) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
(ii) Guarantee with respect to a Guarantor that is Holdings or a Material Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect, except (A) as otherwise permitted by, or as a result of a transaction not prohibited by, the Loan Documents, (B) upon the satisfaction in full of the Obligations or Termination Conditions, (C) upon the release of such Guarantor as provided for under the Loan Document or in accordance with its terms or (D) resulting from acts or omissions of a Secured Party or the application of applicable law; or
(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any Default or Event of Default occurs resulting from any action or the occurrence of any event disclosed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.03(a) and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders do not exercise any of their remedies under the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document for the two year period following the date of such Default or Event of Default has been reported publicly or otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent (an Uncalled Default), such Uncalled Default and any other Default or Event of Default which would not have arisen had such Uncalled Default not occurred shall be deemed not to be continuing automatically at the end of such two year period (regardless of whether such Default or Event of Default was still continuing at such time).
191
Section 9.02 Remedies upon Event of Default.
(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02(b) below, if (and only if) any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions upon written notice to the Borrower:
(i) declare the Commitments of each Lender and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments shall be terminated;
(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest and premium 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 and each Guarantor;
(iii) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize its Letters of Credit (in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit); and
(iv) exercise on behalf of itself, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under the Loan Documents and/or under applicable Law;
provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law, the Commitments of each Lender and the obligations of each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit 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 Borrower to Cash Collateralize the Letters of Credit as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
(b) Limitations on Remedies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein but without limiting Section 8.02(f), if the only Event of Default then having occurred and continuing is the Financial Covenant Event of Default, then the Revolving Lenders and the Administrative Agent may not take any of the actions set forth in Section 9.02(a) during the period commencing on the date that the Administrative Agent receives a Notice of Intent to Cure and ending on the Cure Expiration Date with respect thereto in accordance with and to the extent permitted by Section 8.02.
Section 9.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 9.02(a)), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements (and, in the case of any Defaulting Lender, subject to Section 2.19), 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 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in their capacities as such;
Next, to payment in full of Unfunded Advances/Participations (the amounts so applied to be distributed between or among, as applicable, the Administrative Agent pro rata in accordance with the amounts of Unfunded Advances/Participations owed on the date of any such distribution);
192
Next, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, Letter of Credit fees and Obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Obligations) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 11.04 and amounts payable under Article III) other than in respect of a FILO Tranche ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause payable to them;
Next, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and interest on the Loans (other than any Loans under a FILO Tranche) and Letter of Credit Usage, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause held by them;
Next, to pay the principal of Protective Advances;
Next, (a) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans (other than Protective Advances and Loans under a FILO Tranche) and the Letter of Credit Usage, (b) to the extent a Bank Products Reserve has been established therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof, to pay the unpaid Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations, including the Cash Collateralization of such Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations, (c) to the extent a Bank Products Reserve has been established therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance the terms hereof, to pay the unpaid Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations, (d) to Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit (to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) (in an amount equal to 103.0% of the maximum face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit) and to further permanently reduce the Revolving Commitments by the amount of such Cash Collateralization, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause held by them; provided that (i) any such amounts applied pursuant to the foregoing subclause (d) shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Issuing Banks to Cash Collateralize such Letters of Credit, (ii) subject to Section 2.04 and Section 2.19, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (iii) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the pro rata share of Cash Collateral attributable to such expired Letter of Credit shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the priority of payments set forth in this Section 9.03;
Next, ratably to pay other Obligations then due (other than Obligations in respect of Secured Cash Management Services and Secured Hedge Agreements under Obligations with respect to a FILO Tranche), until paid in full;
Next, ratably to pay other Obligations in respect of Secured Cash Management Services and Secured Hedge Agreements, until paid in full;
Next, to the payment of all other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of a FILO Tranche) 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;
Next, ratably to pay any Obligations in respect of any FILO Tranche, until paid in full; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
193
Amounts distributed with respect to any Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations and Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations shall be the lesser of (x) the maximum Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations and Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations last reported to the Administrative Agent and (y) the Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations and Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations as calculated by the methodology reported by each applicable Cash Management Bank and Hedge Bank to the Administrative Agent for determining the amount due. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to calculate the amount to be distributed with respect to any Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations and Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations, and at any time and from time to time may request a reasonably detailed calculation of such amount from the applicable Secured Party holding such Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations and Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations. If a Secured Party fails to deliver such calculation within five (5) days following request by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume the amount to be distributed is no greater than the maximum amount of the Reserved Secured Cash Management Obligations or Reserved Secured Hedge Obligations last reported to Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE X.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 10.01 Appointment and Authority of the Administrative Agent.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America, N.A. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article X (other than Sections 10.09, Section 10.11, Section 10.13, Section 10.14 and Section 10.16) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provision. Each Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Revolving Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each Issuing Bank shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the Letter of Credit Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term Agent as used in this Article X and the definition of Agent-Related Person included such Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to each Issuing Bank.
(b) Bank of America, N.A. shall irrevocably act as the collateral agent under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Hedge Bank and/or Cash Management Bank) and each of the Issuing Banks 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 in trust for) such Lender and such Issuing Bank 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 10.05 and Section 10.12 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 X (including Section 10.07, 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders and each other Secured Party hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto (including the Intercreditor Agreements), as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders and each other Secured Party.
194
Section 10.02 Rights as a Lender. Any Lender that is also serving as an Agent (including as Administrative Agent) hereunder shall have the same rights and powers (and no additional duties or obligations) in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each Lender (if any) serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Any Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders, and may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, any Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them.
Section 10.03 Exculpatory Provisions. None of the Administrative Agent, any of the other Agents, any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of the officers, partners, directors, employees or agents of the foregoing shall have any duties or obligations to the Lenders except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, an Agent (including the Administrative Agent) or any of their respective officers, partners, directors, employees or agents:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, 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 any agency doctrine of any applicable Law and 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) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary actions and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that, notwithstanding any direction by the Required Lenders to the contrary, no Agent shall be required to take any such discretionary action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt refraining from any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity; and
195
(d) shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents except to the extent caused by such Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct, or a material breach by such Agent of its obligations under the Loan Documents as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders, in each case, provided in compliance with this Agreement (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02 and Section 11.01) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or the Required Lenders in writing.
No Agent-Related Person shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any recital, statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report, statement or agreement or other document delivered pursuant to a Loan Document or in connection with a Loan Document or referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in a Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (b) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender.
Section 10.04 Reliance by the Agents. The Agents shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or Issuing Bank, each Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
196
Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any discretionary action under any Loan Document for the benefit of the Lenders and Issuing Banks unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders and Issuing Banks 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 Agents shall in all cases be fully protected in taking any discretionary action, or in refraining from taking any discretionary action for the benefit of the Lenders and Issuing Banks, under any Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders and Issuing Banks 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 and Issuing Banks; provided that the Agents shall not be required to take any discretionary action that, in their opinion or in the opinion of their counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not act (or refrain from acting, as applicable) upon any direction from the Required Lenders (or other requisite percentage of Lenders and Issuing Banks) that would cause the Administrative Agent to be in breach of any express term or provision of this Agreement. The Lenders, Issuing Banks and each other Secured Party agree not to instruct the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Agent to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that would, in each case, cause it to violate an express duty or obligation under this Agreement.
Section 10.05 Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article X shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Agents and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Agents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub agent appointed by an Agent, (i) such sub agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Loan Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub agent, and (iii) such sub agent shall only have obligations to the Agent that appointed it as sub agent and not to any Loan Party, Lender or any other Person and no Loan Party, Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub agent. Each Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub agents.
Section 10.06 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders; Disclosure of Information by Agents.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank 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 and each Issuing Bank 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 credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business,
197
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 and each Issuing Bank also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any other Lender or 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. Each Lender and Issuing Bank represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement or an Assignment and Assumption and funding its Revolving Loan on the Closing Date, if applicable, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Required Lenders or Lenders, as applicable on the Closing Date.
Section 10.07 Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Administrative Agent, each Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender and each other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of any Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable) (without limiting any indemnification obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, each Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender and each other Agent-Related Person (solely to the extent any such Agent-Related Person was performing services on behalf of any Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it (including, without limitation, any action taken in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of principal, interest and fees); provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Persons own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, that no action taken (or not taken, as applicable) in accordance with the terms of a Loan Document or 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) and no Release Action taken by an Agent or Agent-Related Person shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 10.07. If any indemnity furnished to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, be insufficient or become impaired, such Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided, in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender against any Indemnified Liabilities in excess of such Lenders pro rata share thereof; and provided further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify any Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender against any Indemnified Liabilities described in the first proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. In
198
the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 10.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each Agent, each Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by such Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, 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 such Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrowers continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto; provided further that the failure of any Lender to indemnify or reimburse such Agent, Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation in respect thereof. The undertaking in this Section 10.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any other Agents, any Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender.
Section 10.08 No Other Duties; Other Agents, Lead Arrangers, Managers, Etc. BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC are each hereby appointed as Lead Arrangers hereunder, and each Lender hereby authorizes each of BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC to act as Lead Arrangers in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents.
Each Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and the other Loan Documents, as applicable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers or the other Agents listed on the cover page hereof (or any of their respective Affiliates) shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except (a) in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, Lead Arranger, a Lender or an Issuing Bank hereunder (or in the Administrative Agents and/or Collateral Agents capacity as a Debt Representative under any applicable Intercreditor Agreement) and (b) as provided in Section 11.01(b)(iv), and such Persons shall have the benefit of this Article X. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any agency or fiduciary or trust relationship with any Lender, any Issuing Bank, Holdings, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries. 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. Any Agent may resign from such role at any time, with immediate effect, by giving prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and Borrower.
Section 10.09 Resignation of Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default, to appoint a successor, which shall be a Lender or a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such Lender or bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, which shall be a Lender or a bank with an office in the United States, subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) at all times
199
other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default; provided that if the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor of such Agent is appointed) and (b) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or retired Administrative Agents, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If neither the Required Lenders nor the Administrative Agent have appointed a successor Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders shall be deemed to have succeeded to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent (subject to the proviso in the sentence above). Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or appropriate, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to perfect or continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or retired Administrative Agent), and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 10.09). Any resignation of the Administrative Agent hereunder shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender, in which case the resigning Administrative Agent (x) shall not be required to issue any further Letters of Credit or make further Swing Line Loans hereunder and (y) shall maintain all of its rights as Issuing Bank with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to the date of such resignation and as Swing Line Lender with respect to all Swing Line Loans issued by it prior to the date of such resignation. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article X, Section 11.04 and Section 11.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Agent-Related Persons in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable.
Section 10.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Letter of Credit Obligations or other Obligations shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated), by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file a verified statement pursuant to Rule 2019 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that, in its sole opinion, complies with such rules disclosure requirements for entities representing more than one creditor;
200
(b) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.11 and Section 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(c) 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 and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, 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 Section 2.11 and Section 11.04. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 2.11 and Section 11.04 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 Lenders or the Issuing Banks may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.
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 or any Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.
The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a strict foreclosure, a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (i) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (ii) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (A) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (B) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent
201
with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders or otherwise in accordance with the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 11.01 of this Agreement), (C) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action and (D) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.
Section 10.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters; Exercise of Remedies.
(a) Each Agent, each Lender (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to be the agent for and representative of the Lenders and Issuing Banks with respect to the Guaranty, the Collateral and the Collateral Documents and agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document:
(i) Liens on any property granted to or held by an Agent or in favor of any Secured Party under any Loan Document or otherwise will be automatically and immediately released, and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and directs the Agents to enter into, and each agrees that it will enter into, the necessary or advisable documents requested by the Borrower and associated therewith, upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a Lien Release Event),
(A) the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions;
(B) a transfer of the property subject to such Lien as part of, or in connection with, a transaction that is permitted (or not prohibited) by the terms of the Loan Documents to any Person that is not (and is not required to be) a Loan Party;
(C) with respect to property owned by any Guarantor or with respect to which any Guarantor has rights, the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to a Guaranty Release Event;
(D) the approval, authorization or ratification of the release of such Lien by the Required Lenders or by such percentage of the Lenders as may be required pursuant to Section 11.01;
(E) such property becoming an Excluded Asset, Excluded Equity Interest or an asset owned by an Excluded Subsidiary;
(F) [reserved]; and
202
(G) any such Securitization Assets or other property becoming subject to a Securitization Financing to the extent required by the terms of such Securitization Financing.
(ii) upon the request of the Borrower (such request, the Release/Subordination Event) it will release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document (other than any ABL Priority Collateral) to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted (or not prohibited) by Section 7.01(d);
(iii) a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically and immediately released from its obligations under the Guaranty upon (A) such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (B) such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to be a Material Subsidiary, or (C) such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary (clauses (A)-(C), each a Guaranty Release Event), and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and directs the Agents to enter into, and each Agent agrees it will enter into, the necessary and advisable documents requested by the Borrower to (1) release (or acknowledge the release of) such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and (2) release (or acknowledge the release of) any Liens granted by such Subsidiary or Liens on the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary; it being agreed that, without affecting the timing of any such release and without it being a condition thereto, such release shall be effective at the consummation of one or more of the events described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) above;
(iv) the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent will exclusively exercise all rights and remedies under the Loan Documents or with respect to the Obligations created thereunder, and neither the Lenders nor any other Secured Party will exercise such rights and remedies (other than the Required Lenders exercising such rights and remedies through the Administrative Agent); provided that the foregoing shall not preclude any Lender from exercising any right of set-off in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.09, enforcing compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 11.01(b) or filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and
(v) the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall, and the Lenders and other Secured Parties irrevocably authorize and instruct the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to, from time to time on and after the Closing Date, without any further consent of any Lender counterparty to any Cash Management Obligation or Secured Hedge Agreement or other Secured Party, enter into any Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement with the collateral agent or other representative of the holders of Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on Collateral that is not prohibited (including with respect to priority) under this Agreement.
(b) Each Agent, each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that it will promptly take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower (such actions and such execution, the Release Actions), at the Borrowers sole cost and expense, in connection with a Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or Guaranty Release Event and that such actions are not discretionary. Without limitation, the Release Actions may include, as applicable, (a) executing (if required) and delivering to the Loan Parties (or any designee of the Loan Parties) any such lien releases, mortgage releases or assignments of mortgages, discharges of security interests, pledges and guarantees and other similar discharge or release documents, as are reasonably requested by a Loan Party in connection with the release or assignment, as of record, of the Liens (and all notices of security interests and Liens previously filed) the subject of a Lien Release Event or Release/Subordination Event or the release of any applicable Guarantee in connection with a Guaranty Release Event and (b) delivering to the Loan Parties (or any designee of the Loan Parties) all instruments evidencing pledged debt and all equity certificates and any other collateral previously delivered in physical form by the Loan Parties to a Secured Party.
203
In connection with any Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event, Guaranty Release Event or Release Action, each of the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely and shall rely exclusively on an officers certificate of the Borrower (the Release Certificate) confirming that (a) such Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or a Guaranty Release Event, as applicable, has occurred or will upon consummation of one or more identified transactions (an Identified Transaction) occur, (b) the conditions to any such Lien Release Event, Release/Subordination Event or Guaranty Release Event have been satisfied or will be satisfied upon consummation of an Identified Transaction, and (c) that any such Identified Transaction is permitted by (or not prohibited by) the Loan Documents. The Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent will be fully exculpated from any liability and shall be fully protected and shall not have any liability whatsoever to any Secured Party as a result of such reliance or the consummation of any Release Action. A Release Certificate may be delivered in advance of the consummation of any applicable Identified Transaction.
Each Lender and each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and irrevocably directs the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent to take the Release Actions and consents to reliance on the Release Certificate. The Secured Parties agree not to give any Agent any instruction or direction inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 10.11. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for, or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into, any statement in a Release Certificate, the compliance of any Identified Transaction with the terms of a Loan Document, any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral Agents Lien thereon, or contained in any certificate prepared or delivered by any Loan Party in connection with the Collateral or compliance with the terms set forth above or in a Loan Document, nor shall the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
Each relevant Agent, each Lender and each other Secured Party agrees that following its receipt of an applicable Release Certificate it will take all Release Actions promptly upon request of the Borrower and in any event not later than the date that is (i) the third Business Day following the date Release Certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the date any applicable Identified Transaction described in the Release Certificate is consummated (such later date, the Release Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this Section 10.11 shall relieve or release any Loan Party from any liability resulting from a Default or Event of Default that results from an Identified Transaction or misrepresentation or omission in any Release Certificate.
(c) Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Agent, each Lender and each Secured Party hereby agree that:
(i) the authority to enforce rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law or in equity in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent or (with respect to the Collateral Documents) the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Article X for the benefit of all the Lenders and no Lender or other Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under this Agreement and under any of the other Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, and all powers, rights and remedies under the
204
Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] (iii) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.09 (subject to the terms of Section 2.15), (iv) any Lender from enforcing compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 11.01(b) or (v) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; in the event of a foreclosure or similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code), only the Collateral Agent (except with respect to a credit bid pursuant to Section 363(k), Section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code) may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities), shall be entitled, upon instructions from the Required Lenders, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale or disposition, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition;
(ii) no provision of any Loan Documents shall require the creation, perfection or maintenance of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or abstracts with respect to, any Excluded Assets and any other particular assets, if and for so long as, in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent, the cost of creating, perfecting or maintaining such pledges or security interests in such other particular assets or obtaining title insurance or abstracts in respect of such other particular assets is excessive in view of the fair market value of such assets or the practical benefit to the Lenders afforded thereby; and
(iii) the Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the creation or perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that creation or 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 anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any portion of the Borrowing Base is attributable to Collateral that is subject to a Lien Release Event or owned by a Person subject to a Guaranty Release Event, such Collateral shall cease to be included in the Borrowing Base automatically and coincident with the effectiveness of such Lien Release Event or Guaranty Release Event to the extent required pursuant to Section 6.02, and the Borrower shall promptly deliver a new Borrowing Base Certificate reflecting the removal of such Collateral from the Borrowing Base as required pursuant to Section 6.02(e).
205
Section 10.12 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 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 X, Section 11.04 and Section 11.05 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 or Holdings, as applicable, 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 10.13 Intercreditor Agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any Loan Document, to the extent the Administrative Agent enters into an Intercreditor Agreement, this Agreement will be subject to the terms and provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and any Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement will govern and control. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks acknowledge and agree that each Agent is (i) authorized and instructed to enter into the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) authorized to, and each Agent agrees that, with respect to any secured Indebtedness, upon request by the Borrower, it shall, enter into an Intercreditor Agreement with the collateral agent or other Debt Representative of the holders of such Indebtedness unless such Indebtedness and any related Liens (including the priority of such Liens) are prohibited by Section 7.01 and Section 7.03, which Intercreditor Agreement shall provide for subordination of the Liens securing such other Indebtedness to the Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Obligations. The Lenders and Issuing Banks hereby authorize and instruct the Administrative Agent to (a) enter into the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any such other Intercreditor Agreement, (b) bind the Lenders on the terms set forth in the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any such other Intercreditor Agreement and (c) perform and observe its obligations under the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement or any such
206
other Intercreditor Agreement. The Agents and each Secured Party agree that the Agents shall be entitled to rely and shall rely exclusively on an officers certificate of the Borrower in determining whether it is instructed to enter into an Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to this Section. Each Secured Party covenants and agrees not to give the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent any instruction that is not consistent with the provisions of this Section 10.13. In furtherance of the foregoing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, to the extent that any Loan Party is required to give physical possession or control over or with respect to any Collateral to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any other Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, such requirement to give possession or control shall be satisfied if such possession or control is given to a Debt Representative for any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien that is either pari passu or senior to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations, in each case, in accordance with an Intercreditor Agreement.
Section 10.14 Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Guaranty or any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 9.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral or any Guaranty (including the release or impairment of any Collateral or Guaranty) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Cash Management Obligations or such Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.
Section 10.15 Certain ERISA Matters.
Each Lender and each Issuing Bank, represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender or an Issuing Bank party hereto, to, and covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender or an Issuing Bank party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and each other Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, 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:
(a) such Lender or an Issuing Bank is not using plan assets (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments, the Letters of Credit or this Agreement;
(b) 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 Lenders or such Issuing Banks entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments, the Letters of Credit and this Agreement;
207
(c) (i) such Lender or such Issuing Bank is an investment fund managed by a Qualified Professional Asset Manager (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (ii) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit the Commitments and this Agreement, (iii) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (iv) to the best knowledge of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lenders or such Issuing Banks entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments, the Letters of Credit and this Agreement; or
(d) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender or such Issuing Bank.
In addition, unless either Section 10.15(a) is true with respect to a Lender or an Issuing Bank or a Lender or an Issuing Bank has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with Section 10.15(d), such Lender or such Issuing Bank further (1) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, and (2) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender or Issuing Bank party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender or Issuing Bank party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and each other Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent or any other Lead Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender or such Issuing Bank involved in the Loans, the Commitments, the Letters of Credit and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).
Section 10.16 Return of Certain Payments.
(a) Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, each Lender (and each Participant of any Lender, by its acceptance of a Participation) hereby acknowledges and agrees that if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Payment Recipient, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by the Borrower or any other Loan Party at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Payment Recipient receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Payment Recipient in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Payment Recipient irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any perfect tender or discharge for value (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Payment Recipient promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Payment Recipient comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
(b) Without limitation of paragraph (a) above, each Payment Recipient further acknowledges and agrees that if such Payment Recipient receives a Rescindable Amount from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (i) that is in an amount, or on a date, different from the amount and/or date specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Rescindable Amount (a Payment Notice), (ii) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment
208
Notice, or (iii) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part), in each case, it understands and agrees at the time of receipt of such Rescindable Amount that an error has been made (and that it is deemed to have knowledge of such error) with respect to such Rescindable Amount. Each Payment Recipient agrees that, in each such case, it 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 Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made.
(c) Any Rescindable Amount required to be returned by a Payment Recipient under this Section shall be made in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. Each Payment Recipient hereby agrees that it shall not assert and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, permitted by applicable law, hereby waives, any right to retain such Rescindable Amount, and any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment or similar right to any demand by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Rescindable Amount received, including without limitation any defense based on a perfect tender, discharge for value or any similar doctrine.
(d) The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event any Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Lender that has received such Rescindable Amount (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) any payment of a Rescindable Amount shall not be deemed to constitute payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or otherwise to satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Rescindable Amount is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Rescindable Amount that is, comprised of funds of the Borrower or any other Loan Party.
ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Amendments, Waivers, Etc.
(a) General Rule. 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or, to the extent that any amendment or waiver would only affect any FILO Tranche (and not any other Facility, Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder), the percentage of Lenders under such FILO Tranche that would constitute the Required Lenders (or such higher percentage) if such FILO Tranche were the only Loans outstanding (or, in each case, by the Administrative Agent with the consent or ratification of the Required Lenders or such other number or percentage of Lenders may be specified herein)) and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
209
(b) Specific Lender Approvals. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.01(a), no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender or extend the final expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, without the written consent of such Lender, it being understood that the waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02, Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender; or
(ii) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce the amount of, any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such payment of principal or interest, it being understood that (A) the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest, (B) the agreement, consent or waiver by the Required Facility Lenders of interest with respect to any Initial Revolving Loans as set forth in the paragraph immediately succeeding the table in the definition of Applicable Rate in Section 1.01 and the Required Facility Lenders of interest with respect to any other Facility from time to time subject to a similar paragraph relating to a pricing step-down, in any such case, shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of interest or any payment of fees and (C) a waiver of the waiver of any Default (other than a Default under Section 9.01(a)), Event of Default or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for, or a reduction in the amount of, any payment of interest or any payment of fees; or
(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Letter of Credit or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such principal or interest or Person entitled to such fee or other amount, as applicable, it being understood that (A) [reserved], (B) any change in the definition of Average Historical Excess Availability or Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments or any other definition used in the calculations of such interest or fees (or the component definitions thereof) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or of any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document and shall only require the consent of the Required Lenders, and (C) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of Default Rate and with respect to any Facility, only the consent of the Required Facility Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate with respect to such Facility; or
(iv) change any provision of this Section 11.01 (except as expressly set forth herein) or the definition of Required Lenders, Required Facility Lenders, Super Majority Lenders or Pro Rata Share or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(v) other than in connection with a transfer or other transaction permitted (or not prohibited) under the Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(vi) other than in connection with a transfer or other transaction permitted (or not prohibited) under the Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty or all or substantially all of the Guarantors, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(vii) modify Sections 2.07(b)(ii), 2.15 and 9.03 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; or
210
(viii) subordinate (1) any of the Liens securing any of the Obligations to the Liens securing any other Indebtedness or other obligations or (2) any Obligations in contractual right of payment to any other Indebtedness or other obligations (any such other Indebtedness or other obligations, to which such Liens securing any of the Obligations or such Obligations, as applicable, are subordinated, Senior Indebtedness) without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; unless, in either the case of subclause (1) or (2), each adversely affected Lender has been offered an opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share (based on the amount of Obligations that are adversely affected thereby held by each Lender and calculated immediately prior to any applicable amendment or incurrence of Senior Indebtedness) of the Senior Indebtedness on the same terms (other than bona fide backstop fees and reimbursement of counsel fees and other expenses in connection with the negotiation of the terms of such transaction; such fees and expenses, Ancillary Fees) as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Senior Indebtedness and to the extent such adversely affected Lender decides to participate in the Senior Indebtedness, receive its pro rata share of the fees and any other similar benefit (other than Ancillary Fees) of the Senior Indebtedness afforded to the providers of the Senior Indebtedness (or any of their Affiliates) in connection with providing the Senior Indebtedness pursuant to a written offer made to each such adversely affected Lender describing the material terms of the arrangements pursuant to which the Senior Indebtedness is to be provided, which offer shall remain open to each adversely affected Lender for a period of not less than five (5) Business Days; provided, however, that (x) any Lender may designate any of its Affiliates to provide such Senior Indebtedness on its behalf with the existing Obligations of such Lender being treated, for purposes hereof, as though such Lender had provided such Senior Indebtedness itself and (y) for the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (viii), any such subordination shall remain subject to the consent of the Required Lenders as set forth in Section 11.01(a);
provided, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Designated Asset Sale will not constitute a release of substantially all assets or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranty or all or substantially all of the Guarantors for any purpose under this Agreement.
(c) Other Approval Requirements. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.01(a) or Section 11.01(b);
(i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall increase the percentages set forth in the definitions of Accounts Receivable Component, Acquired Accounts Receivable Component, Acquired Inventory Component, Inventory Component and/or Qualified Cash Component, without the consent of the Super Majority Lenders;
(ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall change the definition of the term Borrowing Base, or any component definition thereof (including the definitions of Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible Inventory), the effect of which would be to increase amounts available to be borrowed, without the consent of the Super Majority Lenders; provided, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Administrative Agent to implement, change or eliminate Reserves in its Permitted Discretion as permitted hereunder without the prior written consent of any Lenders;
(iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, adversely affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
211
(iv) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, adversely affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(v) Section 11.07(g) 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;
(vi) the consent of Required Facility Lenders, as applicable, shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of Lenders under such Facility in respect of payments hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Facilities as determined by the Borrower in good faith;
(vii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall change the currency in which any Loan or Letter of Credit Borrowing is denominated without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loans or each Issuing Bank holding such Letter of Credit Borrowings;
(viii) the Borrower may amend or otherwise modify any provision of the Loan Documents in a manner that is more favorable to the Lenders at any time without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; provided that such amendment or modification shall not be effective until the Borrower delivers such amendment or modification to the Administrative Agent;
(ix) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended (or amended and restated) to effect an Incremental Amendment and/or Extension Amendment, in each case in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement with respect thereto;
(x) no amendment, waiver or consent shall change the definition of Alternative Currency or the related process for designating an Alternative Currency as set forth in Section 2.01(b)(i) without the written consent of each Lender;
(xi) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by an Issuing Bank in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, such Issuing Bank under this Agreement, any Issuance Notice or any other Loan Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to the definition of Letter of Credit Percentage shall require the consent only of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each directly and adversely affected Issuing Bank; and
(xii) no amendment, waiver of consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) Intercreditor Agreement. No Lender consent is required to effect any amendment or supplement to an Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement that is,
212
(i) for the purpose of adding the holders of Pari Passu Lien Debt, Junior Lien Debt, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Permitted Pari Passu Secured Refinancing Debt, Permitted Junior Secured Refinancing Debt, or other Indebtedness unless such other Indebtedness and any related Liens (including the priority of such Liens) are prohibited by Section 7.01 and Section 7.03 (or a Debt Representative with respect to any such Indebtedness with respect to which it is a representative or agent) as parties thereto, as expressly contemplated by the terms of such intercreditor agreement (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), or
(ii) expressly contemplated by the Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement;
(e) Technical Amendments. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement. Additionally, The Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and related documents executed by Holdings, the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or (iii) to cause such Guaranty, Collateral Document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(f) [Reserved].
(g) Benchmark Replacement.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if:
(A) (x) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and (y) a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto have occurred prior to the Reference Time in connection with any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then, then:
(I) 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and under any other Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and
(II) 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 the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and under any other Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York
213
City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by 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 Lenders; or
(B) (I) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto has already occurred prior to the Reference Time for any setting of the then-current Benchmark and as a result the then-current Benchmark is being determined in accordance with clauses (2) or (3) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement; and
(II) (y) the Administrative Agent subsequently determines, in its sole discretion, that (w) Term SOFR and a Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto is or has becomes available and the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto has occurred, (x) there is currently a market for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities utilizing Term SOFR as a Benchmark and for determining the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto, (y) Term SOFR is being recommended as the Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities by the Relevant Government Authority and (z) in any event, Term SOFR, the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto and the application thereof is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), then
then clause (1) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement will, without requiring any amendment to, or requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, replace such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any other Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings on and from the beginning of the next Interest Period or, as the case may be, Available Tenor so long as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders prior to the commencement of such next Interest Period or, as the case may be, Available Tenor.
(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. 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 requiring any further action by or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of (A) a Benchmark Transition Event or, as the case may be, an Early Opt-in Election and (B) the Benchmark Replacement Date with respect thereto, (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 (d) 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, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or
214
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 11.01(g).
(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. 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 or LIBOR) 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.
(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrowers receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. 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 ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR.
(vi) Definitions. For the avoidance of doubt, any Swap Obligation shall be deemed not to be a Loan Document for purposes of this Section 11.01(g).
(h) Defaulting Lenders and Disqualified Lenders. No Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders, the Required Lenders, the Required Facility Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders or Disqualified Lender), except that (A) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender. Disqualified Lenders shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.27.
Section 11.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 11.02(b)), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
215
(i) if to Holdings, the Borrower, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent, to the address, fax number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, fax number, electronic mail addresses or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient); and notices deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed shall be deemed to have been given within three Business Days of such deposit; provided that no notice to any Agent shall be effective until received by such Agent. Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.02(b) shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communication. Notices and other communications to any Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites, including the Platform) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Agent, Swing Line Lender, Issuing Bank or Lender pursuant to Article II if such Person, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
(c) Receipt. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(d) Risks of Electronic Communications. Each Loan Party understands that the distribution of materials through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution and agrees and assumes the risks associated with such electronic distribution, except to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or any Issuing Bank or any Lender as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
216
BORROWER MATERIALS OR IN THE PLATFORM. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons or any Lead Arranger (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender, the Swing Line Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agents transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to Holdings, the Borrower, any Lender, the Swing Line Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages). Each Loan Party, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each Agent agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, store any Borrower Materials on the Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agents customary document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Change of Address. Each of Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Issuing Bank may change its address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, fax or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender and each Issuing Bank. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, fax number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(g) Reliance by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including Committed Loan Notices, Swing Line Loan Requests and Issuance Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders and each Agent-Related Person from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(h) Private-Side Information Contacts. Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the Private-Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lenders compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to information that is not made available through the Public-Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain Private-Side Information with respect to Holdings, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws. In the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself to not access any information disclosed through the Platform or otherwise, such Public Lender
217
acknowledges that (i) other Lenders may have availed themselves of such information and (ii) neither the Borrower nor the Administrative Agent has (A) any responsibility for such Public Lenders decision to limit the scope of the information it has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) any duty to disclose such information to such Public Lender or to use such information on behalf of such Public Lender, and shall not be liable for the failure to so disclose or use, such information.
Section 11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No forbearance, failure or delay by any Lender or any 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 impair such right, remedy, power or privilege or 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 independent of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law. The authority to enforce rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents and with respect to the Obligations shall be limited as set forth in Section 10.11(c)(i).
Section 11.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender for all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail out-of-pocket expenses incurred on or after the Closing Date in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration 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), limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the Attorney Costs of one primary counsel and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material jurisdictions), and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders for all reasonable and documented in reasonable detail out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or protection 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, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material jurisdictions) and, solely in the event of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Supplemental Administrative Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders, where the Person or Persons affected by such conflict of interest inform the Borrower in writing of such conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to each group of affected Persons similarly situated taken as a whole)). The agreements in this Section 11.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 11.04 shall be paid promptly following 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. Expenses shall be deemed to be documented in reasonable detail only if they provide the detail required to enable the Borrower, acting in good faith, to determine that such expenses relate to the activities with respect to which reimbursement is required hereunder. The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and/or any Lender may receive a benefit, including a discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with the Administrative Agent and/or such Lender, including fees paid pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
218
Section 11.05 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, any Supplemental Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender, the Collateral Agent, each Lender, each Lead Arranger, each Joint Bookrunner and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors, partners, shareholders, trustees, controlling persons, and other representatives (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) 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 (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the Attorney Costs of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interest of such Indemnitees (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple material jurisdictions), and solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between Indemnitees (where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict of interest informs the Borrower in writing of such conflict of interest), one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole):
(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 (including the reliance in good faith by any Indemnitee on any notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Loan Party),
(b) the Transaction,
(c) any Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank 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),
(d) any actual or alleged presence or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability arising out of the activities or operations of or otherwise related to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or
(e) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether brought by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, equity holders, creditors or security holders or any other Person and any Indemnitee is a party thereto;
(all the foregoing, collectively, the Indemnified Liabilities); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that any such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (i) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any Related Indemnified Person of such Indemnitee, (ii) a material breach of any obligations of such Indemnitee under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or Related Indemnified Person including the failure to fund a Loan upon satisfaction of the applicable
219
conditions precedent or to take a Release Action required to be taken by the terms of this Agreement, or (iii) any dispute solely among Indemnitees or of any Related Indemnified Person of such Indemnitee other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, an Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender or a Lead Arranger (or other Agent role) under a Facility and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the extent that the undertakings to indemnify and hold harmless set forth in this Section 11.05 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any applicable law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through Merrill Datasite One, Syndtrak or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnified Person (as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), nor shall any Indemnitee 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) (other than, in the case of any Loan Party, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 11.05 (after the determination of a court of competent jurisdiction, if required pursuant to the terms of this Section 11.05) shall be paid within twenty Business Days after written demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 11.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Collateral Agent, replacement of any Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any Issuing Bank the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 11.05 shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim. For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the foregoing obligations in any manner, neither the Sponsor, nor any other Affiliate of the Borrower (other than Holdings, the Borrower, and its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall have any liability under this Section 11.05, and each is hereby released from any liability arising from the Transactions or any transaction explicitly permitted (or not prohibited) by the Loan Documents.
Section 11.06 Marshaling; Payments Set Aside. None of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Loan Parties or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (or to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender or any Issuing Bank), or any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender enforces any security interests or exercises its right of setoff, and such payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/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 and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender and each Issuing Bank severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.
220
Section 11.07 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 Holdings nor the Borrower may, except as permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.10(b), assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except,
(i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(b);
(ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(d) of this Section;
(iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.07(f); or
(iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.07(g) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 11.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Agent-Related Persons of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time upon no less than ten Business Days advance notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, unless a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, such shorter period as the Borrower may agree in its sole discretion) assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 11.07(b), participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances) at the time owing to it; provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments at the time held by it, or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) with respect to any assignment not described in Section 11.07(b)(i)(A), such assignment shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than with respect to the assigning Lenders Revolving Loans, $1,000,000, unless in each case, each of the Administrative Agent, and so long as no Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, the Borrower otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
221
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment of Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not (x) apply to the Swing Line Lenders rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or (y) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment, except to the extent required by Section 11.07(b)(i)(B) and the following:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is made (a) with respect to Revolving Loans to a Revolving Lender or an Affiliate of a Revolving Lender; provided however, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Revolving Loans if the Borrower does not respond within ten Business Days of a written request for its consent with respect to such assignment;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund;
(C) with respect to assignments of Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and
(D) with respect to assignments of Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments, each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The Eligible Assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required under Sections 3.01(b) through (f), as applicable. Upon receipt of the processing and recordation fee and any written consent to assignment required by Section 11.07(b)(iii), the Administrative Agent shall promptly accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register.
(v) No Assignments to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made,
(A) to Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Borrowers or Holdings Restricted Subsidiaries;
(B) any of the Borrowers Affiliates;
(C) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing persons described in this clause;
222
(D) to a natural person; or
(E) to a Disqualified Lender or Lender who has become a Disqualified Lender.
To the extent that any assignment is purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender, such transaction shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 11.27.
(vi) Defaulting Lenders Assignments. 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 sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable Pro Rata Share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full Pro Rata Share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and Protective Advances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption and as permitted by this Section 11.07, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders 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, 11.04 and 11.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment); provided that anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Issuing Bank shall continue to have all rights and obligations with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it until the cancellation or expiration of such Letters of Credit and the reimbursement of any amounts drawn thereunder. Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its applicable Notes, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.07(d).
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts and stated interest of the Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations (specifying the Reimbursement Obligations), Letter of Credit Borrowings and other amounts due under Section 2.04 owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a
223
Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 11.07(c) and Section 2.13 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in registered form within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury regulations).
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender or any other Person sell participations (a Participation) to any Person (other than to (1) a natural person, a Disqualified Lender, (2) the Borrower or any of the Borrowers or Holdings Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (3) any Person described in the proviso to the definition of Eligible Assignee) (each, a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lenders participations in Letters of Credit, Swing Line Loans and/or Protective Advances), and other Obligations owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders 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 Lenders 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 any other Loan Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 11.01(b)(i) or Section 11.01(b)(ii) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. Subject to Section 11.07(e), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)), 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 11.07(b). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender. To the extent that any participation is purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender, such transaction shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 11.27.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, Section 3.04 or Section 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent that such entitlement to a greater payment results from a change in law that occurs after the Participant acquired the participation. Each Lender that sells a participation or has a loan funded by an SPC shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant or SPC and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants or SPCs interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the Participant Register), provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participants interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to establish that any Loan 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 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 Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
224
(f) Liens on Loans. Any Lender may, at any time without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Notes, 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.
(g) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. 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 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 (A) 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 Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05), (B) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (C) 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. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (1) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500 (which processing fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (2) 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.
(h) Resignation of Swing Line Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Swing Line Lender may, upon thirty days notice to the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders, resign as the Swing Line Lender; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the Swing Line Lender shall have identified a successor Swing Line Lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor Swing Line Lender hereunder. In the event of any such resignation of the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the Swing Line Lender except as expressly provided above. If the Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.03(c). Upon the appointment by the Borrower of a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender and (ii) the retiring Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.
225
Section 11.08 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information in accordance with its customary procedures (as set forth below), except that Information may be disclosed,
(a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (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 and in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender pursuant to this clause (a) but only to the extent that a list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request);
(b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including the Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank or any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners);
(c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, provided that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Lead Arranger, such Issuing Bank or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation;
(d) to any other party hereto (it being understood that in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender pursuant to this clause (d) but only to the extent the list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request);
(e) 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;
(f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those of this Section 11.08 (it being understood that in no event shall such disclosure be made to any Disqualified Lender pursuant to this clause (f) but only to the extent that a list of such Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders upon request), to (i) any bona fide assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be an Additional Lender or (ii) any actual or prospective direct or indirect counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective obligations;
(g) with the prior written consent of the Borrower;
(h) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); or
(i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 11.08 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lead Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, and which source is not known by such Person to be subject to a confidentiality restriction in respect thereof in favor of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower.
226
In addition, each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans, market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
For purposes of this Section 11.08, Information means all information received from or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; it being understood that all information received from Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so in accordance with its customary procedures if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks acknowledges that (A) the Information may include Private-Side Information concerning Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (B) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of Private-Side Information and (C) it will handle such Private-Side Information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, nothing in any Loan Document shall require Holdings or any of their subsidiaries to provide information (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by applicable Law, (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) the disclosure of which is restricted by binding agreement not entered into primarily for the purpose of qualifying for the exclusion in this clause (iv).
Section 11.09 Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing each Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, without notice to any Loan Party or to any other Person (other than the Administrative Agent), any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (other than those in a special purpose account, such as a payroll, trust, tax and fiduciary account) at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, the Letters of Credit and participations therein, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any amounts in respect of the Letters of Credit or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to Article II and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such
227
indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (i) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.19 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 Issuing Banks and the Lenders, and (ii) 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. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank or Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
Section 11.10 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 with respect to any of the Obligations, 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 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. If the rate of interest under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Maximum Rate, the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Maximum Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Maximum Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.
Section 11.11 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging (including in.pdf or .tif format) means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 11.12 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption, in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including 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
228
Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.
Accordingly, this Agreement and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement (each a Communication), including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. The Borrower agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on the Borrower and each other Loan Party to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and each other Loan Party enforceable against such in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each of the other Secured Parties of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each of the other Secured Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (Electronic Copy), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of the such Persons business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the other Secured Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party without further verification and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart. For purposes hereof, Electronic Record and Electronic Signature shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.
Section 11.13 Survival. 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 the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing or issuance of a Letter of Credit, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit remain outstanding. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of each Loan Party set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 11.04, 11.05 and 11.09 and the agreements of the Lenders set forth in Sections 2.15, 10.03 and 10.07 shall survive the satisfaction of the Termination Conditions, and the termination hereof.
229
Section 11.14 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.14, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
Section 11.15 GOVERNING LAW.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER (INCLUDING ANY CLAIMS SOUNDING IN CONTRACT LAW OR TORT LAW ARISING OUT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND ANY DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO POST-JUDGMENT INTEREST) AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; provided that (i) the interpretation of the definition of Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) and whether or not such a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) has occurred for purposes of Section 4.01, (ii) the determination of the accuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation and whether as a result of any inaccuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation there has been a failure of a condition precedent set forth in Section 4.01 and (iii) the determination of whether the Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement will, in each case, be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
(b) BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN AND OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (OTHER THAN WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS BY ANY AGENT IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT GOVERNED BY A LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL SUBJECT THERETO), OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD
230
ARRANGER) AGREES THAT THE AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT.
(c) EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
Section 11.16 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 11.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THE LEAD ARRANGERS), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
231
Section 11.17 Limitation of Liability. The Loan Parties agree that no Indemnitee shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective equity holders or creditors for or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and in the other Loan Documents, except to the extent such liability is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnitees gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith or breach by such Indemnitee of its obligations under this Agreement. In no event, shall any party hereto, any Loan Party or any Indemnitee be liable on any theory of liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) (other than, in the case of the Borrower, in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party). Each party hereto (and by its acceptance of its appointment in such capacity, each Lead Arranger and Agent) hereby waives, releases and agrees (each for itself and on behalf of its Subsidiaries) not to sue upon any such claim for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor. Each of the Secured Parties hereby releases, waives and discharges and agrees not to assert or support any other Person in respect of any claim against the Sponsor, any other direct or indirect holder of an Equity Interest in Holdings and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, partners, shareholders, trustees, controlling persons and other representatives in respect of the Obligations, the Loan Documents or any transaction (or series of related transactions) that are permitted by the Loan Documents.
Section 11.18 Use of Name, Logo, Etc. Each Loan Party consents to the publication in the ordinary course by the Administrative Agent or any Lead Arranger of customary advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using such Loan Partys name, product photographs, logo or trademark; provided that any such trademarks or logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the reputation or goodwill of any of them. Such consent shall remain effective until revoked by such Loan Party in writing to the Administrative Agent and such Lead Arranger, as applicable.
Section 11.19 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Loan Party 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 or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party 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 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.
Section 11.20 Service of Process. EACH PARTY HERETO (AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF ITS APPOINTMENT IN SUCH CAPACITY, EACH LEAD ARRANGER) IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 11.21 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates understanding that: (a) (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arms-length commercial transactions between the Agents, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender and the Lead Arrangers on the one hand, and the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (ii) each
232
of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender and the Lead Arrangers are and have been, and each Lender is and has been, acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, have or has not been, are or is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties, its stockholders or its Affiliates (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 Person and (ii) none of the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender, the Lead Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender, the Lead Arrangers, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve economic interests that conflict with those of the Loan Parties, their stockholders and/or their affiliates, and none of the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender, the Lead Arrangers nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective 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. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agents, the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 11.22 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, Holdings and the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, Holdings, each Agent, each Lender and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 11.23 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitments of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
Section 11.24 Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.
Section 11.25 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:
233
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender 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 undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
Section 11.26 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs.
(a) To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise (including the Guaranty), for any Hedge Agreement or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, QFC Credit Support, and each such QFC, a Supported QFC), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(b) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a Covered Party) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
Section 11.27 Disqualified Lenders.
(a) Replacement of Disqualified Lenders.
234
(i) To the extent that any assignment or participation is made or purported to be made to a Disqualified Lender (notwithstanding the other restrictions in this Agreement with respect to Disqualified Lenders), or if any Lender or Participant becomes a Disqualified Lender, in each case, without limiting any other provision of the Loan Documents,
(A) upon the request of the Borrower, such Disqualified Lender shall be required immediately (and in any event within five Business Days) to assign all or any portion of the Loans and Commitments then owned by such Disqualified Lender (or held as a participation) to another Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender or another Disqualified Lender), Eligible Assignee or the Borrower, and
(B) the Borrower shall have the right to prepay all or any portion of the Loans and Commitments then owned by such Disqualified Lender (or held as a participation), and if applicable, terminate the Commitments of such Disqualified Lender, in whole or in part.
(ii) Any such assignment or prepayment shall be made in exchange for an amount equal to the face principal amount of the Loans so assigned, without interest thereon (it being understood that if the effective date of any such assignment is not an interest payment date, such assignee shall be entitled to receive on the next succeeding interest payment date interest on the principal amount of the Loans so assigned that has accrued and is unpaid from the interest payment date last preceding such effective date (except as may be otherwise agreed between such assignee and the Borrower)).
(iii) The Borrower shall be entitled to seek specific performance in any applicable court of law or equity to enforce this Section 11.27. In addition, in connection with any such assignment, (A) if such Disqualified Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Assignment and Assumption and/or any other documentation necessary or appropriate (in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, which determination shall be conclusive) to reflect such replacement by the later of (1) the date on which the replacement Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation and (2) the date as of which such Disqualified Lender shall be paid by the assignee Lender (or, at its option, the Borrower) the amount required pursuant to this section, then such Disqualified Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation as of such date and the Borrower shall be entitled (but not obligated) to execute and deliver such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation on behalf of such Disqualified Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall record such assignment in the Register, (B) each Lender (whether or not then a party hereto) agrees to disclose to the Borrower the amount that the applicable Disqualified Lender paid to acquire Commitments and/or Loans from such Lender and (C) each Lender that is a Disqualified Lender agrees to disclose to the Borrower the amount it paid to acquire the Commitments and/or Loans held by it.
(b) Amendments, Consents and Waivers under the Loan Documents. No Disqualified Lender shall have the right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or under any Loan Document. In connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders (including whether the Required Lenders or Required Facility Lenders) have provided any amendment, waiver or consent pursuant to Section 11.01 or under any other Loan Document:
(i) Disqualified Lenders shall not be considered, and
235
(ii) Disqualified Lenders shall be deemed to have consented to any such amendment, waiver or consent with respect to its interest as a Lender in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Disqualified Lenders;
provided that (A) the Commitment of any Disqualified Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Disqualified Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Disqualified Lender (other than any Disqualified Lender described in clause (d) of the definition thereof) more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Disqualified Lender.
(c) Limitation on Rights and Privileges of Disqualified Lenders. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.27(b)(ii), no Disqualified Lenders shall have the right to, and each such Person covenants and agrees not to, instruct the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Person in respect of the exercise of remedies with respect to the Loans or other Obligations. Further, no Disqualified Lender that purports to be a Lender or Participant (notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement that may have prohibited such Disqualified Lender from becoming Lender or Participant) shall be entitled to any of the rights or privileges enjoyed by the other Lenders with respect to voting (other than to the extent provided in Section 11.27(b)), and shall be deemed for all purposes to be, at most, a Defaulting Lender until such time as such Disqualified Lender no longer owns any Loans or Commitments.
(d) Survival. The provisions of this Section 11.27 shall apply and survive with respect to each Lender and Participant notwithstanding that any such Person may have ceased to be a Lender or Participant hereunder or this Agreement may have been terminated.
(e) Administrative Agent.
(i) Reliance. The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to verify any statements in any officers certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make any calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to any Derivative Instruments or any Person. The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person in acting in good faith on any notice of Default or acceleration.
(ii) Disqualified Lender Lists. The Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for monitoring or enforcing the list of Disqualified Lenders or for any assignment or participation to a Disqualified Lender.
(iii) Liability Limitations. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (A) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Lender or (B) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information (including Information), to any Disqualified Lender.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
236
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
TRITON WATER HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer | |
TRITON WATER INTERMEDIATE, INC., as | ||
Holdings | ||
By: | /s/ Tony W. Lee | |
Name: | Tony W. Lee | |
Title: | Secretary and Treasurer |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Nicole Cangelosi | |
Name: | Nicole Cangelosi | |
Title: | SVP | |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Collateral Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Nicole Cangelosi | |
Name: | Nicole Cangelosi | |
Title: | SVP |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Swing Line Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Nicole Cangelosi | |
Name: | Nicole Cangelosi | |
Title: | SVP |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Nicole Cangelosi | |
Name: | Nicole Cangelosi | |
Title: | SVP |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Lisa Hanson | |
Name: | Lisa Hanson | |
Title: | VP |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Pierre Noriega | |
Name: | Pierre Noriega | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
TRUIST BANK, as Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Mark Bohntinsky | |
Name: | Mark Bohntinsky | |
Title: | Managing Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Daniel Yu | |
Name: | Daniel Yu | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Raymond Ventura | |
Name: Raymond Ventura | ||
Title: Managing Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Issuing Bank and Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Julianne Low | |
Name: Julianne Low | ||
Title: Senior Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
ING CAPITAL LLC, as Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Michael Chen | |
Name: | Michael Chen | |
Title: | Director | |
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Chu | |
Name: | Jeffrey Chu | |
Title: | Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, as Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Glenn Autorino | |
Name: Glenn Autorino | ||
Title: Managing Director |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Revolving Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Vipul Dhadda | |
Name: Vipul Dhadda | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
By: | /s/ Jessica Gavarkovs | |
Name: Jessica Gavarkovs | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]
Exhibit 10.10
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. | Purpose. The purposes of the Primo Brands Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) are to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and materially increase the value of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries by (i) encouraging the long-term commitment of key Employees, Nonemployee Directors, and Consultants (as such terms are defined below), (ii) motivating the performance of key Employees, Nonemployee Directors, and Consultants by means of annual and long-term performance-related incentives, (iii) attracting and retaining outstanding key Employees, Nonemployee Directors, and Consultants by providing incentive compensation opportunities, and (iv) enabling participation by key Employees, Nonemployee Directors, and Consultants in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. |
2. | Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the shareholders of the Company (the date of such approval, the Effective Date). |
3. | Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below: |
(a) | Administrator means the Board, or the Committee to the extent that the Boards powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee. |
(b) | Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, Performance Units, Stock Payments, or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards granted under the Plan. |
(c) | Award Agreement means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other form of writing (including in electronic medium) approved by the Administrator which sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award. |
(d) | Base Price means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. |
(e) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(f) | Cause means, with respect to a Grantees termination of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary, what the term is expressly defined to mean in such then-effective employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or Award Agreement between the Company or applicable Subsidiary and the Grantee, or in the absence of any such then-effective agreement, the Primo Brands Corporation Severance and Non-Competition Plan (or any successor plan, the Severance Plan) to the extent the Grantee is subject to such plan, or in the absence of any such then-effective agreement or participation in the Severance Plan, any action by the Grantee or inaction by the Grantee that constitutes: |
(1) | A willful or grossly negligent failure to properly carry out the Grantees duties and responsibilities or to adhere to the policies of the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(2) | Theft, fraud, dishonesty or misappropriation, or the gross negligence or willful misconduct, involving the property, business or affairs of the Company or a Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in any employment or service agreement between the Grantee and the Company or a Subsidiary; |
1
(3) | Commission or conviction of or plea of guilty to a criminal offense that involves fraud, dishonesty, theft, violence or other moral turpitude; |
(4) | Breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or a Subsidiary; or |
(5) | Refusal to follow the lawful, reasonable and good faith direction of the Board or Grantees supervisor. |
(g) | Change in Control means: |
(1) | the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation or other similar corporate reorganization of the Company with or into any other corporation whereby the voting shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such event receive less than 50% of the voting shares of the consolidated, merged or amalgamated corporation, or any acquisition or similar transaction or series of transactions whereby any person, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP or an entity that controls, is controlled by or under common control with the Company or Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its affiliates), is or becomes, including pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for shares, the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities; |
(2) | the consummation of a sale by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (other than any such sale to Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP or an entity or entities that control, are controlled by or are under common control with Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP); |
(3) | the date upon which individuals who, on the first date on which the Shares commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the Effective Date constitute the Board (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose appointment, election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors who remain on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) or who is a Sponsor Nominee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) shall also be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; or |
(4) | the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company. |
2
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the event or series of events described above with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a change in control event, as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(h) | Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
(i) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board. |
(j) | Company means Primo Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor. |
(k) | Consultant means any person, including any non-director consultant or adviser, engaged by the Company or its parent or Subsidiary to provide services to the Company or any parent of the Company or Subsidiary who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement. |
(l) | Date of Termination or Termination means (i) the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary (other than in connection with the Grantees transfer to or from employment with a Subsidiary), but not including a Grantees absence from active employment or service during a period (not exceeding 90 days) of vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, (ii) in the case of a Grantee who does not return to active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary immediately following a period of authorized absence exceeding 90 days due to vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, the date of termination of Grantees employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary shall be the last day of such authorized period of absence, or (iii) if applicable, the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary as defined under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, for the purposes of this Plan and all matters relating to the Awards, the Date of Termination or Termination shall be determined without regard to any applicable notice of termination, severance or termination pay, damages, or any claim thereto (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory, or at common law). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(l) to the contrary, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A, Date of Termination or Termination shall mean the Grantees separation from service (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A). |
(m) | Disability means a permanent and total disability under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as amended. |
3
(n) | Employee means a full-time, part-time or contract employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. |
(o) | Fair Market Value means, with respect to a Share on any determination date, the closing price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day on which Shares traded prior to such date; provided that if no Shares traded in the five trading days prior to the determination date, the Administrator shall determine Fair Market Value on a reasonable basis and, to the extent appropriate, using a method that complies with Section 409A and guidance issued thereunder. |
(p) | Grant Date means the date specified by the Administrator on which a grant of an Award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Administrator takes action with respect thereto. |
(q) | Grantee means Employee, Nonemployee Director, or Consultant who has been selected by the Administrator to receive an Award and to whom an Award has been granted. |
(r) | Incentive Stock Option means any Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Code Section 422 or any successor provision. |
(s) | Nonemployee Director means a member of the Board who is not an Employee. |
(t) | Nonqualified Stock Option means an Option that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
(u) | Option means any option to purchase Shares granted under Section 7 of the Plan. |
(v) | Option Price means the purchase price payable upon the exercise of an Option. |
(w) | Other Stock or Cash Based Award shall mean a cash payment, cash bonus award, stock payment, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 11, which may include, without limitation, deferred stock, deferred stock units, performance awards, retainers, committee fees, and meeting-based fees. |
(x) | Performance Period means a period of time established under Section 10 of the Plan within which the performance objectives relating to a Performance Share, Performance Share Unit, or Performance Unit are to be achieved. |
(y) | Performance Share means Restricted Shares granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan that are subject to performance vesting conditions. |
(z) | Performance Share Units means Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan that are subject to performance vesting conditions. |
(aa) | Performance Unit means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan. |
(bb) | Restricted Shares mean Shares granted under Section 9 of the Plan. |
4
(cc) | Restricted Share Unit means an Award granted under Section 9 of the Plan and denominated in units representing rights to receive Shares. |
(dd) | Retirement means termination of employment or service with the Company at the election of the Grantee after the Grantee has both (i) attained age 60, and (ii) completed ten (10) continuous years of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Section 3(dd), a year of service shall mean each consecutive twelve-month period of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries beginning on the Grantees first date of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof. The Administrator shall have sole authority to determine whether a Grantee has met the requirements for Retirement. |
(ee) | Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder. |
(ff) | Shares means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, or any security into which Shares may be converted by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 16 of the Plan. |
(gg) | Spread means, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount by which the Fair Market Value per Share on the date when any such right is exercised exceeds the Base Price specified in such right. |
(hh) | Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted under Section 8 of the Plan. |
(ii) | Stock Payment means Shares granted under Section 12 of the Plan. |
(jj) | Stockholders Agreement means the Stockholders Agreement, made as of November 8, 2024, by and among Primo Brands Corporation, Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, and any other persons that may become party thereto, as may be amended from time to time, or any successor thereto. |
(kk) | Subsidiary means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain. |
4. | Shares Available Under the Plan. |
(a) | Reserved Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued from treasury with respect to Awards shall not in the aggregate exceed 38,000,000 Shares. The share pool will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on and including January 1, 2034 by an amount equal to the lesser of (1) 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company issued and outstanding on the day immediately preceding the applicable date, or (2) such smaller amount determined by the Board. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11(a) to the contrary, the number of Common Shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant to the rights granted under the Plan shall not exceed an aggregate of 380,000,000 Common Shares, subject to Section 11(b). |
5
(b) | Share Recycling. Shares that are issued under the Plan or that are potentially issuable pursuant to outstanding Awards will be applied to reduce that maximum number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares subject to an Award (or any dividend equivalents related thereto) that, at any time, lapses, is forfeited or cancelled, expires, or for any reason is terminated unexercised or unvested, is settled or paid in cash or any form other than Shares, or is repurchased by the Company at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any equity restructuring described in Section 5(c)(i)) paid by Grantee for such Shares shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards. Similarly, any Shares that are withheld by the Company, or any previously-acquired shares that are tendered (either actually or by attestation), in either case to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to a full value Award shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, the following Shares shall not again become available for issuance under the Plan: (i) any and all Shares awarded as part of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that are withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, and any previously-acquired Shares tendered (actually or by attestation) in payment of any taxes relating to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) Shares that would have been issued upon exercise of an Option but for the fact that the exercise was pursuant to a net exercise arrangement or by any previously-acquired shares tendered in payment of such Option Price; (iii) Shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right upon its exercise; and (iv) Shares that are repurchased by the Company using Option exercise proceeds or otherwise. |
(c) | Incentive Stock Option Maximum. In no event shall the number of Shares issued from treasury or otherwise upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options exceed 380,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 of the Plan. |
5. | Plan Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. |
(a) | In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will have the authority to determine all provisions of Awards as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable and as consistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the individuals to be selected as Grantees; (ii) the nature and extent of the Awards to be made to each Grantee (including the number of Shares to be subject to each Award, any exercise price, the manner in which Awards will vest or become exercisable and whether Awards will be granted in tandem with other Awards) and the form of written or electronic agreement, if any, evidencing such Award; (iii) the time or times when Awards will be granted; (iv) the duration of each Award; and (v) the restrictions and other conditions to which the payment or vesting of Awards may be subject. In addition, the Administrator will have the authority under the Plan in its sole discretion to (A) establish, amend or rescind rules to administer the Plan; (B) interpret the Plan and any Award or related agreement made under the Plan; (C) make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; and (D) pay the intrinsic value of any Award in the form of cash, Shares or any combination of both. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law or stock |
6
exchange rules, the Administrator may delegate to the Companys executive officers including the Chief Executive Officer the authority to approve Awards to (i) Employees other than those subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and (ii) Consultants. Any such delegations shall be in writing and shall specify the maximum number of Shares that may be awarded pursuant to such authority and include such other limitations as required by applicable law. |
(b) | The Administrator will have the authority under the Plan to amend or modify the terms of any outstanding Award in any manner, including, without limitation, the authority to modify the number of shares or other terms and conditions of an Award, accelerate the exercisability or vesting or otherwise terminate any restrictions relating to an Award, accept the surrender of any outstanding Award or, to the extent not previously exercised or vested, authorize the grant of new Awards in substitution for surrendered Awards; provided, however that (i) the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect; and (ii) any Grantee divested of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to previously-granted Awards by such amended or modified terms shall have consented to such amendment or modification unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law or stock exchange rules or is otherwise permitted by section (c) below and Section 19. |
(c) | In the event of (i) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, extraordinary dividend or divestiture (including a spin off) or any other change in corporate structure or shares; (ii) any purchase, acquisition, sale, disposition or write-down of a significant amount of assets or a significant business; (iii) any change in accounting principles or practices, tax laws or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (iv) any uninsured catastrophic losses or extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 or in managements discussion and analysis of financial performance appearing in the Companys annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; or (v) any other similar change, in each case with respect to the Company or any other entity whose performance is relevant to the grant or vesting of an Award, the Administrator (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) may, without the consent of any affected Grantee, amend or modify the vesting criteria (including performance objectives and related performance goals) of any outstanding Award that is based in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division or other subunit thereof) or such other entity so as equitably to reflect such event, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating such financial performance of the Company or such other entity will be substantially the same (in the sole discretion of the Administrator or the board of directors of the surviving corporation) following such event as prior to such event; provided, however, that the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect. |
(d) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan other than Section 16, the Administrator may not, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, seek to effect any re-pricing of any previously granted, underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right by: (i) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price; (ii) canceling the underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right and granting either (A) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price; (B) Restricted (or Performance) Share Awards; or (C) Restricted (or Performance) Share Unit Awards, or Performance Units in exchange; or (iii) |
7
repurchasing the underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for cancellation. For purposes of this Section, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be deemed to be underwater at any time when the Fair Market Value of a Share is less than the exercise price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, extend the term of Awards that benefit insiders. |
(e) | In addition to the authority of the Administrator under subsection (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to Grantees resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Companys or Subsidiarys interests, or to meet objectives of the Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws. The Administrator shall have no authority, however, to take action pursuant to this Section: (i) to reserve shares or grant Awards in excess of the limitations provided in the Plan; (ii) to effect any repricing in violation of the Plan; (iii) to grant Options having an exercise price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant in violation of the Plan; or (iv) for which stockholder approval would then be required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. |
(f) | Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Administrator will determine whether an Award is subject to the requirements of Section 409A and, if determined to be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator will make such Award subject to such written terms and conditions determined necessary or desirable to cause such Award to comply in form with the requirements of Section 409A. Further, the Plan, as it relates to Awards that are subject to Section 409A, will be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A and any regulations or rulings issued thereunder. |
6. | Nonemployee Director Compensation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan, the Board may establish compensation hereunder for Nonemployee Directors from time to time, subject to the limitations in the Plan. The Board will from time to time determine the terms, conditions and amounts of all such Nonemployee Director compensation in its discretion and pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, taking into account such factors, circumstances and considerations as it shall deem relevant from time to time; provided that, the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of Awards granted to a Nonemployee Director as compensation for services as a Nonemployee Director during any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $750,000 in any fiscal year of a Nonemployee Directors service as a Nonemployee Director (in each case, excluding any compensation award prior to the Effective Date). Consulting fees or other compensation the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may pay or provide to any Nonemployee Director for services in addition to services normally performed by a Nonemployee Director shall not be included in calculating compliance with such limits. The Board may make exceptions to these limits for individual Nonemployee Directors in extraordinary circumstances, as the Board may determine in its discretion, provided that the Nonemployee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions involving Nonemployee Directors. |
8
7. | Options. The Administrator may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Options to purchase Shares upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Shares. Each grant shall specify the number of Shares to which it pertains. |
(b) | Option Price. Each grant shall specify an Option Price per Share, which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. |
(c) | Consideration. Each grant shall specify the form of consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the Option Price and the manner of payment of such consideration, which may include (i) cash in the form of currency or check or other cash equivalent acceptable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted Shares owned by the Grantee at the time of exercise and which have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price (including through a net exercise), (iii) any other legal consideration that the Administrator may deem appropriate on such basis as the Administrator may determine in accordance with this Plan, or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the Option Price from the Grantee but will reduce the number of Shares issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole Shares that has a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price for the Shares exercised under this method. Shares will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) Shares used to pay the Option Price of an Option under the net exercise, (ii) Shares actually delivered to the Grantee as a result of such exercise and (iii) any Shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding. |
(d) | Cashless Exercise. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale of the Shares acquired on exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds sufficient to pay the Option Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by the Grantee by reason of such exercise, or through simultaneous sale through a broker of Shares acquired upon exercise. |
(e) | Performance-Based Options. Any grant of an Option may specify performance objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the Option. |
(f) | Vesting. Each Option grant may specify a period of continuous employment of the Grantee by the Company or any Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Nonemployee Director, service on the Board) that is necessary before the Options or installments thereof shall become exercisable. |
(g) | Incentive Stock Option Dollar Limitation. Options granted under this Plan may be Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options or a combination of the foregoing, provided that only Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Nonemployee Directors. Each grant shall specify whether (or the extent to which) the Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. Notwithstanding any such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the Grant Date with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. |
9
(h) | Exercise Period. No Option granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(i) | Dividends. No dividends or other distribution or award of dividend equivalents may be granted with respect to any Option. |
(j) | Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Administrator may determine that are not inconsistent with this Plan. |
8. | Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right is the right of the Grantee to receive from the Company an amount equal to the Spread at the time of the exercise of such right. Any grant of Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Payment in Shares or Cash. Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or any combination thereof at the discretion of the Administrator at the time of payment. |
(b) | Exercise Period. Any grant may specify (i) a waiting period or periods before Stock Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable and (ii) permissible dates or periods on or during which Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable. No Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(c) | Dividends. No dividends or other distribution or award of dividend equivalents may be granted with respect to any SAR. |
(d) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall describe the subject Stock Appreciation Rights, specify the Base Price (which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date), state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and contain such other terms and provisions as the Administrator may determine consistent with this Plan. |
9. | Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. The Administrator may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Transfer of Shares. Each grant of Restricted Shares shall constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Shares to the Grantee in consideration of the performance of services, subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to. Upon expiration of the restriction period and satisfaction of any other terms or conditions (including, but not limited to, performance objectives) and as set forth in the Restricted Share Award Agreement, the Restricted Share shall immediately become vested and the Shares underlying such award of Restricted Share shall be released by the Company to the Grantee without restrictions on transfer. Restricted Share Units shall become payable to a Grantee in Shares at the time or times determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. |
10
(b) | Consideration. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units may be made without a requirement for additional payment by the Grantee. |
(c) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Unless as otherwise determined by the Administrator, Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units covered thereby shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Administrator on the Grant Date, and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Nonemployee Director, or Consultant the number of Shares subject to the Award, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining Shares underlying Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Administrator. |
(d) | Dividend, Dividend Equivalents, Vesting and Other Ownership Rights. |
(1) | Restricted Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, an Award of Restricted Shares shall entitle the Grantee to dividend, voting and other ownership rights during the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue; provided however that unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Award Agreement with respect to an Award of Restricted Shares that is conditioned on the attainment of performance goals shall provide that the Grantee shall not receive any dividends unless and until such time as the Restricted Shares becomes vested. Alternatively, an Award Agreement may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid on the Restricted Shares during the period for which the substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue be automatically sequestered and reinvested in additional Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the Administrator may determine. |
(2) | Restricted Share Units. A Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Shares underlying an Award of Restricted Share Units until such time, if any, as the underlying Shares are actually issued to the Grantee, which may, at the option of the Company be either (i) evidenced by delivery of a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (ii) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. The Administrator may provide in a Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement for the payment of dividend equivalents and distributions to the Grantee at such times as paid to shareholders generally or at the time of vesting or other payout of the Restricted Share Units, provided, however, if the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents is in respect of an Award that is subject to Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing. |
11
(e) | Award Agreements. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Administrator may determine consistent with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed by the Administrator, all certificates representing Restricted Shares, together with a stock power that shall be endorsed in blank by the Grantee with respect to such Shares, shall be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon lapse. |
(f) | Performance-Based Restricted Shares (Performance Shares) and Performance-Based Restricted Share Units (Performance Share Units). Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further conditioned upon the attainment of performance objectives established by the Administrator in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 10 of the Plan regarding Performance Units. |
10. | Performance Units. The Administrator may from time to time authorize grants of Performance Units, which shall become payable to the Grantee upon the achievement of specified performance objectives, upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Performance Units. Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors. |
(b) | Performance Objectives and Performance Period. Each grant shall specify the performance objectives that are to be achieved by the Grantee during a specified performance period. |
(c) | Threshold Performance Objectives. Each grant may specify in respect of the specified performance objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no payment will be made and may set forth a formula for determining the amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified performance objectives. |
(d) | Payment of Performance Units. Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any grant may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares or any combination thereof and may either grant to the Grantee or reserve to the Administrator the right to elect among those alternatives. |
(e) | Maximum Payment. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount payable, or the number of Shares issued, with respect thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Administrator on the Grant Date. |
(f) | Adjustment of Performance Objectives. If provided in the terms of the grant, the Administrator may adjust performance objectives and the related minimum acceptable level of achievement if, in the sole judgment of the Administrator, events or transactions have occurred after the Grant Date that are unrelated to the performance of the Grantee and result in distortion of the performance objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement. |
(g) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Each grant shall provide that the Performance Units shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Administrator on the Grant Date, and any grant may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change |
12
in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Nonemployee Director, or Consultant the portion, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining portions as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Administrator. |
(h) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall state that the Performance Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and such other terms and provisions as the Administrator may determine consistent with this Plan. |
11. | Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to grant Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, including awards entitling the Grantee to receive Shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable program, the Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including the term of the Award, any exercise or purchase price, specified performance objectives, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto, which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator, and may be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan, as stand-alone payments, as a part of a bonus, deferred bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, and/or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Grantee is otherwise entitled. |
12. | Stock Payments. If not prohibited by applicable law, the Administrator may from time to time issue unrestricted Shares to Grantees, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. A Stock Payment may be granted for any reason determined appropriate by the Administrator, including, without limitation, as, or in payment of, Nonemployee Director fees or bonuses, or to provide incentives or recognize special achievements or contributions. |
13. | Consequences of Termination. |
(a) | Options/Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by a Grantee (or the executors or administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination shall be required to be exercised no later than as set forth in this Section 13(a), except that in all events, the period for exercise of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term thereof established under Section 7(h) or 8(b), as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 13(a) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period. |
13
(1) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to death or Disability, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) those of Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable as of the Date of Termination and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable for the remaining portion of the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
(2) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement), (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such Date of Termination and (y) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the 90 day period following such Date of Termination. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Sections 7 and 8 shall not apply, and those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable on the date or dates on which such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates, and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted within twelve (12) months prior to such Termination due to Retirement shall not vest in full, but shall instead vest based on a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of full months in the period between the Grant Date and the date of Termination, and the denominator of which shall be the number of full calendar months from the Grant Date to the applicable vesting date. |
Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 13(a) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period. For purposes of subsections (1) and (3), to the extent that any Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights contain performance objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right, any such performance objectives will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right.
(b) | Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, and Performance Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, outstanding Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, and Performance Units of the Grantee (and the executors and administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons acquiring any interest directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable. |
14
(1) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to death or Disability, any employment requirements of Sections 9 and 10 and the applicable Award Agreement shall not apply, and all of the Grantees unvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Units shall become vested on the Date of Termination and all of the Grantees unvested Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units shall become vested on the Date of Termination at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(2) | In the event of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement), all of the Grantees unvested Restricted (or Performance ) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, and Performance Units will be forfeited immediately. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, any employment requirements under Sections 9 and 10 shall not apply, and all of the Grantees unvested Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance Share Units, and Performance Units shall become vested on the date or dates on which such Awards would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates (subject to satisfaction of any applicable performance objective); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, or Performance Units granted within twelve (12) months prior to such Termination due to Retirement shall not vest in full, but shall instead vest based on a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of full months in the period between the Grant Date and the date of Termination, and the denominator of which shall be the number of full calendar months from the date of the beginning of the Performance Period to the end of such Performance Period. |
(c) | Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or in any instrument of grant, in the case of a Grantees Termination for Cause, any and all then outstanding Awards (other than previously issued Stock Payments) granted to the Grantee, whether or not vested, shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled, without any consideration therefor, as of the commencement of the day that notice of such termination is given. |
14. | Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided in an agreement evidencing an Award, the following provisions shall apply to outstanding Awards in the event of a Change in Control. |
(a) | Continuation, Assumption or Replacement of Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) may continue, assume or replace Awards outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control (with such adjustments as may be required or permitted by the Plan), and such Awards or replacements therefore shall remain outstanding and be governed by their respective terms, subject to subsection (d) below. A surviving or successor entity may elect to continue, assume or replace only some Awards or portions of Awards. For purposes of this subsection (a), an Award shall be considered assumed or replaced if, in connection with the Change in Control and in a manner consistent with Sections 409A and 424 of the Code, either (i) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed by the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to the Award and the exercise price thereof as determined by the Administrator, or (ii) the Grantee has received a comparable equity-based award as determined by the Administrator. |
15
(b) | Acceleration of Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(c) | Payment for Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then the Administrator may terminate some or all of such outstanding Awards, in whole or in part, as of the effective time of the Change in Control in exchange for payments to the holders as provided in this subsection (c). The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly for purposes of this subsection (c). The payment for any Award or portion thereof terminated shall be in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Administrator) of the consideration that would otherwise be received in the Change in Control for the number of Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof being terminated, or, if no consideration is to be received by the Companys shareholders in the Change in Control, the Fair Market Value of such number of shares immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, over (ii) the aggregate exercise price (if any) for the Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof being terminated. If there is no excess, the Award may be terminated without payment. Any payment shall be made in such form, on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Administrator determines in its discretion, which may or may not be the same as the form, terms and conditions applicable to payments to the Companys shareholders in connection with the Change in Control, and may include subjecting such payments to vesting conditions comparable to those of the Award surrendered. |
(d) | Termination After a Change in Control. If and to the extent that Awards are continued, assumed or replaced under the circumstances described in subsection (a), and if within two years after the Change in Control a Grantee experiences a Termination by the Company without Cause, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(e) | Awards Subject to Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, for any Award that provides for deferred compensation subject to Section 409A (and is not otherwise exempt from the provisions of Section 409A), upon a Change in Control that also qualifies as a change in control for purposes of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(a)(5), then (i) subsection (b) shall apply to all such Awards and (ii) any settlement of or payment due with respect to such Award shall be made within the time frame required by Section 409A. |
16
15. | Nontransferability. No Award granted under this Plan (including Options) shall be transferable or assignable by a Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution for normal estate settlement purposes, and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during a Grantees lifetime only by the Grantee or, in the event of the Grantees legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Grantee under state law. Any attempt to transfer or assign an Award in violation of this Plan shall render such Award null and void. |
16. | Adjustments. |
(a) | In the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation) that causes the per share value of Shares to change, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering or recapitalization through an extraordinary dividend, the Administrator shall make such adjustments as it deems equitable and appropriate to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the Option Price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, and (iv) any maximum limitations prescribed by the Plan with respect to certain types of Awards or the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards. |
(b) | Subject to the provisions of Section 14, in the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any applicable laws or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in applicable laws or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change), is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in applicable laws or accounting principles: |
(1) | To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Grantees rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Grantees rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment; |
17
(2) | To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award; |
(3) | To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and/or applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator. |
(4) | To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards and/or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 4 hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price or applicable performance goals), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards; |
(5) | To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or |
(6) | To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event. |
Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 16 shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. No adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 16 in connection with the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company, or in a manner that would cause Incentive Stock Options to violate Code Section 422(b) or cause an Award to be subject to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A.
17. | Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Shares pursuant to this Plan. The Administrator may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement thereof in cash. |
18. | Withholding Taxes. The Company may deduct an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations based on the applicable statutory withholding rates (or such other rate as may be determined by the Company after considering any accounting consequences or costs) from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee. Subject to applicable law and any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods), Grantees may satisfy such tax obligations (i) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check made payable to the order of the Company, provided that the Company may limit the use of the foregoing payment forms if one or more of the payment forms below is permitted, (ii) unless specifically prohibited by the Committee, in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, in an amount necessary to cover such tax obligations, (iii) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligations are due, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the |
18
Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to satisfy the tax obligations, or (B) delivery by the Grantee to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator, or (iv) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, any combination of the foregoing payment forms approved by the Company. If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence by the Companys retention of Shares from the Award creating the tax obligation and there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligation is satisfied, the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on the applicable Grantees behalf some or all of the Shares retained and to remit the proceeds of the sale to the Company or its designee, and each Grantees acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Grantees authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this sentence. |
19. | Amendments and Other Matters. |
(a) | Plan Amendments. This Plan may be amended from time to time by the Board, but no such amendment shall increase any of the limitations specified in Section 4 of the Plan, other than to reflect an adjustment made in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan, or amend this Section 19(a), or modify the repricing prohibition in Section 5(e) of this Plan, without the further approval of the shareholders of the Company. The Board may condition any amendment on the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to the applicable listing or other requirements of an applicable securities exchange or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. Shareholder approval will be required in the case of any reduction in the Option Price or extension of the term of an Award benefiting an insider of the Company. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall divest any Grantee of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to any Awards previously granted to such Grantee, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Company, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company, or otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following amendments may be made without the approval of shareholders of the Company: |
(1) | Amendments of a housekeeping nature; |
(2) | A change to vesting or exercisability provisions; |
(3) | A change to employment or service termination provisions; and |
(4) | Any other amendment that does not require shareholder approval pursuant to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for such shares. |
(b) | No Employment Right. This Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any Grantees employment or other service at any time. |
19
(c) | Tax Qualification. To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option that was intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code from so qualifying, such provision of this Plan shall be null and void with respect to such Option, provided that such provision shall remain in effect with respect to other Options, and there shall be no further effect on any provision of this Plan. |
(d) | Foreign Grantees. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Administrator may provide for such special terms for Awards as the Administrator may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Administrator may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the shareholders of the Company. |
(e) | Forfeiture for Violation of Restrictive Covenants. The Administrator may provide in an Award Agreement for conditions of forfeiture of a Grantees rights with respect to such Award in the event of the Grantees breach of such restricted covenants (e.g., non-competition and confidentiality restrictions) as may apply to the Grantee. Such conditions of forfeiture may include, in the discretion of the Administrator, (a) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees right to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (whether or not then otherwise exercisable), (b) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees pending right to receive an issuance of Shares or cash payment in settlement of any Award, (c) the forfeiture of any Restricted (or Performance) Shares, Restricted (or Performance) Share Units, or Performance Units held by the Grantee or (d) following the issuance of Shares or payment of cash upon exercise, vesting or payment of an Award, either (1) cancellation of the Shares so issued (and repayment to the Grantee of the full purchase price, if any, paid for such shares) or (2) requiring the Grantee to pay to the Company in cash an amount equal to the gain realized by the Grantee from such Award (measured by the value (on the date of receipt) of any property and/or amount of cash received by the Grantee under the Award, to the extent in excess of any amount paid by the Grantee). The Company may deduct from any amounts the Company may owe a Grantee from time to time any amounts the Grantee may owe the Company under this subsection (e) and any related Award Agreements. |
(f) | Forfeiture and Compensation Recovery. Awards and any compensation associated therewith are subject to forfeiture, recovery by the Company or other action pursuant to any compensation recovery policy adopted by the Board or the Administrator at any time, including but not limited to, in response to the requirements of Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any implementing rules and regulations thereunder, or as otherwise required by law. Any Award Agreement will be unilaterally amended by the Administrator to comply with any such compensation recovery policy. |
(g) | Insider Trading Policy. Each Grantee who receives an Award will comply with any policy adopted by the Company from time to time covering transactions in the Companys securities by Employees, officers, and/or Directors of the Company, as well as with any applicable insider trading or market abuse laws to which the Grantee may be subject. |
20
20. | Currency. Dollar amounts set forth in the Plan are expressed in U.S. dollars. |
21. | Termination. This Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, and no Award shall be granted after that date. |
22. | Compliance with Applicable Laws. The granting of Awards and the issuance, purchase, and delivery of Shares shall be carried out in compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and by-laws of the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations (including Rule 10b-5) promulgated thereunder, and the policies and regulations of applicable securities regulatory authorities. If the Administrator determines in its discretion that, in order to comply with any such statutes or regulations, certain action is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the granting of an Award or the issuance or purchase or delivery of Shares under this Plan, no Award may be granted and no Shares may be issued, purchased, or delivered unless that action shall have been completed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrator. It is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder be administered in a manner that will comply with Section 409A, including the final regulations and other guidance issued by the United States Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. The Administrator is authorized to adopt rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate to qualify for an exception from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (including any transition or grandfather rules relating thereto). Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, no amendment to or payment under such Award will be made unless permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or rulings issued thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Grantees separation from service at such time as the Grantee is a specified employee (as those terms are defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) and such amount is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, then no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, prior to the first day of the seventh calendar month beginning after the Grantees separation from service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Section 409A of the Code; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code. |
23. | Governing Law. The Plan and any Award Agreements and any and all determinations made and actions taken in connection with the Plan and Award Agreements, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein. |
21
Exhibit 10.11
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
Section 1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Primo Brands Corporation Employee Share Purchase Plan (the Plan) is to provide employees of Primo Brands Corporation (together with any successor thereto, the Company) and its Designated Subsidiaries with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of the Companys Common Shares. The Plan is effective November 8, 2024 (the Effective Date), subject to approval by the Companys stockholders. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code (except, to the extent determined appropriate by the Administrator, with respect to any rights to purchase Shares hereunder during an Offering Period granted to Participants that need not satisfy the requirements under Section 423 of the Code).
Section 2. Definitions.
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates. Masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns are used interchangeably and each comprehends the others.
(a) | Account means the bookkeeping account established and maintained by the Company for each Participant to which shall be credited all Contributions made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan. |
(b) | Administrator shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Section 12. |
(c) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(d) | Business Day means any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which the New York Stock Exchange is permitted to be open for trading. |
(e) | Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
(f) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board. |
(g) | Common Shares means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. |
(h) | Compensation means, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator with respect to any Offering Period, total cash compensation received by an Employee from the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as compensation for services. By way of illustration, but not limitation, Compensation includes (i) regular compensation such as salary, wages, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, commission and incentive compensation, but excludes (ii) relocation expense reimbursements, tuition or other reimbursements, income realized as a result of participation in any share option, share purchase, or similar plan of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, and any severance payments. |
(i) | Continuous Status as an Employee means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: |
(i) | sick leave; |
(ii) | military leave; |
(iii) | any other leave of absence approved by the Companys Human Resources Department (provided that leave is for a period of not more than three months, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute); or |
(iv) | transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries. |
(j) | Contributions means all payroll deductions credited to the Account of a Participant pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan. |
(k) | Designated Broker means the stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Administrator to hold Common Shares purchased by Participants under the Plan. |
(l) | Designated Subsidiaries means the Subsidiaries that have been designated by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion as having Employees eligible to participate in the Plan, which designations may be made without the approval of the stockholders of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. |
(m) | Employee means any person, including any Officer, who is a common-law employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, including employees who are members of a collective bargaining unit, and is an employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may determine that an Employee shall not be eligible to participate in an Offering Period subject to Section 423 of the Code if: (i) such Employee is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code; (ii) such Employee has not met a service requirement designated by the Administrator pursuant to Section 423(b)(4)(A) of the Code (which service requirement may not exceed two years); (iii) such Employees customary employment is for twenty hours per week or less; (iv) such Employees customary employment is for less than five months in any calendar year; and/or (v) such Employee is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction and the grant of a right to purchase Shares under the Plan to such Employee would be prohibited under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction or the |
grant of a right to purchase Shares under the Plan to such Employee in compliance with the laws of such foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, further, that any exclusion in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering Period to all Employees, in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e). |
(n) | Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. |
(o) | Fair Market Value means, as of any relevant date, the closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as reported in The Wall Street Journal or as reported on such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for such shares, or as determined by the Administrator if such shares are not so reported. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Common Shares are quoted on the NYSE or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value per Share shall be established shall be the last day on which the Common Shares of the Company were so quoted prior to such relevant date. |
(p) | Offering Date means the first Business Day of each Offering Period of the Plan. |
(q) | Offering Period means a period of three (3) months commencing on January 1, 2025 (or such other date determined by the Administrator), and each January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 thereafter (or at such other times as may be determined by the Administrator), during which an Employee can set aside payroll deductions for use in purchasing Common Shares hereunder. |
(r) | Officer means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
(s) | Participant means an Employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who elects to participate in the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 5. |
(t) | Purchase Date means the last Business Day of each Offering Period. |
(u) | Purchase Price means with respect to an Offering Period, an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the Offering Date or the Purchase Date, whichever is lower; provided, further, that, subject to Section 17, the Purchase Price may be adjusted by the Administrator pursuant to Section 16 and shall not be less than the par value of a Common Share. |
(v) | Required Holding Period means the 12-month period described in Section 8(b). |
(w) | Share means a full or fractional Common Share, as adjusted in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan. |
(x) | Subscription Agreement means the enrollment forms provided by the Companys Human Resources Department and completed by an Employee electing to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 5. |
(y) | Subscription Date means the last Business Day before the Offering Date of the first Offering Period to which the Subscription Agreement applies. |
(z) | Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. |
Section 3. Eligibility.
(a) | General Rule. With respect to any Offering Period, any Employee on the Offering Date for such Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period subject to the requirements of Section 5(b), and any applicable limitations imposed by Section 423 of the Code. |
(b) | Exceptions to the General Rule. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under the Plan, no Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan for an Offering Period if: |
(i) | immediately after commencement of such participation, such Employee (or any other person whose shares would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own Shares and/or hold outstanding options to purchase Shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company; or |
(ii) | such participation would permit the Employee to purchase Common Shares under all employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries at a rate that exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of the Fair Market Value of such Common Shares (determined as of the Offering Date) for each calendar year in which such Employee participated in the Plan at any time; or |
(iii) | unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, such participation would permit the Employee to purchase during the Offering Period in a number of Common Shares in excess of 5,000. |
(c) | Non-Employee Directors. Non-employee directors of the Company are not eligible to participate in the Plan. |
(d) | Foreign Employees. In order to facilitate participation in the Plan, the Administrator may provide for such special terms applicable to Participants who are citizens or residents of a foreign jurisdiction, or who are employed by a Designated Subsidiary outside of the United States, as the Administrator may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax |
policy or custom. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, the definition of Compensation, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates that vary with local requirements. Such special terms may not be more favorable than the terms of rights granted under the Plan to Eligible Employees who are residents of the United States. Moreover, the Administrator may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company. |
Section 4. Offering Periods.
The Plan shall be implemented through Offering Periods as determined by the Administrator. Once commenced, Offering Periods shall continue until either (i) the Administrator decides, in its sole discretion, that there will be no further Offering Periods (or further Offering Periods will be paused) because the Common Shares remaining available under the Plan are insufficient to make offerings to all Employees or for any other reason, or (ii) the Plan is terminated in accordance with Section 17 of the Plan.
Section 5. Participation.
(a) | Initial Participation. An Employee may become a Participant by delivering to the Companys Human Resources Department a Subscription Agreement indicating the Employees election to participate in the Plan and authorizing payroll deductions. In respect of a particular Offering Period, the Subscription Agreement must be delivered no later than the Subscription Date. The Subscription Agreement may be submitted electronically or by such other means, as directed by the Company. An Employee who becomes eligible to participate in the Plan and completes and submits a Subscription Agreement to the Companys Human Resources Department in accordance with this Plan following the Subscription Date for an Offering Period shall not be eligible to participate during that Offering Period but may participate in any subsequent Offering Period provided such Employee is still eligible to participate in the Plan as of the Offering Date of any subsequent Offering Period. The Administrator may, from time to time, change the Subscription Date applicable to any Offering Period as deemed advisable in its sole discretion for proper administration of the Plan. |
(b) | Continued Participation. A Participant shall automatically participate in the next Offering Period commencing immediately following each Offering Period in which the Participant participates unless he or she: |
(i) | ceases to be eligible as provided in Section 3 above; |
(ii) | withdraws from the Plan pursuant to Section 9(a) below, or |
(iii) | terminates employment as provided in Section 9(b). |
If a Participant automatically participates in a subsequent Offering Period pursuant to this Section 5(b), then the Participant is not required to complete and submit any additional Subscription Agreement to the Companys Human Resources Department for any such subsequent Offering Period in order to continue participation in the Plan. However, a Participant may complete and submit a Subscription Agreement to the Companys Human Resources Department with respect to a subsequent Offering Period if the Participant desires to change any of the Participants elections contained in the Participants then effective Subscription Agreement.
(c) | Payroll Deductions. The Subscription Agreement shall set forth the percentage of the Participants Compensation (subject to Section 6(a) below) to be paid as Contributions pursuant to the Plan. Payroll deductions shall commence on the first full payroll following the Offering Date and shall end on the last payroll paid on or prior to the Purchase Date of a given Offering Period, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 9 of the Plan. |
Section 6. Method of Payment of Contributions.
(a) | Limitations on Payroll Deduction Elections. Contributions during an Offering Period may be paid for only by means of payroll deductions accumulated during the Offering Period from the Participants regularly scheduled pay checks. A Participant shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each payday during the Offering Period in an amount not less than one percent (1%) and not more than fifteen percent (15%) (or such greater percentage as the Administrator may establish from time to time before an Offering Date) of such Participants Compensation on each payday during the Offering Period. |
(b) | Participant Accounts. All Contributions authorized by a Participant shall be credited to the Account established under the Plan for the Participant. The monies represented by such Account shall be held as part of the Companys general assets, usable for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such monies. A Participant may not make any separate cash payment or contribution to such Account. |
(c) | Changes or Discontinuation of Payroll Deductions. A Participant may not increase or decrease his or her Contributions during an Offering Period. However, any Subscription Agreement completed and submitted to the Companys Human Resources Department by the Participant no later than the Subscription Date for the next Offering Period which specifies a different Contribution amount per pay check (whether increasing or decreasing such amount) shall take effect as of such Offering Date. A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 9. |
(d) | Companys Rights to Adjust Payroll Deductions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b)(ii) above, a Participants payroll deductions may be decreased during any Offering Period scheduled to end during the current calendar year to a percentage less than that elected by the Participant, including to 0%. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such Participants Subscription Agreement at the beginning of the first Offering Period that is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 9. |
Section 7. Purchase of Shares.
(a) | Right to Purchase Shares. On each Purchase Date, each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall purchase that number of full and fractional Shares determined by dividing such Employees Account balance as of such Purchase Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 11. |
(b) | General Rule. Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 9, the purchase of Shares will be exercised automatically on each Purchase Date of an Offering Period by applying the amount in the Participants Account to the purchase of that number of full and fractional Shares determined by dividing such amount by the Purchase Price. The Shares purchased upon exercise of a purchase right hereunder shall be deemed to be transferred to the Participant on the Purchase Date. During his or her lifetime, a Participants right to purchase Shares hereunder is exercisable only by the Participant. |
(c) | Pro Rata Allocation. If the total number of Shares to be purchased by Participants under the Plan exceeds the number of Shares then available under the Plan, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining available in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner. In such event, the payroll deductions to be made pursuant to the authorizations therefore shall be reduced accordingly and the Administrator shall give written notice of such reduction to each affected Participant. |
Section 8. Delivery of Shares, Required Holding Period, Dividends, Withholding, and Conditions to Issuance of Common Shares.
(a) | Delivery of Shares. As soon as administratively practicable after a Purchase Date, the number of Shares purchased by each Participant shall be registered in the name of each Participant, as appropriate, and deposited into an account established in the Participants name with the Designated Broker. |
(b) | Required Holding Period. The Participant may dispose of the Shares in his or her Designated Broker account at any time after the Required Holding Period, whether by sale, exchange, gift or other transfer or title, in which case applicable transaction fees will be charged. The Required Holding Period shall mean, with respect to each |
Share in the Participants Account, the period commencing on the Purchase Date of the Share and ending on the 12-month anniversary thereof, or, if earlier, upon: |
(i) | termination of the Participants Continuous Status as an Employee for any reason (including death or retirement); |
(ii) | the Participants receipt of disability benefits under a long-term disability plan covering Employees of the Company (or, if such Participant is not employed in a classification that is covered by the plan, a determination by the Administrator that such Participant would be eligible to receive disability benefits under the plan is such Participant were employed in an eligible classification); or |
(iii) | at the Administrators discretion, a determination that the Participant has experienced a financial hardship (as that term is defined in the plan of the Company or its Designated Subsidiaries intended to meet the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code in which the Participant most recently became eligible to participate). |
After the completion of the Required Holding Period described above, a Participant may initiate the partial or full transfer of such Participants Shares being held in the Participants account with the Designated Broker to another stock brokerage firm. Upon a partial transfer request, the Designated Broker shall transfer the Shares requested to be transferred and held in such account to such other stock brokerage firm. Upon a full transfer request, the Designated Broker shall transfer all full Shares held in such account to such other stock brokerage firm and shall distribute the value of all fractional Shares to the Participant.
(c) | Dividends. Dividends paid in the form of cash, Shares, or other non-cash consideration with respect to the Common Shares in a Participants Account shall be credited to such Account. However, if a Participant holding Shares in any Account is subject to withholding taxes on any dividends payable with respect to the Shares, all cash dividends payable on those Shares shall be paid by the Company net of the applicable withholding taxes on such dividends, which taxes shall be withheld by the Company and paid to the appropriate tax authorities. The Company or any other Designated Subsidiary employing each Participant shall annually notify the Participant, as part of its periodic reporting obligations under applicable laws, of the amount of such withholding applicable to dividends on the Participants Shares in an Account, in order to enable the Participant to apply for any applicable tax credit in each country in which the Participant is subject to taxes on such dividends. |
(d) | Withholding. At the time a Participants rights under the Plan are exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Common Shares issued under the Plan is disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision for the Companys federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, that arise upon the exercise of the right or the disposition of the Common Shares. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participants compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations. |
(e) | Conditions to Issuance of Common Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for, or make any book entries evidencing, Shares purchased upon the exercise of rights under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: |
(i) | The admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges, if any, on which the Common Shares is then listed; |
(ii) | The completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; |
(iii) | The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; |
(iv) | The payment to the Company of all amounts that it is required to withhold under federal, state, local or foreign law upon exercise of the rights, if any; and |
(v) | The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the rights as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience. |
Section 9. Voluntary Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.
(a) | Withdrawal During an Offering Period. A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all of his or her Account balance under the Plan at any time prior to a Purchase Date by submitting a completed Notice of Withdrawal form to the Companys Human Resources Department. The Participants Account balance will be paid to him or her as soon as administratively practicable after receipt of his or her Notice of Withdrawal and his or her participation for the current period will be automatically terminated and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of Shares will be made during the Offering Period. The termination of such participation shall be irrevocable, and the Participant may not subsequently rejoin that same Offering Period. |
(b) | Termination of Employment. Upon termination of the Participants Continuous Status as an Employee prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including retirement or death, his or her Account balance will be returned to him or her or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 13, and his or her purchase right will be automatically terminated. |
(c) | Subsequent Participation. A Participants withdrawal during an Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding Offering Period or in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company. |
Section 10. Interest.
No interest shall accrue on the Contributions credited to a Participants Account under the Plan.
Section 11. Shares.
(a) | Shares Subject to the Plan. The maximum number of Common Shares which may be sold under the Plan is 7,600,000. The share pool will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on and including January 1, 2034 by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the aggregate number of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company issued and outstanding on the day immediately preceding the applicable date, or (ii) such smaller amount determined by the Board. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11(a) to the contrary, the number of Common Shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant to the rights granted under the Plan shall not exceed an aggregate of 76,000,000 Common Shares, subject to Section 11(b). |
(b) | Such Common Shares may be either authorized and unissued shares or issued shares heretofore or hereafter acquired and held as treasury shares, as the Board may from time to time determine. In the event that there is an increase or decrease in the number of issued Common Shares by reason of any cause such as a share split, change in control, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, or any other change in the corporate structure without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company (see Section 16 below), the number of Shares then remaining for issue under the Plan shall, in each such event, be adjusted by the Administrator in proportion to the change in issued Common Shares resulting from such cause. |
(c) | Stockholder Rights. The Participant shall have no interest or voting right in Shares covered by his or her purchase right until such purchase right has been exercised. |
(d) | Registering of Shares. Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant. |
Section 12. Administration.
(a) | General. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. |
(b) | Authority of the Board. The Administrator shall have the authority: |
(i) | to construe and interpret the Plan; |
(ii) | to determine eligibility for participation under the Plan; |
(iii) | to establish, amend or waive rules, procedures and regulations for its administration (including, but not limited to, prescribing the forms and terms of instruments for Participants Common Share subscriptions and beneficiary designations); and |
(iv) | to take any such actions as may be necessary in order to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. |
Offerings under the Plan may be subject to such provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable, and may be amended by the Administrator from time to time. Decisions of the Administrator shall be final binding on all parties having an interest in the Plan.
(c) | Powers of the Administrator. The Administrator may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. |
(d) | Indemnification. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Common Share offering made under it. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each member of the Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including legal fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Company) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such members own fraud or bad faith. |
Section 13. Designation of Beneficiary.
A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries who are to receive any of the benefits under this Plan in the form of Common Shares and/or cash in the event of such Participants death prior to delivery of such benefits. Such designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice. Upon the death of a Participant and upon receipt by the Administrator of proof of the identity and existence at the Participants death of a beneficiary validly designated by the Participant, the Administrator shall
deliver such benefits to such beneficiary. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participants death, the Administrator shall deliver such benefits to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Administrator), the Administrator, in its discretion, may deliver such benefits to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Administrator, then to such other person as the Administrator may designate. No designated beneficiary shall, prior to the death of the Participant by whom he has been designated, acquire any interest in such benefits credited to the Participant under the Plan.
Section 14. Transferability.
Neither Contributions credited to a Participants Account nor any rights with regard to the receipt of Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 13) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with Section 9.
Section 15. Reports.
Statements of Account will be provided to participating Employees by the Company or the Designated Broker at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions, the per Share Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any, in the Participants Account.
Section 16. Adjustments.
(a) | Changes in Capitalization; Corporate Transactions. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of a share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or combination of shares, merger, consolidation, spinoff, sale of assets or similar event, the Committee, in its sole discretion and without liability to any person may make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems equitable, including but not limited to the following: |
(i) | the number and kind of shares or other securities that are reserved for issuance under the Plan; |
(ii) | the number and kind of share or other securities that are subject to outstanding purchase rights, |
(iii) | the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determination applicable to the purchase rights, and/or, |
(iv) | any other affected term of such purchase right. |
The Committee shall make all determination under this Section 16(a), and all such determinations shall be conclusive and binding.
(b) | Other Adjustments. Subject to Section 16(c), in the event of any transaction or event described in Section 16(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate (including without limitation any change in control), or of changes in applicable law or accounting principles, the Administrator, in its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any right under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles: |
(i) | To provide for either (A) termination of any outstanding right in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been obtained upon the exercise of such right had such right been currently exercisable or (B) the replacement of such outstanding right with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; |
(ii) | To provide that the outstanding rights under the Plan shall be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar rights covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; |
(iii) | To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding rights under the Plan and/or in the terms and conditions of outstanding rights and rights that may be granted in the future; |
(iv) | To provide that Participants accumulated payroll deductions may be used to purchase Common Shares prior to the next occurring Purchase Date on such date as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion and the Participants rights under the ongoing Offering Period(s) shall be terminated; and |
(v) | To provide that all outstanding rights shall terminate without being exercised. |
(c) | No Adjustment Under Certain Circumstances. No adjustment or action described in this Section 16 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. |
(d) | No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Administrator under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to outstanding rights under the Plan or the Purchase Price with respect to any outstanding rights. |
Section 17. Amendment or Termination.
(a) | The Plan may be amended by the Administrator from time to time to the extent that the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate in light of, and consistent with, Section 423 of the Code, or otherwise; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective, without approval of the stockholders of the Company, if stockholder approval of the amendment is required under Section 423 of the Code and/or the applicable rules of the NYSE or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for such shares. The Administrator also may terminate the Plan or an Employees participation in the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Administrator shall not have the right to modify, cancel, or amend any outstanding Contributions or Shares issued pursuant to the Plan before such termination unless each Participant consents in writing to such modification, amendment or cancellation. |
(b) | Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Administrator shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Companys processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Shares for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participants Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable that are consistent with the Plan. Examples of circumstances where the Administrator may make amendments without shareholder approval include, without limitation, amendments that would: |
(i) | for the purpose of making formal, minor, administrative or technical modifications to any of the provisions of the Plan, including amendments of a housekeeping nature; |
(ii) | to correct any ambiguity, defective provision, error or omission in the provisions of this Plan; |
(iii) | to make any amendment that may be required to give effect to, or address, any changes in tax laws, accounting policies or reporting, securities laws or other applicable laws; or |
(iv) | any other amendment that does not require shareholder approval under Section 423 of the Code or the rules of the NYSE or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for such shares. |
(c) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment: |
(i) | to increase the maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan; |
(ii) | to change the designation of corporations or class of corporations whose employees may purchase Shares under the Plan (to the extent required by Section 423 of the Code and applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder); |
(iii) | to increase the discount reflected in the definition of Purchase Price; or |
(iv) | to this Section 17. |
Section 18. Notices.
All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
Section 19. Conditions for Issuance of Shares.
Shares shall not be issued with respect to the Plan unless such Shares and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant to the Plan shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, applicable state securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
As a condition to an Employees participation in the Plan, the Company may require the person to represent and warrant that any Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
Section 20. Term of Plan; Effective Date.
The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to approval by the Companys stockholders within 12 months following the date the Plan is first approved by the Board. No rights may be granted under the Plan prior to such stockholders approval. The Plan shall continue in effect until all of the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan have been exhausted, unless sooner terminated under Section 17.
Section 21. Additional Restrictions of Rule 16b-3.
The terms and conditions of purchase rights granted hereunder to and the purchase of Shares by Officers shall comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3. This Plan shall be deemed to contain, and such purchase rights shall contain, and the Shares issued upon exercise thereof shall be subject to, such additional conditions and restrictions as may be required by Rule 16b-3 to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.
Section 22. Notice of Disposition of Shares.
Each Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of ownership of Shares purchased during an Offering Period under this Plan if such disposition or transfer of ownership is made from an account other than the Participants account with the Designated Broker within two (2) years from the Offering Date of the Offering Period in which such Shares were purchased. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer of ownership and the amount realized by the Participant, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Participant in such disposition or other transfer of ownership.
Section 23. Equal Rights and Privileges.
All Employees of the Company (or of any Designated Subsidiary) will have equal rights and privileges under this Plan so that the Plan qualifies as an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 24. General Provisions.
(a) | Employment. Nothing in the Plan or in any related instrument shall confer upon any Participant or other Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or shall affect the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any Participant or other Employee with or without cause. |
(b) | Governing Law. The Plan and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, except to the extent governed or superseded by the laws of the United States. |
(c) | No Implied Rights. Neither the establishment of the Plan nor any amendment thereof shall be construed as giving any Participant or any other person any legal or equitable right unless such right shall be specifically provided for in the Plan or conferred by specific action of the Board in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan. |
(d) | Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to purchase rights thereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence or such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, change in control, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. |
(e) | Severability. In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions of the Plan shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction, and any such invalid or unenforceable provision shall not be considered invalid and unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. |
Section 25. Compliance with Laws.
It is the Employees obligation to comply with all applicable laws in respect of such Employees participation in the Plan, including all reporting and filing obligations to applicable regulatory authorities in connection therewith.
Section 26. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan.
Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of share options otherwise than under this Plan, and such other incentive arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
Exhibit 10.12
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. | Purpose. The purposes of the Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) are to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and materially increase the value of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries by (i) encouraging the long-term commitment of key Employees and Nonemployee Directors (as such terms are defined below), (ii) motivating the performance of key Employees and Nonemployee Directors by means of annual and long-term performance-related incentives, (iii) attracting and retaining outstanding key Employees and Nonemployee Directors by providing incentive compensation opportunities, and (iv) enabling participation by key Employees and Nonemployee Directors in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. |
2. | Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the stockholders of Primo Brands Corporation. |
3. | Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below: |
(a) | Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, or Stock Payments granted under the Plan. |
(b) | Award Agreement means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other form of writing (including in electronic medium) approved by the Committee which sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award. |
(c) | Base Price means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. |
(d) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(e) | Cause means any action by the Grantee or inaction by the Grantee that constitutes: |
(1) | A wilful failure to properly carry out the Grantees duties and responsibilities or to adhere to the policies of the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(2) | Theft, fraud, dishonesty or misappropriation, or the gross negligence or wilful misconduct, involving the property, business or affairs of the Company or a Subsidiary, or in the carrying out of the Grantees duties, including, without limitation, any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in any employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(3) | Conviction of or plea of guilty to a criminal offense that involves fraud, dishonesty, theft or violence; |
(4) | Breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(5) | Refusal to follow the lawful written reasonable and good faith direction of the Board; or |
1
(6) | Any other action that constitutes cause for termination of the Grantees employment with the Company or a Subsidiary under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party or under applicable law. |
(f) | Change in Control means: |
(1) | the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation or other similar corporate reorganization of the Company with or into any other corporation whereby the voting shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such event receive less than 50% of the voting shares of the consolidated, merged or amalgamated corporation, or any acquisition or similar transaction or series of transactions whereby any person, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any entity controlled by the Company, or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or an entity that is controlled by the Company), is or becomes, including pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for Shares, the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities; |
(2) | the consummation of a sale by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; |
(3) | the date upon which individuals who, on the effective date of this Plan constitute the Board (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of this Plan whose appointment, election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors who remain on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall also be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; or |
(4) | the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company. |
(g) | Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. |
(h) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of Primo Brands Corporation. |
(i) | Company means Primo Water Corporation, a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Canada. |
2
(j) | Date of Termination or Termination means (i) the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary (other than in connection with the Grantees transfer to or from employment with a Subsidiary), but not including a Grantees absence from active employment or service during a period (not exceeding 90 days) of vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, (ii) in the case of a Grantee who does not return to active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary immediately following a period of absence exceeding 90 days due to vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, the last day of such period of absence, or (iii) if applicable, the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary as defined under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party. Unless otherwise determined by the Board or Committee, for the purposes of this Plan and all matters relating to the Awards, the Date of Termination or Termination shall be determined without regard to any applicable notice of termination, severance or termination pay, damages, or any claim thereto (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory, or at common law). Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, Date of Termination or Termination shall mean the Grantees separation from service (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code). |
(k) | Employee means a full-time, part-time or contract employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. |
(l) | Fair Market Value means, with respect to a Share on any determination date, the closing price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day on which Shares traded prior to such date; provided that if no Shares traded in the five trading days prior to the determination date, the Committee shall determine Fair Market Value on a reasonable basis using a method that complies with Code Section 409A and guidance issued thereunder. |
(m) | Good Reason shall mean any of the following: |
(1) | A material diminution in the Grantees title or duties or assignment to the Grantee of materially inconsistent duties; |
(2) | A reduction in the Grantees then-current annual base salary or target bonus opportunity as a percentage of annual base salary, unless such reduction in target bonus opportunity is made applicable to all other Grantees serving in substantially the same capacity; |
(3) | Relocation of the Grantees principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles away from the Grantees principal place of employment on the Grantees date of hire, unless such relocation is effected at the Grantees request or with the Grantees approval; |
(4) | A material breach by the Company or a Subsidiary of any provisions of any employment agreement to which the Grantee and the Company or Subsidiary are parties; |
(5) | The failure of the Company or Subsidiary to obtain the assumption in writing of an employment agreement to which the Grantee and the Company or Subsidiary are parties by any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company or Subsidiary; or |
3
(6) | Any other action that constitutes good reason for resignation or termination from or of the Grantees employment with the Company or Subsidiary under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party or under applicable law. |
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(m) to the contrary, for an event to be considered Good Reason under the Plan, (x) the Grantee must notify the Company of such event within 90 days of the Grantees knowledge of the occurrence of such event and the Company must be provided with a reasonable opportunity to cure such occurrence and (y) if the Company does not cure such occurrence within 30 days, the Grantee must Terminate service with the Company or Subsidiary within 120 days after the first occurrence of the applicable grounds for good reason, or the Grantee will be deemed to have waived the Grantees right to have a Termination of Service for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.
(n) | Grant Date means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of an Award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto. |
(o) | Grantee means Employee or Nonemployee Director who has been selected by the Committee (or by the Companys Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee pursuant to Section 5(a)) to receive an Award and to whom an Award has been granted. |
(p) | Incentive Stock Option means any Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Code Section 422 or any successor provision. |
(q) | Nonemployee Director means a member of the Board who is not an Employee. |
(r) | Nonqualified Stock Option means an Option that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
(s) | Option means any option to purchase Shares granted under Section 6 of the Plan. |
(t) | Option Price means the purchase price payable upon the exercise of an Option. |
(u) | Performance Period means a period of time established under Section 9 of the Plan within which the performance objectives relating to a Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit are to be achieved. |
(v) | Performance Share means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one Share awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan. |
(w) | Performance Unit means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan. |
(x) | Restricted Shares mean Shares granted under Section 8 of the Plan. |
(y) | Restricted Share Unit means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan and denominated in units representing rights to receive Shares. |
4
(z) | Retirement means termination of employment or service with the Company at the election of the Grantee after the Grantee has both (i) attained age 60, and (ii) completed ten (10) continuous years of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this section 3(z), a year of service shall mean each consecutive twelve-month period of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries beginning on the Grantees first date of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof. The Committee shall have sole authority to determine whether a Grantee has met the requirements for Retirement. |
(aa) | Shares means the common shares in the capital of the Company, or any security into which Shares may be converted by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 14 of the Plan. |
(bb) | Spread means, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount by which the Fair Market Value per Share on the date when any such right is exercised exceeds the Base Price specified in such right. |
(cc) | Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted under Section 7 of the Plan. |
(dd) | Stock Payment means Shares granted under Section 10 of the Plan. |
(ee) | Subsidiary means a corporation or other entity that controls or is controlled by the Company or that is controlled by the same person that controls the Company within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106, provided that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Grantee for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, Subsidiary means any corporation (within the meaning of the Code) in which the Company owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the total combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation at the time of such grant. |
(ff) | Tax Act means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and all regulations thereunder, as amended or restated from time to time. Any reference in the Agreement to a provision of the Tax Act includes any successor provision thereto. |
4. | Shares Available Under the Plan. |
(a) | Reserved Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued from treasury with respect to Awards shall not in the aggregate exceed 3,439,771 Shares. The Shares issued by the Company hereunder may at the Companys option be either (i) evidenced by a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (ii) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. |
Shares that are issued under the Plan or that are potentially issuable pursuant to outstanding Awards will be applied to reduce that maximum number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that the total number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced 2.0 Shares for each Share issued pursuant to an Award other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (each such other Award being referred to herein as a full-value Award). Any Shares subject to an Award that, at any time, lapses, is forfeited or cancelled, expires, or for any
5
reason is terminated unexercised or unvested, or is settled or paid in cash or any form other than Shares shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards, with each Share made available for Awards under this provision in connection with the lapse, forfeiture, cancellation, termination or cash settlement of full-value Awards increasing the number of Shares available for reissuance by 2.0 Shares. Similarly, any Shares that are withheld by the Company, or any previously-acquired shares that are tendered (either actually or by attestation), in either case to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to a full-value Award shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards, with each Share made available for Awards under this provision increasing the number of Shares available for reissuance by 2.0 Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(a), the following Shares shall not again become available for issuance under the Plan: (i) any and all Shares awarded as part of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that are withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, and any previously-acquired Shares tendered (actually or by attestation) in payment of any taxes relating to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) Shares that would have been issued upon exercise of an Option but for the fact that the exercise was pursuant to a net exercise arrangement or by any previously-acquired shares tendered in payment of such Exercise Price; (iii) Shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right upon its exercise; and (iv) Shares that are repurchased by the Company using Option exercise proceeds or otherwise.
(b) | Incentive Stock Option Maximum. In no event shall the number of Shares issued from treasury or otherwise upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options exceed 3,439,771 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 of the Plan. |
(c) | Certain Additional Limits. The number of Shares issuable to insiders of the Company (as defined in Part I of the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual) at any time, and the number of Shares issued to insiders of the Company within any one year period, under this Plan or when combined with all of the Companys other security based compensation arrangements (as described in the Toronto Stock Company Manual), shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares, respectively. In addition, neither the Board nor the Committee may, without further shareholder approval, grant to Nonemployee Directors an amount that is equal to or greater than (x) the lesser of (i) 3% of the Companys issued and outstanding Shares, and (ii) an annual equity award of $500,000 per Nonemployee Director. Notwithstanding Section 17(a) of the Plan, the aforementioned restriction may not be amended without further shareholder approval. |
5. | Plan Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee or any other Board committee as may be designated by the Board from time to time. |
(a) | In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority to determine all provisions of Awards as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and as consistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the individuals to be selected as Grantees; (ii) the nature and extent of the Awards to be made to each Grantee (including the number of Shares to be subject to each Award, any exercise price, the manner in which Awards will vest or become exercisable and whether Awards will be granted in tandem with other Awards) and the form of written or electronic agreement, if any, evidencing such Award; (iii) the time or times |
6
when Awards will be granted; (iv) the duration of each Award; and (v) the restrictions and other conditions to which the payment or vesting of Awards may be subject. In addition, the Committee will have the authority under the Plan in its sole discretion to (A) establish, amend or rescind rules to administer the Plan; (B) interpret the Plan and any Award or related agreement made under the Plan; (C) make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; and (D) pay the intrinsic value of any Award in the form of cash, Shares or any combination of both. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to the Companys Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources the authority to approve Awards to Employees other than (i) those subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and (ii) those that report directly to the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Any such delegations shall be in writing and shall specify the maximum number of Shares that may be awarded pursuant to such authority. The Committee may also delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources the authority to Award to Employees who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and who do not report directly to the Companys Chief Executive Officer, any Shares previously subject to Awards that have been forfeited due to the Grantees Termination prior to the date on which the Grantee became vested in such Award. |
(b) | Subject to Section (d) below, the Committee will have the authority under the Plan to amend or modify the terms of any outstanding Award in any manner, including, without limitation, the authority to modify the number of shares or other terms and conditions of an Award, accelerate the exercisability or vesting or otherwise terminate any restrictions relating to an Award, accept the surrender of any outstanding Award or, to the extent not previously exercised or vested, authorize the grant of new Awards in substitution for surrendered Awards; provided, however that (i) the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect; and (ii) any Grantee divested of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to previously-granted Awards by such amended or modified terms shall have consented to such amendment or modification unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law or stock exchange rules. |
(c) | In the event of (i) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, extraordinary dividend or divestiture (including a spin off) or any other change in corporate structure or shares; (ii) any purchase, acquisition, sale, disposition or write-down of a significant amount of assets or a significant business; (iii) any change in accounting principles or practices, tax laws or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (iv) any uninsured catastrophic losses or extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 or in managements discussion and analysis of financial performance appearing in the Companys annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; or (v) any other similar change, in each case with respect to the Company or any other entity whose performance is relevant to the grant or vesting of an Award, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) may, without the consent of any affected Grantee, amend or modify the vesting criteria (including performance objectives and related performance goals) of any outstanding Award that is based in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division or other subunit thereof) or such other entity so as equitably to reflect such event, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating such financial performance of the Company or such other entity will be substantially the same (in the sole discretion of the Committee or the board of directors of the surviving corporation) following such event as prior to such event; provided, however, that the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect. |
7
(d) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan other than Section 14, the Committee may not, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, seek to effect any re-pricing of any previously granted, underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right by: (i) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price; (ii) canceling the underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right and granting either (A) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price; (B) Restricted Share Awards; or (C) Restricted Share Unit Awards or Performance Shares or Performance Units in exchange; or (iii) repurchasing the underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for cancellation. For purposes of this Section, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be deemed to be underwater at any time when the Fair Market Value of a Share is less than the exercise price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, extend the term of Awards that benefit insiders. |
(e) | In addition to the authority of the Committee under Section (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to Grantees resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Companys or Subsidiarys interests, or to meet objectives of the Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws. The Committee shall have no authority, however, to take action pursuant to this Section: (i) to reserve shares or grant Awards in excess of the limitations provided in the Plan; (ii) to effect any repricing in violation of the Plan; (iii) to grant Options having an exercise price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant in violation of the Plan; or (iv) for which stockholder approval would then be required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or the Toronto Stock Exchange. |
(f) | Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee will determine whether an Award is subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if determined to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Committee will make such Award subject to such written terms and conditions determined necessary or desirable to cause such Award to comply in form with the requirements of Code Section 409A. Further, the Plan, as it relates to Awards that are subject to Code Section 409A, will be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and any regulations or rulings issued thereunder. |
6. | Options. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Options to purchase Shares upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Shares. Each grant shall specify the number of Shares to which it pertains. |
(b) | Option Price. Each grant shall specify an Option Price per Share, which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. |
8
(c) | Consideration. Each grant shall specify the form of consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the Option Price and the manner of payment of such consideration, which may include (i) cash in the form of currency or check or other cash equivalent acceptable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted Shares owned by the Grantee at the time of exercise and which have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price (including through a net exercise), (iii) any other legal consideration that the Committee may deem appropriate on such basis as the Committee may determine in accordance with this Plan, or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the Option Price from the Grantee but will reduce the number of Shares issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole Shares that has a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price for the Shares exercised under this method. Shares will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) Shares used to pay the Option Price of an Option under the net exercise, (ii) Shares actually delivered to the Grantee as a result of such exercise and (iii) any Shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding. |
(d) | Cashless Exercise. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale of the Shares acquired on exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds sufficient to pay the Option Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by the Grantee by reason of such exercise, or through simultaneous sale through a broker of Shares acquired upon exercise. |
(e) | Performance-Based Options. Any grant of an Option may specify performance objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the Option. |
(f) | Vesting. Each Option grant may specify a period of continuous employment of the Grantee by the Company or any Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Nonemployee Director, service on the Board) that is necessary before the Options or installments thereof shall become exercisable. |
(g) | Incentive Stock Option Dollar Limitation. Options granted under this Plan may be Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options or a combination of the foregoing, provided that only Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Nonemployee Directors. Each grant shall specify whether (or the extent to which) the Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. Notwithstanding any such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the Grant Date with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. |
(h) | Exercise Period. No Option granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(i) | Dividends. No dividends or other distribution or award of dividend equivalents may be granted with respect to any Option. |
9
(j) | Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine that are not inconsistent with this Plan. |
7. | Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right is the right of the Grantee to receive from the Company an amount equal to the Spread at the time of the exercise of such right. Any grant of Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Payment in Shares or Cash. Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or any combination thereof at the discretion of the Committee at the time of payment. |
(b) | Exercise Period. Any grant may specify (i) a waiting period or periods before Stock Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable and (ii) permissible dates or periods on or during which Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable. No Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(c) | Dividends. No dividends or other distribution or award of dividend equivalents may be granted with respect to any SAR. |
(d) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall describe the subject Stock Appreciation Rights, specify the Base Price (which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date), state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and contain such other terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. |
8. | Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Transfer of Shares. Each grant of Restricted Shares shall constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Shares to the Grantee in consideration of the performance of services, subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to. Upon expiration of the restriction period and satisfaction of any other terms or conditions (including, but not limited to, performance objectives) and as set forth in the Restricted Share Award Agreement, the Restricted Share shall immediately become vested and the Shares underlying such award of Restricted Share shall be released by the Company to the Grantee without restrictions on transfer. Restricted Share Units shall become payable to a Grantee in Shares at the time or times determined by the Committee and set forth in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. |
(b) | Consideration. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units may be made without a requirement for additional payment by the Grantee. |
10
(c) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Each grant shall provide that the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units covered thereby shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Grant Date, and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee or a Non-Employee Director, the number of Shares subject to the Award, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining Shares underlying Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Committee. |
(d) | Dividend, Vesting and Other Ownership Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Award of Restricted Shares shall entitle the Grantee to dividend, voting and other ownership rights during the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue; provided however that unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Award Agreement with respect to an Award of Restricted Shares that is conditioned on the attainment of performance goals shall provide that the Grantee shall not receive any dividends unless and until such time as the Restricted Shares becomes vested. Alternatively, an Award Agreement may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid on the Restricted Shares during the period for which the substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue be automatically sequestered and reinvested in additional Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Shares underlying an Award of Restricted Share Units until such time, if any, as the underlying Shares are actually issued to the Grantee, which may, at the option of the Company be either (i) evidenced by delivery of a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (ii) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. The Committee may provide in a Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement for the payment of dividend equivalents and distributions to the Grantee at such times as paid to shareholders generally or at the time of vesting or other payout of the Restricted Share Units, provided, however, if the payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents is in respect of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing. |
(e) | Performance-Based Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further conditioned upon the attainment of performance objectives established by the Committee in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 9 of the Plan regarding Performance Shares and Performance Units. |
(f) | Award Agreements. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all certificates representing Restricted Shares, together with a stock power that shall be endorsed in blank by the Grantee with respect to such Shares, shall be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon lapse. |
9. | Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants of Performance Shares and Performance Units, which shall become payable to the Grantee upon the achievement of specified performance objectives, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Performance Shares or Units. Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors. |
11
(b) | Performance Objectives and Performance Period. Each grant shall specify the performance objectives that are to be achieved by the Grantee during a specified performance period. |
(c) | Threshold Performance Objectives. Each grant may specify in respect of the specified performance objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no payment will be made and may set forth a formula for determining the amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified performance objectives. |
(d) | Payment of Performance Shares and Units. Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any grant may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares or any combination thereof and may either grant to the Grantee or reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives. |
(e) | Maximum Payment. Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee on the Grant Date. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount payable, or the number of Shares issued, with respect thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee on the Grant Date. |
(f) | Dividend Equivalents. Any grant of Performance Shares may provide for the payment to the Grantee of dividend equivalents thereon in cash or additional Shares, provided however that the Award Agreement shall provide that the Grantee shall not receive any dividends unless and until such time as the Performance Shares are earned and paid, and provided further that if the payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents is in respect of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing. |
(g) | Adjustment of Performance Objectives. If provided in the terms of the grant, the Committee may adjust performance objectives and the related minimum acceptable level of achievement if, in the sole judgment of the Committee, events or transactions have occurred after the Grant Date that are unrelated to the performance of the Grantee and result in distortion of the performance objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement. |
(h) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Each grant shall provide that the Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Grant Date, and any grant may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee or a Non-Employee Director, the portion, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining portions as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Committee. |
12
(i) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall state that the Performance Shares or Performance Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and such other terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. |
10. | Stock Payments. If not prohibited by applicable law, the Committee may from time to time issue unrestricted Shares to Grantees, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. A Stock Payment may be granted as, or in payment of, Nonemployee Director fees, bonuses, or to provide incentives or recognize special achievements or contributions. |
11. | Minimum Vesting Periods. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, Awards granted under the Plan (other than cash-based awards) shall vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the date on which the Award is granted; provided, that the following Awards shall not be subject to the foregoing minimum vesting requirement: any (i) substitute Awards granted in connection with awards that are assumed, converted or substituted pursuant to a merger, acquisition or similar transaction entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) Shares delivered in lieu of fully vested cash obligations, (iii) Awards to Nonemployee Directors that vest on earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immeditaely preceding years annual meeting, and (iv) any additional Awards the Committee may grant, up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the available share reserve authorized for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) (subject to adjustment under Section 14); and, provided, further, that the foregoing restriction does not apply to the Committees discretion to provide for accelerated exercisability or vesting of any Award, including in cases of Retirement, death, disability or a Change in Control, in terms of the Award Agreement or otherwise. |
12. | Consequences of Termination. |
(a) | Options/Stock Appreciation Rights (Not Performance-Based). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by a Grantee (or the executors or administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination and are not subject to vesting conditions based upon the satisfaction of performance objectives shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable, except that in all events, the period for exercise of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term thereof established under Section 6(h) or 7(d), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death, or the Grantees resignation with Good Reason, or the Grantees Termination without Cause, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) those of Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable as of the later of the Date of Termination and the one year anniversary of the effective date of the Award thereof and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable for the remaining portion of the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
13
(2) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such Date of Termination and (y) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the 90 day period following such Date of Termination. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, and those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable on the date or dates on which such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates, and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 12(a) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period.
(b) | Options/Stock Appreciation Rights (Performance-Based). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by a Grantee (or the executors or administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination and are subject to vesting conditions based upon the satisfaction of performance objectives shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable, except that in all events, the period for exercise of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term thereof established under Section 6(h) or 7(d), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death, or the Grantees resignation with Good Reason, or the Grantees Termination without Cause, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, in which case the number of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that become vested on each subsequent applicable vesting date (subject to satisfaction of the applicable performance objective) shall equal the pro rata |
14
number of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that he or she would have earned on that vesting date had he or she been continuously employed through such date, as calculated by reference to the portion of the applicable Performance Period during which the Grantee was actually employed and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable for the remaining portion of the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
(2) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such Date of Termination and (y) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the 90 day period following such Date of Termination. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, and those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable (subject to satisfaction of the applicable performance objective) on the date or dates on which such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates, and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 12(b) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period.
(c) | Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units of the Grantee (and the executors and administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons acquiring any interest directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death or Termination without Cause or resignation with Good Reason, any employment requirements of Section 8(c) and 9(h) and the applicable Award Agreement shall not apply, in which case the number of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units to be deemed earned by such Grantee on each subsequent applicable vesting date shall equal the pro rata number of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units that he or she would have earned on that vesting date had he or she been continuously employed |
15
through such date, as calculated by reference to the portion of the applicable Restricted Period or Performance Period during which the Grantee was actually employed (subject to satisfaction of any applicable performance objective), provided that time-based Restricted Share Units shall be settled according to the foregoing formula promptly after termination. |
(2) | In the event of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), all of the Grantees unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will be forfeited immediately. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, any employment requirements under Section 8(c) and 9(h) shall not apply, and all of the Grantees unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units shall become vested on the date or dates on which such Awards would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates (subject to satisfaction of any applicable performance objective). |
(d) | Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or in any instrument of grant, in the case of a Grantees Termination for Cause, any and all then outstanding Awards (other than Stock Payments) granted to the Grantee, whether or not vested, shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled, without any consideration therefore, as of the commencement of the day that notice of such termination is given. |
13. | Nontransferability. No Award granted under this Plan (including Options) shall be transferable or assignable by a Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution for normal estate settlement purposes, and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during a Grantees lifetime only by the Grantee or, in the event of the Grantees legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Grantee under state law. Any attempt to transfer or assign an Award in violation of this Plan shall render such Award null and void. |
14. | Adjustments. In the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation) that causes the per share value of Shares to change, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering or recapitalization through an extraordinary dividend, the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems equitable and appropriate to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the Option Price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, and (iv) any maximum limitations prescribed by the Plan with respect to certain types of Awards or the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards. In the event of any other change in corporate capitalization, including a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such equitable adjustments described in the foregoing sentence may be made as determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights of Grantees. In either case, any such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. No adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 14 in connection with the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company, or in a manner that would cause Incentive Stock Options to violate Code Section 422(b) or cause an Award to be subject to adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A. |
16
15. | Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Shares pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement thereof in cash. |
16. | Withholding Taxes. If, for any reason whatsoever, the Company or a Subsidiary becomes obligated to withhold and/or remit to any applicable tax authority (whether domestic or foreign) any amount in connection with this Plan in respect of a Grantee, then the Company or such Subsidiary shall make the necessary arrangements, as acceptable to the Company or such Subsidiary, in connection with the amount that must be withheld and/or remitted. At the discretion of the Committee, such arrangements may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. |
17. | Amendments and Other Matters. |
(a) | Plan Amendments. This Plan may be amended from time to time by the Board, but no such amendment shall increase any of the limitations specified in Section 4 of the Plan, other than to reflect an adjustment made in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan, or amend this Section 17(a), or modify the repricing prohibition in Section 5(d) of this Plan, without the further approval of the shareholders of the Company. The Board may condition any amendment on the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to the applicable listing or other requirements of an applicable securities exchange or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. Shareholder approval will be required in the case of any reduction in the Option Price or extension of the term of an Award benefiting an insider of the Company. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall divest any Grantee of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to any Awards previously granted to such Grantee, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Company, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following amendments may be made without the approval of shareholders of the Company: |
(1) | Amendments of a housekeeping nature; |
(2) | A change to vesting provisions; |
(3) | A change to employment termination provisions that does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date; |
(4) | Any other amendment that does not require shareholder approval pursuant to the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange; and |
(b) | No Employment Right. This Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any Grantees employment or other service at any time. |
(c) | Tax Qualification. To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option that was intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code from so qualifying, such provision of this Plan shall be null and void with respect to such Option, provided that such provision shall remain in effect with respect to other Options, and there shall be no further effect on any provision of this Plan. |
17
(d) | Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided in an agreement evidencing an Award, the following provisions shall apply to outstanding Awards in the event of a Change in Control. |
(1) | Continuation, Assumption or Replacement of Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) may continue, assume or replace Awards outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control (with such adjustments as may be required or permitted by the Plan), and such Awards or replacements therefore shall remain outstanding and be governed by their respective terms, subject to subsection (4) below. A surviving or successor entity may elect to continue, assume or replace only some Awards or portions of Awards. For purposes of this subsection (1), an Award shall be considered assumed or replaced if, in connection with the Change in Control and in a manner consistent with Sections 409A and 424 of the Code, either (i) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed by the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to the Award and the exercise price thereof that preserves the intrinsic value of the Award existing at the time of the Change in Control, or (ii) the Grantee has received a comparable equitybased award that preserves the intrinsic value of the Award existing at the time of the Change in Control and provides for a vesting or exercisability schedule that is the same as or more favorable to the Grantee. |
(2) | Acceleration of Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(3) | Payment for Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then the Committee may terminate some or all of such outstanding Awards, in whole or in part, as of the effective time of the Change in Control in exchange for payments to the holders as provided in this subsection (3). The Committee will not be required to treat all Awards similarly for purposes of this Section (3). The payment for any Award or portion thereof terminated shall be in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Committee) of the consideration that would otherwise be received in the Change in Control for the number of Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof being terminated, or, if no consideration is to be received by the Companys shareholders in the Change in Control, the Fair Market Value of such number of shares immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, over (ii) the aggregate exercise price (if any) for the Shares subject to |
18
the Award or portion thereof being terminated. If there is no excess, the Award may be terminated without payment. Any payment shall be made in such form, on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Committee determines in its discretion, which may or may not be the same as the form, terms and conditions applicable to payments to the Companys shareholders in connection with the Change in Control, and may include subjecting such payments to vesting conditions comparable to those of the Award surrendered. |
(4) | Termination After a Change in Control. If and to the extent that Awards are continued, assumed or replaced under the circumstances described in subsection (1), and if within two years after the Change in Control a Grantee experiences an involuntary termination of employment or other service for reasons other than Cause, or terminates his or her employment or other service for Good Reason, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and nonforfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(5) | Termination within two years of November 8, 2024. Notwithstanding the introductory sentence to this Section 17(d), if within two years after November 8, 2024, a Grantee experiences an involuntary termination of employment or other service for reasons other than Cause, or terminates his or her employment or other service for Good Reason, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(6) | Awards Subject to Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, for any Award that provides for deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A (and is not otherwise exempt from the provisions of Code Section 409A), upon a Change in Control that also qualifies as a change in control for purposes of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(a)(5), then (i) subsection (2) shall apply to all such Awards and (ii) any settlement of or payment due with respect to such Award shall be made within the time frame required by Code Section 409A. |
(e) | Foreign Grantees. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the shareholders of the Company. |
19
(f) | Forfeiture for Violation of Restrictive Covenants. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement for conditions of forfeiture of a Grantees rights with respect to such Award in the event of the Grantees breach of such restricted covenants (e.g., non-competition and confidentiality restrictions) as may apply to the Grantee. Such conditions of forfeiture may include, in the discretion of the Committee, (a) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees right to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (whether or not then otherwise exercisable), (b) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees pending right to receive an issuance of Shares or cash payment in settlement of any Award, (c) the forfeiture of any Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units held by the Grantee or (d) following the issuance of Shares or payment of cash upon exercise, vesting or payment of an Award, either (1) cancellation of the Shares so issued (and repayment to the Grantee of the full purchase price, if any, paid for such shares) or (2) requiring the Grantee to pay to the Company in cash an amount equal to the gain realized by the Grantee from such Award (measured by the value (on the date of receipt) of any property and/or amount of cash received by the Grantee under the Award, to the extent in excess of any amount paid by the Grantee). The Company may deduct from any amounts the Company may owe a Grantee from time to time any amounts the Grantee may owe the Company under this subsection (f) and any related Award Agreements. |
(g) | Forfeiture and Compensation Recovery. Awards and any compensation associated therewith will be made subject to forfeiture, recovery by the Company or other action pursuant to any compensation recovery policy adopted by the Board or the Committee at any time, including in response to the requirements of Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any implementing rules and regulations thereunder, or as otherwise required by law. Any Agreement may be unilaterally amended by the Committee to comply with any such compensation recovery policy. |
18. | Currency. Dollar amounts set forth in the Plan are expressed in U.S. dollars. |
19. | Termination. This Plan shall terminate on November 7, 2034, and no Award shall be granted after that date. |
20. | Compliance with Applicable Laws. The granting of Awards and the issuance, purchase, and delivery of Shares shall be carried out in compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and bylaws of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations (including Rule 10b-5) promulgated thereunder, and the policies and regulations of applicable securities regulatory authorities. If the Committee determines in its discretion that, in order to comply with any such statutes or regulations, certain action is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the granting of an Award or the issuance or purchase or delivery of Shares under this Plan, no Award may be granted and no Shares may be issued, purchased, or delivered unless that action shall have been completed in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. It is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder be administered in a manner that will comply with Code Section 409A, including the final regulations and other guidance |
20
issued by the United States Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. The Committee is authorized to adopt rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate to qualify for an exception from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (including any transition or grandfather rules relating thereto). Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, no amendment to or payment under such Award will be made unless permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or rulings issued thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Grantees separation from service at such time as the Grantee is a specified employee (as those terms are defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) and such amount is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, then no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, prior to the first day of the seventh calendar month beginning after the Grantees separation from service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Section 409A of the Code; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code. |
21. | Governing Law. The Plan and any Award Agreements and any and all determinations made and actions taken in connection with the Plan and Award Agreements, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein. |
21
Exhibit 10.13
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. | Purpose. The purposes of the Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan) are to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and materially increase the value of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries by (i) encouraging the long-term commitment of key Employees and Nonemployee Directors (as such terms are defined below), (ii) motivating the performance of key Employees and Nonemployee Directors by means of annual and long-term performance-related incentives, (iii) attracting and retaining outstanding key Employees and Nonemployee Directors by providing incentive compensation opportunities, and (iv) enabling participation by key Employees and Nonemployee Directors in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. |
2. | Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the stockholders of Primo Brands Corporation. |
3. | Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below: |
(a) | Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, or Stock Payments granted under the Plan. |
(b) | Award Agreement means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other form of writing (including in electronic medium) approved by the Committee which sets forth the terms and conditions of an Award. |
(c) | Base Price means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. |
(d) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(e) | Cause means any action by the Grantee or inaction by the Grantee that constitutes: |
(1) | A wilful failure to properly carry out the Grantees duties and responsibilities or to adhere to the policies of the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(2) | Theft, fraud, dishonesty or misappropriation, or the gross negligence or wilful misconduct, involving the property, business or affairs of the Company or a Subsidiary, or in the carrying out of the Grantees duties, including, without limitation, any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in any employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(3) | Conviction of or plea of guilty to a criminal offense that involves fraud, dishonesty, theft or violence; |
(4) | Breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or a Subsidiary; |
(5) | Refusal to follow the lawful written reasonable and good faith direction of the Board; or |
(6) | Any other action that constitutes cause for termination of the Grantees employment with the Company or a Subsidiary under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party or under applicable law. |
1
(f) | Change in Control means: |
(1) | the consummation of a consolidation, merger, amalgamation or other similar corporate reorganization of the Company with or into any other corporation whereby the voting shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such event receive less than 50% of the voting shares of the consolidated, merged or amalgamated corporation, or any acquisition or similar transaction or series of transactions whereby any person, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any entity controlled by the Company, or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or an entity that is controlled by the Company), is or becomes, including pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for Shares, the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities; |
(2) | the consummation of a sale by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; |
(3) | the date upon which individuals who, on the effective date of this Plan constitute the Board (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of this Plan whose appointment, election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors who remain on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall also be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; or |
(4) | a proposal by or with respect to the Company being made in connection with a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company. |
(g) | Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. |
(h) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of Primo Brands Corporation. |
(i) | Company means Primo Water Corporation, a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Canada. |
(j) | Date of Termination or Termination means (i) the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary (other than in connection with the Grantees transfer to or from employment with a Subsidiary), but not including a Grantees absence from active employment or service during a period (not exceeding 90 days) of vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, (ii) in the case of a Grantee who does not return to active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary immediately following a period of absence exceeding 90 days due to vacation, temporary illness, authorized leave of absence or short or long-term disability, the last day of such period of absence, or (iii) if applicable, the date of termination of a Grantees active employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary as defined under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party. Unless otherwise determined by the Board or Committee, for the purposes of this Plan and all matters relating to the Awards, the Date of Termination or Termination shall be determined without regard to any applicable notice of termination, severance or termination pay, damages, or any claim thereto (whether express, implied, contractual, statutory, or at common law). |
(k) | Employee means a full-time, part-time or contract employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. |
2
(l) | Fair Market Value means, with respect to a Share on any determination date, the closing price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day on which Shares traded prior to such date; provided that if no Shares traded in the five trading days prior to the determination date, the Committee shall determine Fair Market Value on a reasonable basis using a method that complies with Code Section 409A and guidance issued thereunder. |
(m) | Good Reason shall mean any of the following: |
(1) | A material diminution in the Grantees title or duties or assignment to the Grantee of materially inconsistent duties; |
(2) | A reduction in the Grantees then-current annual base salary or target bonus opportunity as a percentage of annual base salary, unless such reduction in target bonus opportunity is made applicable to all other Grantees serving in substantially the same capacity; |
(3) | Relocation of the Grantees principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles away from the Grantees principal place of employment on the Grantees date of hire, unless such relocation is effected at the Grantees request or with the Grantees approval; |
(4) | A material breach by the Company or a Subsidiary of any provisions of any employment agreement to which the Grantee and the Company or Subsidiary are parties, after written notice by the Grantee of the breach and such failure remaining uncorrected following an opportunity for the Company or Subsidiary to correct such failure within 10 days of the receipt of such notice; |
(5) | The failure of the Company or Subsidiary to obtain the assumption in writing of an employment agreement to which the Grantee and the Company or Subsidiary are parties by any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company or Subsidiary within 15 days after a merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction; or |
(6) | Any other action that constitutes good reason for resignation or termination from or of the Grantees employment with the Company or Subsidiary under any other agreement to which the Grantee is a party or under applicable law. |
(n) | Grant Date means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant of an Award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto. |
(o) | Grantee means an Employee or Nonemployee Director who has been selected by the Committee (or by the Companys Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee pursuant to Section 5(a)) to receive an Award and to whom an Award has been granted. |
(p) | Incentive Stock Option means any Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Code Section 422 or any successor provision. |
(q) | Nonemployee Director means a member of the Board who is not an Employee. |
(r) | Nonqualified Stock Option means an Option that is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
(s) | Option means any option to purchase Shares granted under Section 6 of the Plan. |
(t) | Option Price means the purchase price payable upon the exercise of an Option. |
3
(u) | Performance Objectives means the performance objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Grantees who have received Awards. Performance Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Grantee or the Subsidiary, division, department or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Grantee is employed. Performance Objectives may be measured on an absolute or relative basis. Relative performance may be measured by a group of peer companies or by a financial market index. For any Qualified Performance-Based Award, Performance Objectives shall consist of one or a combination of two or more of the following: |
(1) | earnings before or after any one or more of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; |
(2) | adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; |
(3) | operating income; |
(4) | net operating income after tax; |
(5) | adjusted operating income |
(6) | pre-tax or after-tax income; |
(7) | cash flow; |
(8) | net earnings; |
(9) | earnings per share (basic or diluted); |
(10) | share price performance; |
(11) | return on assets; |
(12) | return on equity; |
(13) | return on invested capital; |
(14) | return on sales; |
(15) | tangible net asset growth; |
(16) | total shareholder return; |
(17) | return on investment; |
(18) | sales; |
(19) | growth in shareowner value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or a peer group index; |
(20) | market share; |
(21) | cost reduction goals; |
(22) | economic value added; |
(23) | margins (including one or more of gross, operating and net income margins); |
4
(24) | strategic plan development and implementation; |
(25) | any such metric with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary. |
The Committee shall be authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Objectives or in the terms and conditions of Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles; provided, however, that, if applicable, any such adjustments shall be made in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m).
(v) | Performance Period means a period of time established under Section 9 of the Plan within which the Performance Objectives relating to a Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit are to be achieved. |
(w) | Performance Share means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one Share awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan. |
(x) | Performance Unit means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan. |
(y) | Qualified Performance-Based Award means an Award or portion of an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). The Committee shall designate any Qualified Performance-Based Award as such at the time of grant. If the Committee designates an Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of Shares pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to satisfaction of one, or more than one, Performance Objectives. The Committee shall determine the performance targets that will be applied with respect to each Qualified Performance-Based Award at the time of grant, but in no event later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the performance target(s) relate. Unless the Committee determines to amend the Award so that it no longer qualifies as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, the Committee may not adjust upward the number of Shares granted pursuant to any Qualified Performance-Based Award, but the Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward. Prior to the payment of any Qualified Performance-Based Award, the Committee shall certify in writing that the performance target(s) applicable to such Award was met. The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Qualified Performance-Based Awards as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successors thereto. |
(z) | Restricted Shares mean Shares granted under Section 8 of the Plan. |
(aa) | Restricted Share Unit means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan and denominated in units representing rights to receive Shares. |
(bb) | Retirement means termination of employment or service with the Company at the election of the Grantee after the Grantee has both (i) attained age 60, and (ii) completed ten (10) continuous years of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this section 3(bb), a year of service shall mean each consecutive twelve-month period of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries beginning on the Grantees first date of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary and each anniversary thereof. The Committee shall have sole authority to determine whether a Grantee has met the requirements for Retirement. |
(cc) | Shares means the common shares in the capital of the Company, or any security into which Shares may be converted by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 14 of the Plan. |
5
(dd) | Spread means, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount by which the Fair Market Value per Share on the date when any such right is exercised exceeds the Base Price specified in such right. |
(ee) | Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted under Section 7 of the Plan. |
(ff) | Stock Payment means Shares granted under Section 10 of the Plan. |
(gg) | Subsidiary means a corporation or other entity that controls or is controlled by the Company or that is controlled by the same person that controls the Company within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106, provided that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Grantee for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, Subsidiary means any corporation (within the meaning of the Code) in which the Company owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the total combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation at the time of such grant. |
(hh) | Tax Act means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and all regulations thereunder, as amended or restated from time to time. Any reference in the Agreement to a provision of the Tax Act includes any successor provision thereto. |
4. | Shares Available Under the Plan. |
(a) | Reserved Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued from treasury with respect to Awards shall not in the aggregate exceed 854,478 Shares. The Shares issued by the Company hereunder may at the Companys option be either (i) evidenced by a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (ii) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. |
Shares that are issued under the Plan or that are potentially issuable pursuant to outstanding Awards will be applied to reduce that maximum number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that the total number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced 2.0 Shares for each Share issued pursuant to an Award other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (each such other Award being referred to herein as a full-value Award). Any Shares subject to an Award that, at any time, lapses, is forfeited or cancelled, expires, or for any reason is terminated unexercised or unvested, or is settled or paid in cash or any form other than Shares shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards, with each Share made available for Awards under this provision in connection with the lapse, forfeiture, cancellation, termination or cash settlement of full-value Awards increasing the number of Shares available for reissuance by 2.0 Shares. Similarly, any Shares that are withheld by the Company, or any previously-acquired shares that are tendered (either actually or by attestation), in either case to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to a full-value Award shall not count towards the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in this Section 4 and shall be available for future Awards, with each Share made available for Awards under this provision increasing the number of Shares available for reissuance by 2.0 Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(a), the following Shares shall not again become available for issuance under the Plan: (i) any and all Shares awarded as part of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that are withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, and any previously-acquired Shares tendered (actually or by attestation) in payment of any taxes relating to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) Shares that would have been issued upon exercise of an Option but for the fact that the exercise was pursuant to a net exercise arrangement or by any previously-acquired shares tendered in payment of such Exercise Price; (iii) Shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right upon its exercise; and (iv) Shares that are repurchased by the Company using Option exercise proceeds or otherwise.
6
(b) | Incentive Stock Option Maximum. In no event shall the number of Shares issued from treasury or otherwise upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options exceed 854,478 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14 of the Plan. |
(c) | Maximum Calendar Year Award. No Grantee may receive Awards representing more than 2,000,000 Shares in any one calendar year, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14 of the Plan. In addition, the maximum amount that may become vested under any cash-denominated Award during any one calendar year is $5,000,000. |
(d) | Certain Additional Limits. The number of Shares issuable to insiders of the Company (as defined in Part I of the Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual) at any time, and the number of Shares issued to insiders of the Company within any one year period, under this Plan or when combined with all of the Companys other security based compensation arrangements (as described in the Toronto Stock Company Manual), shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares, respectively. In addition, neither the Board nor the Committee may, without further shareholder approval, grant to Nonemployee Directors an amount that is equal to or greater than (x) the lesser of (i) 3% of the Companys issued and outstanding Shares, and (ii) an annual equity award of $500,000 per Nonemployee Director. Notwithstanding Section 17(a) of the Plan, the aforementioned restriction may not be amended without further shareholder approval. |
5. | Plan Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee or any other Board committee as may be designated by the Board from time to time. |
(a) | In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority to determine all provisions of Awards as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and as consistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the individuals to be selected as Grantees; (ii) the nature and extent of the Awards to be made to each Grantee (including the number of Shares to be subject to each Award, any exercise price, the manner in which Awards will vest or become exercisable and whether Awards will be granted in tandem with other Awards) and the form of written or electronic agreement, if any, evidencing such Award; (iii) the time or times when Awards will be granted; (iv) the duration of each Award; and (v) the restrictions and other conditions to which the payment or vesting of Awards may be subject. In addition, the Committee will have the authority under the Plan in its sole discretion to (A) establish, amend or rescind rules to administer the Plan; (B) interpret the Plan and any Award or related agreement made under the Plan; (C) make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; and (D) pay the intrinsic value of any Award in the form of cash, Shares or any combination of both. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to the Companys Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources the authority to approve Awards to Employees other than (i) those subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and (ii) those that report directly to the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Any such delegations shall be in writing and shall specify the maximum number of Shares that may be awarded pursuant to such authority. The Committee may also delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and/or Vice President Human Resources the authority to Award to Employees who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and who do not report directly to the Companys Chief Executive Officer, any Shares previously subject to Awards that have been forfeited due to the Grantees Termination prior to the date on which the Grantee became vested in such Award. |
(b) | Subject to subsection (d) below, the Committee will have the authority under the Plan to amend or modify the terms of any outstanding Award in any manner, including, without limitation, the authority to modify the number of shares or other terms and conditions of an Award, accelerate the exercisability or vesting or otherwise terminate any restrictions relating to an Award, accept the surrender of any outstanding Award or, to the extent not previously exercised or vested, authorize |
7
the grant of new Awards in substitution for surrendered Awards; provided, however that (i) the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect; and (ii) any Grantee divested of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to previously-granted Awards by such amended or modified terms shall have consented to such amendment or modification unless such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law or stock exchange rules. |
(c) | In the event of (i) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, extraordinary dividend or divestiture (including a spin off) or any other change in corporate structure or shares; (ii) any purchase, acquisition, sale, disposition or write-down of a significant amount of assets or a significant business; (iii) any change in accounting principles or practices, tax laws or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (iv) any uninsured catastrophic losses or extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 or in managements discussion and analysis of financial performance appearing in the Companys annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; or (v) any other similar change, in each case with respect to the Company or any other entity whose performance is relevant to the grant or vesting of an Award, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) may, without the consent of any affected Grantee, amend or modify the vesting criteria (including Performance Objectives and related performance goals) of any outstanding Award that is based in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division or other subunit thereof) or such other entity so as equitably to reflect such event, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating such financial performance of the Company or such other entity will be substantially the same (in the sole discretion of the Committee or the board of directors of the surviving corporation) following such event as prior to such event; provided, however, that (A) the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect and (B) with respect to any Award intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, any such amendment or modification would not result in such Award failing to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. |
(d) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan other than Section 14, the Committee may not, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, seek to effect any re-pricing of any previously granted, underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right by: (i) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price; (ii) canceling the underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right and granting either (A) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price; (B) Restricted Share Awards; or (C) Restricted Share Unit Awards or Performance Shares or Performance Units in exchange; or (iii) repurchasing the underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for cancellation. For purposes of this Section, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be deemed to be underwater at any time when the Fair Market Value of a Share is less than the exercise price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither the Board nor the Committee may, without prior approval of the Companys shareholders, extend the term of Awards that benefit insiders. |
(e) | In addition to the authority of the Committee under Section (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to Grantees resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Companys or Subsidiarys interests, or to meet objectives of the Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws. The Committee shall have no authority, however, to take action pursuant to this Section: (i) to reserve shares or grant Awards in excess of the limitations provided in the Plan; (ii) to effect any repricing in violation of the Plan; (iii) to grant Options having an exercise price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant in violation of the Plan; or (iv) for which stockholder approval would then be required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code or Section 162(m) of the Code or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or the Toronto Stock Exchange. |
8
(f) | Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee will determine whether an Award is subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if determined to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Committee will make such Award subject to such written terms and conditions determined necessary or desirable to cause such Award to comply in form with the requirements of Code Section 409A. Further, the Plan, as it relates to Awards that are subject to Code Section 409A, will be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and any regulations or rulings issued thereunder. |
6. | Options. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Options to purchase Shares upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Shares. Each grant shall specify the number of Shares to which it pertains. |
(b) | Option Price. Each grant shall specify an Option Price per Share, which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. |
(c) | Consideration. Each grant shall specify the form of consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the Option Price and the manner of payment of such consideration, which may include (i) cash in the form of currency or check or other cash equivalent acceptable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted Shares owned by the Grantee at the time of exercise and which have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price (including through a net exercise), (iii) any other legal consideration that the Committee may deem appropriate on such basis as the Committee may determine in accordance with this Plan, or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the Option Price from the Grantee but will reduce the number of Shares issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole Shares that has a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price for the Shares exercised under this method. Shares will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) Shares used to pay the Option Price of an Option under the net exercise, (ii) Shares actually delivered to the Grantee as a result of such exercise and (iii) any Shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding. |
(d) | Cashless Exercise. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale of the Shares acquired on exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Grantee has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds sufficient to pay the Option Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by the Grantee by reason of such exercise, or through simultaneous sale through a broker of Shares acquired upon exercise. |
(e) | Performance-Based Options. Any grant of an Option may specify Performance Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to exercise of the Option. |
(f) | Vesting. Each Option grant may specify a period of continuous employment of the Grantee by the Company or any Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Nonemployee Director, service on the Board) that is necessary before the Options or installments thereof shall become exercisable. |
(g) | Incentive Stock Option Dollar Limitation. Options granted under this Plan may be Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options or a combination of the foregoing, provided that only Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Nonemployee Directors. Each grant shall specify whether (or the extent to which) the Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock |
9
Option. Notwithstanding any such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the Grant Date with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. |
(h) | Exercise Period. No Option granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(i) | Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine that are not inconsistent with this Plan. |
7. | Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right is the right of the Grantee to receive from the Company an amount equal to the Spread at the time of the exercise of such right. Any grant of Stock Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Payment in Shares or Cash. Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or any combination thereof at the discretion of the Committee at the time of payment. |
(b) | Exercise Period. Any grant may specify (i) a waiting period or periods before Stock Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable and (ii) permissible dates or periods on or during which Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable. No Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than ten years from the Grant Date. |
(c) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall describe the subject Stock Appreciation Rights, specify the Base Price (which shall be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date), state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and contain such other terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. |
8. | Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Grantees of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Transfer of Shares. Each grant of Restricted Shares shall constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Shares to the Grantee in consideration of the performance of services, subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to. Upon expiration of the restriction period and satisfaction of any other terms or conditions (including, but not limited to, Performance Objectives) and as set forth in the Restricted Share Award Agreement, the Restricted Share shall immediately become vested and the Shares underlying such award of Restricted Share shall be released by the Company to the Grantee without restrictions on transfer. Restricted Share Units shall become payable to a Grantee in Shares at the time or times determined by the Committee and set forth in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. |
(b) | Consideration. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units may be made without a requirement for additional payment by the Grantee. |
(c) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Each grant shall provide that the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units covered thereby shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Grant Date, and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event |
10
of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee or a Non-Employee Director, the number of Shares subject to the Award, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining Shares underlying Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Committee. |
(d) | Dividends. Voting and Other Ownership Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Award of Restricted Shares shall entitle the Grantee to dividend, voting and other ownership rights during the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue; provided however that unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Award Agreement with respect to an Award of Restricted Shares that is conditioned on the attainment of performance goals shall provide that the Grantee shall not receive any dividends unless and until such time as the Restricted Shares becomes vested. Alternatively, an Award Agreement may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid on the Restricted Shares during the period for which the substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue be automatically sequestered and reinvested in additional Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Shares underlying an Award of Restricted Share Units until such time, if any, as the underlying Shares are actually issued to the Grantee, which may, at the option of the Company be either (i) evidenced by delivery of a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (ii) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. The Committee may provide in a Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement for the payment of dividend equivalents and distributions to the Grantee at such times as paid to shareholders generally or at the time of vesting or other payout of the Restricted Share Units, provided, however, if the payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents is in respect of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing. |
(e) | Performance-Based Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further conditioned upon the attainment of Performance Objectives established by the Committee in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 9 of the Plan regarding Performance Shares and Performance Units. |
(f) | Award Agreements. Each grant of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all certificates representing Restricted Shares, together with a stock power that shall be endorsed in blank by the Grantee with respect to such Shares, shall be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon lapse. |
9. | Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may from time to time authorize grants of Performance Shares and Performance Units, which shall become payable to the Grantee upon the achievement of specified Performance Objectives, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions: |
(a) | Number of Performance Shares or Units. Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors. |
(b) | Performance Objectives and Performance Period. Each grant shall specify the Performance Objectives that are to be achieved by the Grantee during a specified performance period. |
11
(c) | Threshold Performance Objectives. Each grant may specify in respect of the specified Performance Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no payment will be made and may set forth a formula for determining the amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified Performance Objectives. |
(d) | Payment of Performance Shares and Units. Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any grant may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares or any combination thereof and may either grant to the Grantee or reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives. |
(e) | Maximum Payment. Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee on the Grant Date. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount payable, or the number of Shares issued, with respect thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee on the Grant Date. |
(f) | Dividend Equivalents. Any grant of Performance Shares may provide for the payment to the Grantee of dividend equivalents thereon in cash or additional Shares, provided however that the Award Agreement shall provide that the Grantee shall not receive any dividends unless and until such time as the Performance Shares are earned and paid, and provided further that if the payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents is in respect of an Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing. |
(g) | Adjustment of Performance Objectives. If provided in the terms of the grant, the Committee may adjust Performance Objectives and the related minimum acceptable level of achievement if, in the sole judgment of the Committee, events or transactions have occurred after the Grant Date that are unrelated to the performance of the Grantee and result in distortion of the Performance Objectives or the related minimum acceptable level of achievement. |
(h) | Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Each grant shall provide that the Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Code Section 83 for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Grant Date, and any grant may provide for the earlier termination of such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event. If a Grantee ceases to be an Employee or a Non-Employee Director, the portion, if any, to which the Grantee shall be entitled shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. All remaining portions as to which restrictions apply at the Date of Termination shall be forfeited subject to such exceptions, if any, authorized by the Committee. |
(i) | Award Agreement. Each grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall state that the Performance Shares or Performance Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and such other terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan. |
10. | Stock Payments. If not prohibited by applicable law, the Committee may from time to time issue unrestricted Shares to Grantees, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine. A Stock Payment may be granted as, or in payment of, Nonemployee Director fees, bonuses (including without limitation any compensation that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m)), or to provide incentives or recognize special achievements or contributions. |
11. | Minumum Vesting Periods. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, (i) Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Awards that vest solely as a result of the passage of time and continued service by the Grantee shall be subject to a vesting period of not less than one year from the date of grant of the applicable Award (but permitting pro rata vesting over such time), (ii) Option and Stock Appreciation Right Awards |
12
that vest solely as a result of the passage of time and continued service by the Grantee shall be subject to a vesting period of not less than one year from the date of grant of the applicable Award (but permitting pro rata vesting over such time), and (iii) Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share and Performance Unit Awards whose vesting is subject to the achievement of specified performance objectives over a Performance Period shall be subject to a Performance Period of not less than one year. The minimum vesting periods specified in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of the preceding sentence shall not apply: (A) to a termination of employment due to Retirement, death or disability; (B) upon a Change in Control; (C) to a substitute award that does not reduce the vesting period of the award being replaced; or (D) to Awards involving an aggregate number of Shares not in excess of 5% of the number of Shares reserved for issuance under Section 4(a) of the Plan. |
12. | Consequences of Termination. |
(a) | Options/Stock Appreciation Rights (Not Performance-Based). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by a Grantee (or the executors or administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination and are not subject to vesting conditions based upon the satisfaction of Performance Objectives shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable, except that in all events, the period for exercise of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term thereof established under Section 6(h) or 7(d), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death, or the Grantees resignation with Good Reason, or the Grantees Termination without Cause, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) those of Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable as of the later of the Date of Termination and the one year anniversary of the effective date of the Award thereof and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable for the remaining portion of the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
(2) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such Date of Termination and (y) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the 90 day period following such Date of Termination. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, and those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable on the date or dates on which such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates, and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
13
Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 12(a) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period.
(b) | Options/Stock Appreciation Rights (Performance-Based). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are held by a Grantee (or the executors or administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons who acquire the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination and are subject to vesting conditions based upon the satisfaction of Performance Objectives shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable, except that in all events, the period for exercise of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall end no later than the last day of the maximum term thereof established under Section 6(h) or 7(d), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death, or the Grantees resignation with Good Reason, or the Grantees Termination without Cause, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, in which case the number of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that become vested on each subsequent applicable vesting date (subject to satisfaction of the applicable Performance Objective) shall equal the pro rata number of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that he or she would have earned on that vesting date had he or she been continuously employed through such date, as calculated by reference to the portion of the applicable Performance Period during which the Grantee was actually employed and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable for the remaining portion of the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
(2) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Date of Termination shall be forfeited and cancelled as of such Date of Termination and (y) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the 90 day period following such Date of Termination. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, (x) those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination and (y) any employment requirements under Section 6(f) and 7(b) shall not apply, and those of the Grantees outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that have not become vested prior to the Grantees Date of Termination shall become vested and exercisable (subject to satisfaction of the applicable Performance Objective) on the date or dates on which such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates, and thereafter shall continue to be exercisable during the period ending on the three (3) year anniversary of the Date of Termination. |
Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised prior to the expiration of the exercise period following a Grantees Date of Termination permitted under this Section 12(b) shall automatically expire on the last day of such period.
14
(c) | Restricted Shares. Restricted Share Units. Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, outstanding Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units of the Grantee (and the executors and administrators of such Grantees estate, and any person or persons acquiring any interest directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance) as of the Grantees Date of Termination shall be subject to the following clauses (1), (2) and (3), as applicable. |
(1) | In the case of a Grantees death or Termination without Cause or resignation with Good Reason, any employment requirements of Section 8(c) and 9(h) and the applicable Award Agreement shall not apply, in which case the number of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units to be deemed earned by such Grantee on each subsequent applicable vesting date shall equal the pro rata number of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units that he or she would have earned on that vesting date had he or she been continuously employed through such date, as calculated by reference to the portion of the applicable Restricted Period or Performance Period during which the Grantee was actually employed (subject to satisfaction of any applicable Performance Objective), provided that time-based Restricted Share Units shall be settled according to the foregoing formula promptly after termination. |
(2) | In the event of a Grantees Termination due to the Grantees resignation voluntarily (other than upon Retirement or with Good Reason), all of the Grantees unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will be forfeited immediately. |
(3) | In the case of a Grantees Termination due to Retirement, any employment requirements under Section 8(c) and 9(h) shall not apply, and all of the Grantees unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units shall become vested on the date or dates on which such Awards would have become vested if the Grantee had continued in employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries through such date or dates (subject to satisfaction of any applicable Performance Objective). |
(d) | Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or in any instrument of grant, in the case of a Grantees Termination for Cause, any and all then outstanding Awards (other than Stock Payments) granted to the Grantee, whether or not vested, shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled, without any consideration therefore, as of the commencement of the day that notice of such termination is given. |
13. | Nontransferability. No Award granted under this Plan (including Options) shall be transferable or assignable by a Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution for normal estate settlement purposes, and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during a Grantees lifetime only by the Grantee or, in the event of the Grantees legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Grantee under state law. Any attempt to transfer or assign an Award in violation of this Plan shall render such Award null and void. |
14. | Adjustments. In the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation) that causes the per share value of Shares to change, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering or recapitalization through an extraordinary dividend, the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems equitable and appropriate to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) the Option Price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, and (iv) any maximum limitations prescribed by the Plan with respect to certain types of Awards or the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards. In the event of any other change in corporate capitalization, including a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such equitable adjustments described in the foregoing sentence may be made as determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights of Grantees. In either case, any such adjustment shall be |
15
conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. No adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 14 in connection with the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company, or in a manner that would cause Incentive Stock Options to violate Code Section 422(b) or cause an Award to be subject to adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A. |
15. | Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Shares pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement thereof in cash. |
16. | Withholding Taxes. If, for any reason whatsoever, the Company or a Subsidiary becomes obligated to withhold and/or remit to any applicable tax authority (whether domestic or foreign) any amount in connection with this Plan in respect of a Grantee, then the Company or such Subsidiary shall make the necessary arrangements, as acceptable to the Company or such Subsidiary, in connection with the amount that must be withheld and/or remitted. At the discretion of the Committee, such arrangements may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. |
17. | Amendments and Other Matters. |
(a) | Plan Amendments. This Plan may be amended from time to time by the Board, but no such amendment shall increase any of the limitations specified in Section 4 of the Plan, other than to reflect an adjustment made in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan, or amend this Section 17(a), or modify the repricing prohibition in Section 5(d) of this Plan, without the further approval of the shareholders of the Company. The Board may condition any amendment on the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to the applicable listing or other requirements of an applicable securities exchange or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. Shareholder approval will be required in the case of any reduction in the Option Price or extension of the term of an Award benefiting an insider of the Company. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall divest any Grantee of his or her existing rights under the Plan with respect to any Awards previously granted to such Grantee, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Company, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following amendments may be made without the approval of shareholders of the Company: |
(1) | Amendments of a housekeeping nature; |
(2) | A change to vesting provisions; |
(3) | A change to employment termination provisions that does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date; and |
(4) | Any other amendment that does not require shareholder approval pursuant to the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange. |
(b) | No Employment Right. This Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any Grantees employment or other service at any time. |
(c) | Tax Qualification. To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option that was intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code from so qualifying, such provision of this Plan shall be null and void with respect to such Option, provided that such provision shall remain in effect with respect to other Options, and there shall be no further effect on any provision of this Plan. |
16
(d) | Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided in an agreement evidencing an Award, the following provisions shall apply to outstanding Awards in the event of a Change in Control. |
(1) | Continuation, Assumption or Replacement of Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) may continue, assume or replace Awards outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control (with such adjustments as may be required or permitted by the Plan), and such Awards or replacements therefore shall remain outstanding and be governed by their respective terms, subject to subsection (4) below. A surviving or successor entity may elect to continue, assume or replace only some Awards or portions of Awards. For purposes of this subsection (1), an Award shall be considered assumed or replaced if, in connection with the Change in Control and in a manner consistent with Sections 409A and 424 of the Code, either (i) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed by the surviving or successor entity (or its parent corporation) with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to the Award and the exercise price thereof that preserves the intrinsic value of the Award existing at the time of the Change in Control, or (ii) the Grantee has received a comparable equity-based award that preserves the intrinsic value of the Award existing at the time of the Change in Control and provides for a vesting or exercisability schedule that is the same as or more favorable to the Grantee. |
(2) | Acceleration of Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(3) | Payment for Awards. If and to the extent that outstanding Awards under the Plan are not continued, assumed or replaced in connection with a Change in Control, then the Committee may terminate some or all of such outstanding Awards, in whole or in part, as of the effective time of the Change in Control in exchange for payments to the holders as provided in this subsection (3). The Committee will not be required to treat all Awards similarly for purposes of this Section (3). The payment for any Award or portion thereof terminated shall be in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Committee) of the consideration that would otherwise be received in the Change in Control for the number of Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof being terminated, or, if no consideration is to be received by the Companys shareholders in the Change in Control, the Fair Market Value of such number of shares immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, over (ii) the aggregate exercise price (if any) for the Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof being terminated. If there is no excess, the Award may be terminated without payment. Any payment shall be made in such form, on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Committee determines in its discretion, which may or may not be the same as the form, terms and conditions applicable to payments to the Companys shareholders in connection with the Change in Control, and may include subjecting such payments to vesting conditions comparable to those of the Award surrendered. |
(4) | Termination After a Change in Control. If and to the extent that Awards are continued, assumed or replaced under the circumstances described in subsection (1), and if within two years after the Change in Control a Grantee experiences an involuntary termination of employment or other service for reasons other than Cause, or terminates his or her employment or other service for Good Reason, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
17
(5) | Termination within two years of November 8, 2024. Notwithstanding the introductory sentence to this Section 17(d), if within two years after November 8, 2024, a Grantee experiences an involuntary termination of employment or other service for reasons other than Cause, or terminates his or her employment or other service for Good Reason, then (i) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued to the Grantee that are not yet fully exercisable shall immediately become exercisable in full and shall remain exercisable in accordance with their terms, (ii) all unvested Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units will become immediately fully vested and non-forfeitable; and (iii) any performance objectives applicable to Awards will be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level of performance specified in connection with the applicable Award. |
(6) | Awards Subject to Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, for any Award that provides for deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A (and is not otherwise exempt from the provisions of Code Section 409A), upon a Change in Control that also qualifies as a change in control for purposes of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(a)(5), then (i) subsection (2) shall apply to all such Awards and (ii) any settlement of or payment due with respect to such Award shall be made within the time frame required by Code Section 409A. |
(e) | Foreign Grantees. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the shareholders of the Company. |
(f) | Forfeiture for Violation of Restrictive Covenants. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement for conditions of forfeiture of a Grantees rights with respect to such Award in the event of the Grantees breach of such restricted covenants (e.g., non-competition and confidentiality restrictions) as may apply to the Grantee. Such conditions of forfeiture may include, in the discretion of the Committee, (a) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees right to exercise an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (whether or not then otherwise exercisable), (b) suspension or cancellation of the Grantees pending right to receive an issuance of Shares or cash payment in settlement of any Award, (c) the forfeiture of any Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units held by the Grantee or (d) following the issuance of Shares or payment of cash upon exercise, vesting or payment of an Award, either (1) cancellation of the Shares so issued (and repayment to the Grantee of the full purchase price, if any, paid for such shares) or (2) requiring the Grantee to pay to the Company in cash an amount equal to the gain realized by the Grantee from such Award (measured by the value (on the date of receipt) of any property and/or amount of cash received by the Grantee under the Award, to the extent in excess of any amount paid by the Grantee). The Company may deduct from any amounts the Company may owe a Grantee from time to time any amounts the Grantee may owe the Company under this subsection (f) and any related Award Agreements. |
18. | Currency. Dollar amounts set forth in the Plan are expressed in U.S. dollars. |
18
19. | Termination. This Plan shall terminate on November 7, 2034, and no Award shall be granted after that date. |
20. | Compliance with Applicable Laws. The granting of Awards and the issuance, purchase, and delivery of Shares shall be carried out in compliance with applicable law, including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and by-laws of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations (including Rule 10b-5) promulgated thereunder, and the policies and regulations of applicable securities regulatory authorities. If the Committee determines in its discretion that, in order to comply with any such statutes or regulations, certain action is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the granting of an Award or the issuance or purchase or delivery of Shares under this Plan, no Award may be granted and no Shares may be issued, purchased, or delivered unless that action shall have been completed in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. It is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder be administered in a manner that will comply with Code Section 409A, including the final regulations and other guidance issued by the United States Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. The Committee is authorized to adopt rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate to qualify for an exception from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (including any transition or grandfather rules relating thereto). Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, no amendment to or payment under such Award will be made unless permitted under Section 409A of the Code and the regulations or rulings issued thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Grantees separation from service at such time as the Grantee is a specified employee (as those terms are defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) and such amount is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, then no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, prior to the first day of the seventh calendar month beginning after the Grantees separation from service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Section 409A of the Code; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Section 409A of the Code. |
21. | Governing Law. The Plan and any Award Agreements and any and all determinations made and actions taken in connection with the Plan and Award Agreements, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein. |
19
Exhibit 10.14
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(Time-Based Vesting)
1. Equity Plan. This Award (as defined below) is issued under the following equity incentive plan (check one):
__ Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan
__ Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
2. Restricted Share Unit Award - Terms and Conditions. Under and subject to the provisions of the equity incentive plan designated above (the Plan) and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, Primo Water Corporation (the Company) has granted to _______________ (the Grantee), effective _____________ (the Date of Grant), a Restricted Share Unit Award (the Award) of ___________ restricted share units (such units, the Units), in respect of services to be provided by the Grantee in ____ and thereafter. At all times, each Unit shall be equal in value to one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Share). Such Award is subject to the terms and conditions of this Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the Agreement) and the Plan.
(a) Vesting. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, this Award will vest as follows: . Each date on which Units vest may be referred to herein as a Vesting Date. The Compensation Committee of Primo Brands Corporation (the Committee) may, in accordance with the Plan and to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code (if applicable), accelerate the vesting period as to some or all of the Units at any time.
(b) Payout of Award.
(i) | Provided the Award has not previously been forfeited or deferred as provided in (ii) below, as soon as administratively practicable following a Vesting Date, but in no event later than the later to occur of (A) sixty (60) days following the expiration of the Vesting Date, and (B) the date that audited financial statements are available for the Companys fiscal year during which the Vesting Date occurs, the Company shall issue to the Grantee in a single payment the number of Shares underlying the Units that have become vested as of the Vesting Date. The Shares issued by the Company hereunder may at the Companys option be either (x) evidenced by a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (y) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee. |
(ii) | If you are eligible under the terms of the Primo Water Deferred Compensation Program (the Deferred Compensation Program), you may elect to defer to a later date the payout of Awards that would otherwise occur as provided in (b)(i) above, provided that any such deferral shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. |
(c) Rights Prior to Vesting. Until a Vesting Date, the Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares underlying the Units which have not previously vested (except as provided in the following paragraph). If the number of outstanding common shares of the Company (Common Shares) is changed as a result of a stock dividend, stock split or the like, without additional consideration to the Company, the Units subject to this Award shall be adjusted to correspond to the change in the Companys outstanding Common Shares. Following vesting and payout of the Award (including any deferred payout of this Award under the Deferred Compensation Program), the Grantee may exercise voting rights and shall be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions with respect to the number of Shares to which the Grantee is entitled pursuant hereto.
As of any date that the Company pays an ordinary cash dividend on its Shares, the Company shall credit the Grantee with a dollar amount equal to (i) the per share cash dividend paid by the Company on its Shares on such date, multiplied by (ii) the total number of Units that are outstanding immediately prior to the record date for that dividend (a Dividend Equivalent Right). Any Dividend Equivalent Rights credited pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 1(c) shall be subject to satisfaction of the same vesting, payment and other terms, conditions and restrictions as the original Units to which they relate; provided, however, that the amount of any earned Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be paid in cash at the same time as the related Units. No crediting of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be made pursuant to this Section 1(c) with respect to any Units which, immediately prior to the record date for that dividend, have been paid out or forfeited pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
3. Prohibition Against Transfer. Until vesting and payout, the Units subject to the Award, and any interest in the Shares and the rights granted under this Agreement are not transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes. Until vesting and payout, the Units subject to the Award, and any interest in the Shares related thereto, may not be sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or otherwise disposed of, shall not be assignable by operation of law, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment, charge, alienation or similar process. Any attempt to effect any of the foregoing shall be null and void and without effect.
4. Securities Law Requirements. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares pursuant to the Award, to the extent required, unless and until (a) such Shares have been duly listed upon each stock exchange on which the Common Shares is then registered; and (b) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to such Shares is then effective.
5. Incorporation of Plan Provisions. This Agreement is made pursuant to the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern.
6. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Grantee. The Agreement and the Plan shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Agreement or the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code and may be made by the Corporation without the consent of the Grantee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no particular tax result for the Grantee with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee in connection with the Agreement is guaranteed, and the Grantee solely shall be responsible for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed on the Grantee under Section 409A in connection with the Agreement. Reference to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.
7. Tax Withholding.
(a) Grantees Other Than UK Grantees. The Grantee shall pay all applicable income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction, and any taxes payable in connection with a Dividend Equivalent Right or in connection with Article 10 of this Agreement (Beneficiary Designation)) which the Company or a Subsidiary is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Units. Such payment shall be made in full, at the Grantees election, in cash or check, by withholding from the Grantees next normal payroll check, or by the relinquishment of Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement. If payment of withholding tax obligations, or satisfactory payment arrangements, are not made by the Grantee on a timely basis, payment will be made by the relinquishment of Shares method. Shares tendered as payment of required withholding shall be valued at the closing price per share of the Companys common stock on the date such withholding obligation arises.
(b) UK Grantees. By executing this Agreement, the Grantee agrees with the Company (for itself and on behalf of the Grantees employing company (the Employer)) that the Company (or, if it is the secondary contributor in respect of the Grantee for the purposes of national insurance contributions, the Employer) may recover from the Grantee (by deduction or otherwise) an amount equal to any secondary Class 1 contributions payable in respect of the acquisition by the Grantee of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, together with any income tax and primary Class 1 contributions due under the Pay As You Earn system in respect of any Shares acquired by the Grantee pursuant to this
Agreement and the Grantee hereby agrees to indemnify the Company and the Employer for such amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, a broker or trustee instructed by the Grantee shall be entitled to retain, out of the aggregate number of Shares issued in the name of the Grantee and to which the Grantee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this Agreement, and sell as agent for the Grantee, such number of Shares as in the opinion of the Company or the Employer will realize an amount equivalent to any amount due from the Grantee pursuant to this Section and to pay such proceeds to the Employer to reimburse it for such amount.
8. Employment. The rights and obligations of the Grantee under the terms of his office or employment with the Employer will not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have under this Agreement and this Agreement does not form part of any contract of employment between the Grantee and the Employer. If the Grantees office or employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever (and whether lawful or otherwise) he will not be entitled to claim any compensation for or in respect of any consequent diminution or extinction of his rights or benefits (actual or prospective) under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Plan.
9. Data Privacy. The Company may process the Grantees personal data, and shall do so in accordance with, and for the purposes set out in the Companys Employee Privacy Notice, which can be requested from an appropriate member of the Companys human resources department.
10. Beneficiary Designation. The Grantee may, subject to compliance with all applicable laws, name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in the event of the Grantees death before the Grantee receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the Grantee, shall be in the form as may be prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Grantee in writing with the Committee during his or her lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Grantees death shall be paid to his or her estate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any vested Units have been deferred under the Deferred Compensation Program, the beneficiary designations and default rules under the Deferred Compensation Program shall control payment in the event of the death of the Grantee.
11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein.
12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
13. Entire Agreement.
(a) The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she has received, reviewed and accepted the terms and conditions applicable to this Agreement, and has not been induced to enter into this Agreement or acquire any Units by expectation of employment or continued employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The granting of the Award and the issuance of Units are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated into and form an integral part of this Agreement.
(b) The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she is to consult with and rely upon only the Grantees own tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding the consequences and risks of this Agreement and the award of Units.
(c) This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Primo Water Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers, and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, effective as of the day and year first above written.
PRIMO WATER CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: | ||
Title: | ||
GRANTEE: | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: |
Exhibit 10.15
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
(Performance-Based Vesting)
1. Equity Plan. This Award (as defined below) is issued under the following equity incentive plan (check one):
☐ Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan
☐ Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
2. Performance-Based Share Unit Award - Terms and Conditions. Under and subject to the provisions of the equity incentive plan designated above (the Plan) and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, Primo Water Corporation (the Company) has granted to ____________ (the Grantee), effective ____________ (the Date of Grant), a Restricted Share Unit Award (the Award) of ____________performance-based restricted share units (such units, the Performance Units), in respect of services to be provided in ____________ and thereafter. At all times, each Performance Unit shall be equal in value to one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Share). Such Award is subject to the terms and conditions of this Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the Agreement) and the Plan.
(a) Performance Period. For purposes of this Agreement, the Performance Period is the period beginning on the first day of the Companys _____ fiscal year, and ending on the last day of the Companys _____ fiscal year.
(b) Payout of Award.
(i) Provided the Award has not previously been forfeited or deferred as provided in (ii) below, as soon as administratively practicable following the expiration of the Performance Period, but in no event later than the later to occur of (A) sixty (60) days following the expiration of the Performance Period and (B) the date that audited financial statements are available for the Companys ____________ fiscal year, the Company shall issue to the Grantee in a single payment the number of Shares underlying the Performance Units to which the Grantee is entitled pursuant hereto. The Shares issued by the Company hereunder may at the Companys option be either (x) evidenced by a certificate registered in the name of the Grantee or his or her designee; or (y) credited to a book-entry account for the benefit of the Grantee maintained by the Companys stock transfer agent or its designee.
(ii) If you are eligible under the terms of the Primo Water Deferred Compensation Program (the Deferred Compensation Program), you may elect to defer to a later date the payout of Awards that would otherwise occur as provided in (b)(i) above, provided that any such deferral shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(c) Satisfaction of Performance Objectives. The payout of the Award shall be contingent upon the attainment during the Performance Period of the performance objectives set forth in Section 2(e) herein (the Performance Objectives). The payout of the Award shall be determined upon the expiration of the Performance Period in accordance with the Performance Objectives. The final determination of the payout of the Award will be authorized by the Compensation Committee of Primo Brands Corporation (the Committee).
(d) Rights During Performance Period.
(i) During the Performance Period, the Grantee shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares underlying the Performance Units, including dividend rights (other than as described in subsection (ii) below). Following the expiration of the Performance Period and payout of the Award (including any deferred payout of this Award under the Deferred Compensation Program), the Grantee may exercise voting rights and shall be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions with respect to the number of Shares to which the Grantee is entitled pursuant hereto.
(ii) As of any date that the Company pays an ordinary cash dividend on its Shares, the Company shall credit the Grantee with a dollar amount equal to (i) the per share cash dividend paid by the Company on its Shares on such date, multiplied by (ii) the total number of Performance Units that are outstanding immediately prior to the record date for that dividend (a Dividend Equivalent Right). Any Dividend Equivalent Rights credited pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(d) shall be subject to satisfaction of the same Performance Objectives, and to the same payment and other terms, conditions and restrictions as the original Performance Units to which they relate; provided, however, that the amount of any earned Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be paid in cash at the same time as the Company pays its first ordinary cash dividend after the Final Committee Determination (as defined below) is made. No crediting of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be made pursuant to this Section 2(d) with respect to any Performance Units which, immediately prior to the record date for that dividend, have been paid out or forfeited pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
(e) Performance Objectives. The Performance Units shall vest and become non-forfeitable based on the Companys achievement of specified levels of ROIC and Relative TSR (each as defined below) for the Performance Period as set forth in the chart below:
ROIC |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payout |
50.0 | % | 62.5 | % | 75.0 | % | 87.5 | % | 100.0 | % | 125.0 | % | 150.0 | % | 175.0 | % | 200.0 | % |
Relative TSR Performance |
th percentile | th percentile | th percentile | |||||||||
Payout |
50 | % | 100 | % | 200 | % |
Following the end of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine actual results for each of the metrics described above (the Final Committee Determination). Such results will be interpolated on a straight-line basis between the performance levels identified above, resulting in a payout rate for each metric. The performance measures will be weighted as follows: ROIC 50% and TSR 50%. The relative weighting for each metric will be applied to such payout rates, and the results will be aggregated, resulting in an aggregate payout rate (the Payout Rate).
To illustrate, if Company performance results in ROIC and Revenues as set forth below, the payout would be calculated as follows:
Performance Measure |
Actual Performance | % Award Earned | Weight | |||||||||||||
ROIC |
[__]% | [__]% | 50% | =[__]% | ||||||||||||
Relative TSR |
[__]% | [__]% | 50% | =[__]% | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Payout Rate |
| | =[__]% | |||||||||||||
|
|
Payment of vested Performance Units based on the Payout Rate will be made in the period provided for in Section 2(b) of this Agreement. Any Performance Units that do not vest based on the Performance Objectives described herein (and which have not previously terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) will automatically terminate as of the Final Committee Determination. Any such determination by the Committee shall be final and binding.
For purposes of ROIC, the following definitions shall apply:
| ROIC shall mean the average of ROIC Year 1, ROIC Year 2 and ROIC Year 3. |
| ROIC Year 1 shall mean (A)Adjusted EBIT for the first fiscal year in the Performance Period divided by (B) the Invested Capital as of the end of the first fiscal year in the Performance Period. |
| ROIC Year 2 shall mean (A) Adjusted EBIT for the second fiscal year in the Performance Period divided by (B) Invested Capital as of the end of the second fiscal year in the Performance Period. |
| ROIC Year 3 shall mean (A) Adjusted EBIT for the third fiscal year in the Performance Period divided by (B) Invested Capital as of the end of the third fiscal year in the Performance Period. |
| Adjusted EBIT shall mean the Companys Adjusted Net Income as disclosed publicly, adjusted for: (i) the impact of changes to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP); (ii) the impact of changes to laws or other regulations in any jurisdiction the Company operates in; (iii) the impact of discontinued operations or items that are unusual or infrequently occurring as defined by US GAAP; (iv) the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on a translational basis; (v) depreciation and amortization (excluding customer list amortization); (vi) interest, and (vii) income taxes; provided, however, that if Adjusted Net Income is not disclosed publicly, such term/amount shall be determined on a basis consistent with historical disclosures. |
| Invested Capital shall mean (A) Shareholders Equity plus (B) that portion of Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Borrowings and Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt that is interest-bearing minus (C) Cash and Cash Equivalents minus (D) Net Assets of Discontinued Operations. In the event the Company completes an acquisition which is financed through the issuance of debt or Company equity, the amount of such debt and/or equity included in the calculation of Invested Capital for the year such acquisition is consummated will be (1) the amount of such debt and/or equity, multiplied by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the closing date of such acquisition to the end of the fiscal year in which the acquisition is consummated and the denominator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in which the acquisition is consummated. |
| Net Assets of Discontinued Operations shall mean (A) the sum of Current Assets of Discontinued Operations and Long-Term Assets of Discontinued Operations, minus (B) the sum of Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations and Long-Term Liabilities of Discontinued Operations. |
| The terms Shareholders Equity, Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Borrowings, Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt, Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Assets of Discontinued Operations, Long-Term Assets of Discontinued Operations, Current Liabilities of Discontinued Operations, and Long-Term Liabilities of Discontinued Operations shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms as presented in the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheets or Consolidated Statement of Operations. |
For purposes of Relative TSR, the following definitions shall apply:
| Comparison Index means the companies comprising the Russell 2000 index at the beginning of the Performance Period. A company will be excluded from the Comparison Index if it is added to the Comparison Index following the commencement of the Performance Period or is no longer publicly traded at the end of the Performance Period. A company will be included in the Comparison Index if it is removed from the Comparison Index during the Performance Period but remains a publicly traded company at the end of the Performance Period. A company filing for bankruptcy protection (and thus no longer publicly traded) at any time during the Performance Period will be deemed to remain in the Comparison Index (at an assumed TSR of -100%). |
| TSR means the result of dividing (1) the sum of the cumulative value of an entitys dividends for the Performance Period, plus the entitys Ending Price, minus the Beginning Price, by (2) the Beginning Price. For purposes of determining the cumulative value of an entitys dividends during the Performance Period, it will be assumed that all dividends declared and paid with respect to a particular entity during the Performance Period were reinvested in such entity at the ex-dividend date, using the closing price on such date. The aggregate shares, or fractional shares thereof, that will be assumed to be purchased as part of the reinvestment calculation will be multiplied by the Ending Price to determine the cumulative value of an entitys dividends for the Performance Period. For these purposes: |
| Price is the principal stock exchange or quotation system closing prices on the date in question; |
| Beginning Price is the average Price for the period of 20 trading days immediately preceding the first day of the Performance Period; provided, however, that if the applicable common stock has not been trading for a full 20 trading day period prior to the applicable measurement date, the average closing price shall be determined based on such shorter number of days that such common stock has been trading as of such measurement date; and |
| Ending Price is the average Price for the period of 20 trading days immediately preceding and including the final day of the Performance Period. |
| Relative TSR means the percentile rank of the TSR of the Company relative to the Comparison Index over the Performance Period. |
3. Prohibition Against Transfer. Until the payout of the Award following the expiration of the Performance Period (or, if applicable, such later time provided under the Deferred Compensation Program), the Award, the Performance Units and any interest in Shares related thereto, may not be sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or otherwise disposed of, shall not be assignable by operation of law, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment, charge, alienation or similar process. Any attempt to effect any of the foregoing shall be null and void and without effect.
4. Securities Law Requirements. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares pursuant to the Award, to the extent required, unless and until (a) such Shares have been duly listed upon each stock exchange on which the Common Shares are then registered; and (b) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to such Shares is then effective.
5. Incorporation of Plan Provisions. This Agreement is made pursuant to the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern.
6. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Grantee. The Agreement and the Plan shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Agreement or the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code and may be made by the Corporation without the consent of the Grantee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no particular tax result for the Grantee with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee in connection with the Agreement is guaranteed, and the Grantee solely shall be responsible for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed on the Grantee in connection with the Agreement. Reference to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.
7. Tax Withholding. The Grantee shall pay all applicable income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction, and any taxes payable in connection with a Dividend Equivalent Right or in connection with Article 10 of this Agreement (Beneficiary Designation)) which the Company or a Subsidiary is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Performance Units. Such payment shall be made in full, at the Grantees election, in cash or check, by withholding from the Grantees next normal payroll check, or by the relinquishment of Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Grantee pursuant to this Agreement. If payment of withholding tax obligations, or satisfactory payment arrangements, are not made by the Grantee on a timely basis, payment will be made by the relinquishment of Shares method. Shares tendered as payment of required withholding shall be valued at the closing price per share of the Companys common shares on the date such withholding obligation arises.
8. Employment. The rights and obligations of the Grantee under the terms of his or her office or employment with the Employer will not be affected by his or her participation in the Plan or any right which he or she may have under this Agreement and this Agreement does not form part of any contract of employment between the Grantee and the Employer. If the Grantees office or employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever (and whether lawful or otherwise) he or she will not be entitled to claim any compensation for or in respect of any consequent diminution or extinction of his or her rights or benefits (actual or prospective) under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Plan.
9. Data Privacy. The Company may process the Grantees personal data, and shall do so in accordance with, and for the purposes set out in the Companys Employee Privacy Notice, which can be requested from an appropriate member of the Companys human resources department.
10. Beneficiary Designation. The Grantee may, subject to compliance with all applicable laws, name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in the event of the Grantees death before the Grantee receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the Grantee, shall be in the form as may be prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Grantee in writing with the Committee during his or her lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Grantees death shall be paid to his or her estate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any vested Performance Units have been deferred under the Deferred Compensation Program, the beneficiary designations and default rules under the Deferred Compensation Program shall control payment in the event of the death of the Grantee.
11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein.
12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
13. Compensation Recovery Policy. To the extent that any compensation paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement is considered incentive-based compensation within the meaning of (i) the Companys Amended and Restated Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy, (ii) any similar or superseding policy adopted by the Board or any committee thereof or (iii) Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any implementing rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any securities exchange or securities association on which the Companys common shares are then listed, such compensation shall be subject to potential forfeiture or recovery by the Company in accordance with such policies, laws, rules or regulations.
14. Entire Agreement.
(a) The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she has received, reviewed and accepted the terms and conditions applicable to this Agreement, and has not been induced to enter into this Agreement or acquire any Performance Units by expectation of employment or continued employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The granting of the Award and the issuance of Performance Units are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated into and form an integral part of this Agreement.
(b) The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she is to consult with and rely upon only the Grantees own tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding the consequences and risks of this Agreement and the award of Performance Units.
(c) This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same original.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Primo Water Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers, and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, effective as of the Date of Grant.
PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
By: _____________________________________ |
Print Name: ______________________________ |
Title: ___________________________________ |
GRANTEE: |
By:_____________________________________ |
Print Name:______________________________
Exhibit 10.16
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION IS GRANTED by Primo Water Corporation (Company) to (the Grantee), pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (Plan). The terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. The Company recognizes the value of the Grantees continued service as a key employee and has awarded this Nonqualified Stock Option under the Plan, subject to the following terms and conditions of this Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (the Agreement):
1. | Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to Grantee, effective (Date of Grant), a Nonqualified Stock Option (Option), subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Plan, to purchase from the Company common shares of the Company, at the price per share equal to $ (Option Price), which Option shall expire on the tenth (10) anniversary of the Date of Grant (Expiration Date), unless it expires earlier in accordance with the terms hereof. |
2. | Exercisability of Option. The Option shall become fully vested and exercisable with respect to one-third of the common shares subject to the Option on the first, second and third anniversaries of the Date of Grant. |
3. | Manner of Exercise. The exercisable portion of the Option may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time until the Expiration Date, but in no event with respect to a fractional share. Exercise shall be by notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased, the Option Price of each share and the aggregate Option Price for all shares being purchased under said notice. The notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Option Price for the number of shares purchased. Such exercise shall be effective upon the actual receipt of such payment and notice to the Company. Subject to Section 7 (Tax Withholding) below, the aggregate Option Price for all shares purchased pursuant to an exercise of the Option shall be paid by (i) currency or check payable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted common shares owned by the Grantee at the time of exercise and which have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price (including through a net exercise), (iii) the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on the date of exercise of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the Option Price from the Grantee but will reduce the number of common shares issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole common shares that has a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price for the common shares exercised under this method. |
There shall be furnished with each notice of the exercise of any portion of the Option such documents as the Company in its discretion may deem necessary to assure compliance with applicable rules and regulations of any stock exchange or governmental authority. No rights or privileges of a shareowner of the Company in respect to such shares issuable upon the exercise of any part of the Option shall accrue to you unless and until certificates representing such shares have been registered in your name.
4. | Restrictions on Exercisability. The Option shall not be exercised in whole or in part and no related share certificates shall be delivered in the sole discretion of the Company: (i) if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation of any provision of, or any regulation or order entered pursuant to, any law purporting to regulate wages, salaries or compensation; or (ii) if any requisite approval, consent, registration or other qualification of any stock exchange upon which the securities of the Company may then be listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the exercise of the Option or the issuance of shares pursuant thereto, shall not have been secured. |
5. | Prohibition Against Transfer. This Option may not be sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or otherwise disposed of, shall not be assignable by operation of law, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment, charge, alienation or similar process. Any attempt to effect any of the foregoing shall be null and void and without effect. |
6. | Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Grantee. The Agreement and the Plan shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Agreement or the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code and may be made by the Company without the consent of the Grantee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no particular tax result for the Grantee with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee in connection with the Agreement is guaranteed, and the Grantee solely shall be responsible for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed on the Grantee under Section 409A in connection with the Agreement. Reference to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service. |
7. | Tax Withholding. |
a) | Grantees Other Than UK Grantees. The Grantee shall pay all applicable income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction) which the Company or a Subsidiary is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Option. Such payment shall be made in full, at the Grantees election, in cash or check, by withholding from the Grantees next normal payroll check, or by the relinquishment of common shares that otherwise would be issued to the Grantee pursuant to the Agreement. In Canada, these shares relinquished must be sold on the market on the Grantees behalf. Shares tendered as payment of required withholding shall be valued at the closing price per share of the Companys common shares on the date such withholding obligation arises. |
b) | UK Grantees. By executing the Agreement, the Grantee agrees with the Company (for itself and on behalf of the Grantees employing company (the Employer)) that the Company (or, if it is the secondary contributor in respect of the Grantee for the purposes of national insurance contributions, the Employer) may recover from the Grantee (by deduction or otherwise) an amount equal to any secondary Class 1 contributions payable in respect of the exercise of the Option pursuant to the Agreement, together with any income tax and primary Class 1 contributions due under the Pay As You Earn system in respect of the exercise of the Option pursuant to the Agreement and the Grantee hereby agrees to indemnify the Company and the Employer for such amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, a broker or trustee instructed by the Grantee shall be entitled to retain, out of the aggregate number of common shares issued in the name of the Grantee and to which the Grantee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to the Agreement, and sell as agent for the Grantee, such number of common shares as in the opinion of the Company or the Employer will realize an amount equivalent to any amount due from the Grantee pursuant to this Section and to pay such proceeds to the Employer to reimburse it for such amount. |
8. | Employment. The rights and obligations of the Grantee under the terms of his office or employment with the Employer will not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have under the Agreement and the Agreement does not form part of any contract of employment between the Grantee and the Employer. If the Grantees office or employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever (and whether lawful or otherwise) he will not be entitled to claim any compensation for or in respect of any consequent diminution or extinction of his rights or benefits (actual or prospective) under the Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Plan. |
9. | Beneficiary Designation. The Grantee may, subject to compliance with all applicable laws, name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any vested benefit under the Plan is to be paid in the event of the Grantees death before the Grantee receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the Grantee, shall be in the form as may be prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Grantee in writing with the Committee during his or her lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Grantees death shall be paid to his or her estate. |
10. | Governing Law. The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein. |
11. | Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Agreement. |
12. | Entire Agreement. |
a) | The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she has received, reviewed and accepted the terms and conditions applicable to the Agreement, and has not been induced to enter into the Agreement by expectation of employment or continued employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The granting of the Option and the issuance of common shares upon exercise of the Option are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated into and form an integral part of the Agreement. |
b) | The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she is to consult with and rely upon only the Grantees own tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding the consequences and risks of the Agreement and the award of the Option. |
c) | The Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The captions of the Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. |
13. | Counterparts. The Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same original. |
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Primo Water Corporation has caused the Agreement to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers, and the Grantee has executed the Agreement, effective as of the day and year first above written.
PRIMO WATER CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: | ||
Title: | ||
GRANTEE: | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.17
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION IS GRANTED by Primo Water Corporation (Company) to __________ (the Grantee), pursuant to the terms and conditions of the equity incentive plan designated below (Plan). The terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. The Company recognizes the value of the Grantees continued service as a key employee and has awarded this Nonqualified Stock Option under the Plan, subject to the following terms and conditions of this Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (the Agreement):
1. Equity Incentive Plan. This Option (as defined below) is issued under the following equity incentive plan (check one):
__ Legacy Primo Water Corporation Equity Incentive Plan
__ Legacy Primo Water Corporation 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
2. Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to Grantee, effective _____________ (Date of Grant), a Nonqualified Stock Option (Option), subject to the terms and conditions hereof and of the Plan, to purchase from the Company __________common shares of the Company, at the price per share equal to $_____ (Option Price), which Option shall expire on the tenth (10) anniversary of the Date of Grant (Expiration Date), unless it expires earlier in accordance with the terms hereof.
3. Exercisability of Option. The Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows:
4. Manner of Exercise. The exercisable portion of the Option may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time until the Expiration Date, but in no event with respect to a fractional share. Exercise shall be by notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased, the Option Price of each share and the aggregate Option Price for all shares being purchased under said notice. The notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Option Price for the number of shares purchased. Such exercise shall be effective upon the actual receipt of such payment and notice to the Company. Subject to Section 7 (Tax Withholding) below, the aggregate Option Price for all shares purchased pursuant to an exercise of the Option shall be paid by (i) currency or check payable to the Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted common shares owned by the Grantee at the time of exercise and which have a value at the time of exercise that is equal to the Option Price (including through a net exercise), (iii) the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on the date of exercise of some or all of the shares to which the exercise relates or (iv) any combination of the foregoing. In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the Option Price from the Grantee but will reduce the number of common shares issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole common shares that has a Fair Market Value as defined in the Plan) that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price for the common shares exercised under this method.
There shall be furnished with each notice of the exercise of any portion of the Option such documents as the Company in its discretion may deem necessary to assure compliance with applicable rules and regulations of any stock exchange or governmental authority. No rights or privileges of a shareowner of the Company in respect to such shares issuable upon the exercise of any part of the Option shall accrue to you unless and until certificates representing such shares have been registered in your name.
5. Restrictions on Exercisability. The Option shall not be exercised in whole or in part and no related share certificates shall be delivered in the sole discretion of the Company: (i) if such exercise or delivery would constitute a violation of any provision of, or any regulation or order entered pursuant to, any law purporting to regulate wages, salaries or compensation; or (ii) if any requisite approval, consent, registration or other qualification of any stock exchange upon which the securities of the Company may then be listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over the exercise of the Option or the issuance of shares pursuant thereto, shall not have been secured.
6. Prohibition Against Transfer. This Option may not be sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or otherwise disposed of, shall not be assignable by operation of law, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment, charge, alienation or similar process. Any attempt to effect any of the foregoing shall be null and void and without effect.
7. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Grantee. The Agreement and the Plan shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Agreement or the Plan to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code and may be made by the Company without the consent of the Grantee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no particular tax result for the Grantee with respect to any income recognized by the Grantee in connection with the Agreement is guaranteed, and the Grantee solely shall be responsible for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed on the Grantee under Section 409A in connection with the Agreement. Reference to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.
8. Tax Withholding.
a) | Grantees Other Than UK Grantees. The Grantee shall pay all applicable income and employment taxes (including taxes of any foreign jurisdiction) which the Company or a Subsidiary is required to withhold at any time with respect to the Option. Such payment shall be made in full, at the Grantees election, in cash or check, by withholding from the Grantees next normal payroll check, or by the relinquishment of common shares that otherwise would be issued to the Grantee pursuant to the |
Agreement. In Canada, these shares relinquished must be sold on the market on the Grantees behalf. Shares tendered as payment of required withholding shall be valued at the closing price per share of the Companys common shares on the date such withholding obligation arises. |
b) | UK Grantees. By executing the Agreement, the Grantee agrees with the Company (for itself and on behalf of the Grantees employing company (the Employer)) that the Company (or, if it is the secondary contributor in respect of the Grantee for the purposes of national insurance contributions, the Employer) may recover from the Grantee (by deduction or otherwise) an amount equal to any secondary Class 1 contributions payable in respect of the exercise of the Option pursuant to the Agreement, together with any income tax and primary Class 1 contributions due under the Pay As You Earn system in respect of the exercise of the Option pursuant to the Agreement and the Grantee hereby agrees to indemnify the Company and the Employer for such amounts. For the avoidance of doubt, a broker or trustee instructed by the Grantee shall be entitled to retain, out of the aggregate number of common shares issued in the name of the Grantee and to which the Grantee would otherwise be entitled pursuant to the Agreement, and sell as agent for the Grantee, such number of common shares as in the opinion of the Company or the Employer will realize an amount equivalent to any amount due from the Grantee pursuant to this Section and to pay such proceeds to the Employer to reimburse it for such amount. |
9. Employment. The rights and obligations of the Grantee under the terms of his office or employment with the Employer will not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have under the Agreement and the Agreement does not form part of any contract of employment between the Grantee and the Employer. If the Grantees office or employment is terminated for any reason whatsoever (and whether lawful or otherwise) he will not be entitled to claim any compensation for or in respect of any consequent diminution or extinction of his rights or benefits (actual or prospective) under the Agreement or otherwise in connection with the Plan.
10. Beneficiary Designation. The Grantee may, subject to compliance with all applicable laws, name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any vested benefit under the Plan is to be paid in the event of the Grantees death before the Grantee receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the Grantee, shall be in the form as may be prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Grantee in writing with the Committee during his or her lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Grantees death shall be paid to his or her estate.
11. Governing Law. The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United States applicable therein.
12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Agreement.
13. Entire Agreement.
a) | The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she has received, reviewed and accepted the terms and conditions applicable to the Agreement, and has not been induced to enter into the Agreement by expectation of employment or continued employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The granting of the Option and the issuance of common shares upon exercise of the Option are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, all of which are incorporated into and form an integral part of the Agreement. |
b) | The Grantee hereby acknowledges that he or she is to consult with and rely upon only the Grantees own tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding the consequences and risks of the Agreement and the award of the Option. |
c) | The Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. The captions of the Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. |
14. Counterparts. The Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same original.
*******
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Primo Water Corporation has caused the Agreement to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers, and the Grantee has executed the Agreement, effective as of the day and year first above written.
PRIMO WATER CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: | ||
Title: | ||
GRANTEE: | ||
By: | ||
Print Name: |
Exhibit 10.18
LEGACY PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
SEVERANCE AND NON-COMPETITION PLAN
1. | Purpose. The Legacy Primo Water Corporation Severance Plan (the Plan) is maintained primarily for the purpose of defining the deferred compensation entitlements upon a termination of employment for a select group of key employees of Primo Water Corporation (the Corporation) and any Affiliate (as defined in Section 7.1(b) below) (the Participants), as determined by the Committee. |
2. | Certain Defined Terms. Certain capitalized terms used in the Plan have the meaning set forth in Section 9 of the Plan. |
3. | Payments and Entitlements Upon a Termination. |
3.1 | Subject to Section 3.2, in the event that a Participants employment terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination, the Participant shall be entitled to the following payments and entitlements: |
(a) | Cash Severance Payment. The Participant shall receive a cash payment in an amount (the Severance Amount) equal to the product of: (i) the sum of the Participants Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus for the year in which the Involuntary Termination occurs, and (ii) the Participants Severance Multiple. The Severance Amount payable pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) shall be paid in a lump sum, less all applicable withholding taxes, within (x) 60 days of the Involuntary Termination in the case of a U.S. Participant whose Involuntary Termination is a part of a group termination program, or (y) 30 days of the Involuntary Termination in any other case. The Severance Amount shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining benefits under any other qualified or non-qualified plans of the Corporation. |
(b) | Continued Benefits. The Participant shall be entitled, to the extent the Corporation may do so legally and in accordance with the applicable benefit plans in effect from time to time, to continue participation in the benefits plans for a period equal to the product of: (i) one year and (ii) the Participants Severance Multiple, up to a maximum period of 18 months. |
(c) | Accrued Salary and Vacation. The Participant shall be paid all salary and accrued vacation pay earned through the date of such Participants date of termination, less all applicable withholding taxes. Such payment shall be made as part of the Participants last regular payroll payment. |
(d) | Pro-Rata Bonus Payment. The Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to the product of (i) the actual annual incentive the Participant would have been paid for the calendar year in which the Involuntary Termination occurred if the Participant had remained employed and eligible to receive a bonus under the Corporations annual incentive plan for such calendar year, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days from and including the first day of |
such calendar year through and including the Involuntary Termination date, and the denominator of which equals 365 (the Pro-Rata Bonus Amount). The Pro-Rata Bonus Amount shall be paid at the same time and in the same form as the annual bonuses for such calendar year are paid to ongoing employees, but no later than two and one-half months after the last day of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the Involuntary Termination occurs. |
(e) | Outplacement. The Participant will be eligible for up to $15,000 of outplacement assistance benefits. Any outplacement assistance provided under this Plan will be paid directly to the outplacement agency. The outplacement assistance must be used by the end of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participants Involuntary Termination occurred (and in no event will the Corporations payment of such outplacement assistance occur later than the end of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participants Involuntary Termination occurred). |
3.2 | No Participant shall be entitled to receive the benefits set forth in Section 3.1 and, if applicable, Sections 5 and 6, unless he executes and does not revoke a release of claims (substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto) in favor of the Corporation and others set forth in Exhibit A relating to all claims or liabilities of any kind relating to his employment with the Corporation and the Involuntary Termination of such employment. |
4. | Non-qualifying Termination. In the event a Participants employment is terminated by reason of his voluntary resignation (and such resignation does not constitute an Involuntary Termination), death or disability or by the Corporation for Cause, then such Participant shall not be entitled to receive any severance or other payments, entitlements or benefits under the Plan. For greater certainty, with respect to a termination by reason of death or by reason of a disability, nothing in the Plan shall derogate from any rights and/or entitlements that the Participant may be entitled to receive under any other equity compensation or benefit plan of the Corporation in effect from time to time. |
5. | Acceleration of Vesting under Equity Plans. For greater certainty, the provisions of this Plan are subject to the compliance with the Corporations equity plans in effect from time to time. Each Participants outstanding share units granted under the equity plans shall vest and, in the case of stock options, become exercisable, as provided by and subject to the terms of the equity plans. |
6. | Excise Tax: Limitation on Payments. |
6.1 | Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment to or for the benefit of a Participant by the Corporation, whether pursuant to this Plan or otherwise (each, a Payment and collectively, the Payments), would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Payment to such Participant shall be reduced to the amount that will result in no portion of the Payments being subject to such Excise Tax (the Safe Harbor Cap), but only to the extent that, after such reduction, the net after-tax amount that |
would be received by such Participant, taking into account all applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, is greater than the net after-tax amount that would be received by such Participant if the Payment is not reduced to the Safe Harbor Cap. For purposes of reducing the Payment to the Safe Harbor Cap, only amounts payable to such Participant under the Plan (and no other payments) shall be reduced. |
6.2 | All determinations required to be made under this Section 6, including whether and when a reduction to the Safe Harbor Cap is required, the amount of such reduction and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by the firm engaged as the Corporations accountants immediately prior to the event which triggered the Excise Tax (the Accounting Firm). The Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Corporation and such Participant within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from such Participant that there has been a Payment or such earlier time as is requested by the Corporation; provided that such notice or request shall be made prior to the date of the payment of any Excise Tax. If the Accounting Firm determines that a reduction to the Safe Harbor Cap is required, then the Accounting Firm shall deliver to such Participant a written opinion to that effect and to the effect that after such reduction, failure to report the Excise Tax on such Participants applicable federal income tax return will not result to the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Corporation. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Corporation and such Participant. |
7. | Restrictive Covenants. |
7.1 | Confidentiality. |
(a) | The Participant acknowledges that in the course of carrying out, performing and fulfilling his obligations to the Corporation hereunder, the Participant will have access to and will be entrusted with information that would reasonably be considered confidential to the Corporation or an Affiliate, the disclosure of which to competitors of the Corporation or an Affiliate or to the general public, will be highly detrimental to the best interests of the Corporation or an Affiliate. Such information includes, without limitation, trade secrets, know-how, marketing plans and techniques, cost figures, client lists, software, and information relating to employees, suppliers, customers and persons in contractual relationship with the Corporation. Except as may be required in the course of carrying out his duties hereunder, the Participant covenants and agrees that he will not disclose, for the duration of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, any such information to any person, other than to the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation that have a need to know such information, nor shall the Participant use or exploit, directly or indirectly, such information for any purpose other than for the purposes of the Corporation, nor will he disclose nor use for any purpose, other than for those of the Corporation or an Affiliate, any other information which he may acquire during his employment with respect to the business and affairs of the Corporation |
or an Affiliate. Notwithstanding all of the foregoing, the Participant shall be entitled to disclose such information if required pursuant to a subpoena or order issued by a court, arbitrator or governmental body, agency or official, provided that the Participant shall first have: |
(i) | notified the Corporation; |
(ii) | consulted with the Corporation on whether there is an obligation or defense to providing some or all of the requested information; |
(iii) | if the disclosure is required or deemed advisable, cooperate with the Corporation in an attempt to obtain an order or other assurance that such information will be accorded confidential treatment. |
In addition, Participant may disclose information relating to his own compensation and benefits to his spouse, attorneys, financial advisors and taxing authorities.
(b) | For the purposes of this Agreement, Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any person or entity (herein the first party), any other person or entity that directs or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first party. The term control as used herein (including the terms controlled by and under common control with) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to: (i) vote 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such person or entity, or (ii) otherwise direct or significantly influence the management or policies of such person or entity by contract or otherwise. |
(c) | Participant acknowledges that, by this Section, he has been notified in accordance with the United States Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 that, notwithstanding the foregoing: |
(i) | The Participant will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law or this Agreement for the disclosure of trade secrets that: (A) the Participant makes (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to his attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) Participant makes in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. |
(ii) | If the Participant files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Corporation for reporting a suspected violation of law, he may disclose trade secrets to his attorney and use the trade secrets in the court proceeding if Participant: (A) files any document containing trade secrets under seal and (B) does not disclose trade secrets, except pursuant to court order. |
7.2 | Inventions. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest in and to any information, trade secrets, advances, discoveries, improvements, research materials and data bases made or conceived by the Participant prior to or during his employment relating to the business or affairs of the Corporation, shall belong to the Corporation. In connection with the foregoing, the Participant agrees to execute any assignments and/or acknowledgements as may be requested by the Board from time to time. |
7.3 | Corporate Opportunities. Any business opportunities related to the business of the Corporation which become known to the Participant during his employment hereunder must be fully disclosed and made available to the Corporation by the Participant, and the Participant agrees not to take or attempt to take any action if the result would be to divert from the Corporation any opportunity which is within the scope of its business. |
7.4 | Non Competition and Non Solicitation. The Participant will not at any time without the prior written consent of the Corporation, during the Participants employment with the Corporation or an Affiliate, whichever applies, and for a period that is equal to the product of one (1) Year and the Participants Severance Multiple after the termination of the Participants employment (regardless of the reason for such termination), either individually or in partnership, jointly or in conjunction with any person, persons, firm, association, syndicate, or corporation, whether as agent, shareholder, employee, consultant or in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly: |
(a) | anywhere in the Territory, engage in, carry on or otherwise have any interest in, advise, lend money to, perform services for, guarantee the debts or obligations of, or permit the Participants name to be used in connection with any business which is competitive to the Business or which provides the same or substantially similar services as the Business; |
(b) | for the purpose, or with the effect, of competing with any business of the Corporation or an Affiliate, solicit, assist another to solicit, interfere with, accept any business from or render any services to anyone who is a client or a prospective client of the Corporation or any Affiliate at the time the Participant ceased to be employed by the Corporation or an Affiliate or who was a client during the 12 months immediately preceding such time; or |
(c) | solicit, assist another to solicit, or offer employment to any person employed or engaged by the Corporation or any Affiliate at the time the Participant ceased to be employed by the Corporation or an Affiliate or who was an employee during the 12-month period immediately preceding such time. |
7.5 | Insider Policies. The Participant will comply with all applicable securities laws and the Corporations Insider Trading Policy and Insider Reporting Procedures (copies of which have been provided to the Participant) in respect of any stock options issued to the Participant and other shares of the Corporation acquired by the Participant. |
7.6 | Non-disparagement. The Participant shall not disparage the Corporation or any Affiliate, directors, officers, employees or other representatives in any manner and shall in all respects avoid any negative criticism of the Corporation; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prevent the Participant from providing truthful information to a government agency, filing a complaint with any government agency, or participating in any government agency investigation, in each case without providing prior notice to the Corporation. |
7.7 | Injunctive Relief. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach of the covenants, provisions and restrictions in this Article 7, the Corporations remedy in the form of monetary damages will be inadequate and that the Corporation shall be, and is hereby, authorized and entitled, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, to apply for and obtain from a court of competent jurisdiction interim and permanent injunctive relief and an accounting of all profits and benefits arising out of such breach. |
7.8 | Survival of Restrictions. Each and every provision of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the Participants employment hereunder (regardless of the reason for such termination). |
8. | Plan Administration. |
8.1 | The Committee. The Plan shall be interpreted, administered and operated by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete authority, in its sole discretion (subject to the express provisions of the Plan and the obligation imposed hereby to act in good faith) to interpret the Plan and to make any determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. |
8.2 | Administration. The Committee may delegate any of its duties to such person or persons as it may determine in its sole discretion from time to time to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan. Consistent with the requirements of ERISA and the regulations thereunder of the Department of Labor, the Committee shall provide adequate written notice to any Participant whose claim for benefits has been denied, setting forth specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner calculated to be understood by such Participant, and affording such Participant a full and fair review of the decision denying the claim. |
8.3 | Participants. The Committee shall from time to time select the Participants. The Corporation shall advise each Participant of his participation in the Plan by a letter (the Award Letter) which shall include the Participants level of participation (either Level 1, 2, or 3) and the Participants corresponding Severance Multiple and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan. Each Participant shall sign the Award Letter and return it to the Corporation with an acknowledgment that the Participant has read the Plan, understands his rights and obligations under the Plan, and agrees to be bound by its terms and conditions. Subject to Section 8.4, a Participant shall not be removed as a participant in the Plan after being selected by the Committee without the prior written consent of such Participant. Any such removal without the prior written consent of the Participant shall, without limiting clause (d) of the definition of Good Reason in Section 9, be deemed to be a material breach of this Agreement by the Corporation for purposes of such clause. |
8.4 | Termination or Amendment of Plan. The Board shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to approve the termination, amendment, or replacement of the Plan without the consent of a Participant; provided, however, that such action will not have an overall adverse affect on the rights or entitlements of, or value to, or potential rights or entitlements of, or potential value to, a Participant when the rights, entitlements or value, or potential rights, entitlements or value, are considered in the aggregate. For greater certainty, nothing in this Plan, including this Section 8.4, alters, restricts or limits the right, if any, of the Board, to amend or terminate any other plan of the Corporation pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of such plan. |
9. | Definitions. |
Annual Base Salary shall mean the salary that the Participant is entitled to receive pursuant to his employment agreement with the Corporation;
Board means the board of directors of Primo Brands Corporation;
Business shall mean the business of manufacturing, selling or distributing water (including but not limited to exchange and refill), coffee, tea, powdered beverages, concentrates, extracts, water filtration units and other beverages or products manufactured, sold or distributed by Primo Water Corporation or any subsidiary or Affiliate at the time of termination of your employment, as well as such other beverages or products that are contemplated or projected to contribute materially to the profits of Primo Water Corporation or a subsidiary or Affiliate at the time of termination of your employment.
Cause shall mean:
(a) | the willful failure of the Participant to properly carry out the Participants duties and responsibilities or to adhere to the policies of the Corporation after written notice by the Corporation of the failure to do so, and such failure remaining uncorrected following an opportunity for the Participant to correct the failure within ten (10) days of the receipt of such notice; |
(b) | theft, fraud, dishonesty or misappropriation by the Participant, or the gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Participant, involving the property, business or affairs of the Corporation, or in the carrying out of the Participants duties, including, without limitation, any breach by the Participant of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Participants employment agreement or Article 7 of the Plan; |
(c) | the Participants conviction of or plea of guilty to a criminal offence that involves fraud, dishonesty, theft or violence; |
(d) | the Participants breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation; or |
(e) | the Participants refusal to follow the lawful written reasonable and good faith direction of the Board. |
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Committee means the Compensation Committee of Primo Brands Corporation, or such other committee designated by the Board to administer and operate the Plan;
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Excise Tax shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax.
Good Reason shall include any of the following:
(a) | a material diminution in the Participants title or duties or assignment to the Participant of materially inconsistent duties; |
(b) | a reduction in the Participants then current Annual Base Salary or target bonus opportunity as a percentage of Annual Base Salary, unless such reduction in target bonus opportunity is made applicable to all Participants serving in substantially the same capacity as the Participant; |
(c) | relocation of the Participants principal place of employment to a location that is more than 50 miles away from the Participants principal place of employment on the date upon which the Participant became a Participant, unless such relocation is effected at the request of the Participant or with the Participants approval; |
(d) | a material breach by the Corporation of any provisions of this Agreement, or any employment agreement to which the Participant and the Corporation are parties, after written notice by the Participant of the breach and such failure remaining uncorrected following an opportunity for the Corporation to correct such failure within ten (10) days of the receipt of such notice; or |
(e) | the failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption in writing of its obligation to perform this Agreement by any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation within fifteen (15) days after a merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction. |
Involuntary Termination shall mean: (a) any termination of the Participants employment by the Corporation other than for Cause, or (b) the termination of the Participants employment by the Participant for Good Reason. For purposes of this definition, a Participants termination of his or her employment following the occurrence of such event constituting Good Reason shall not be treated as an Involuntary Termination unless the Participant notifies the Corporation of such event within 90 days of the Participants knowledge of the occurrence of such event and the Corporation is provided with an opportunity to cure such occurrence.
Participant shall mean an employee selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
Severance Multiple shall mean:
with respect to a Level 1 Participant, two (2);
with respect to a Level 2 Participant, one and one quarter (1.25); and
with respect to a Level 3 Participant, one (1).
Target Bonus shall mean, as of any date, the amount equal to the product of the Participants Annual Base Salary multiplied by the percentage of such Annual Base Salary to which such Participant would be entitled as an annual incentive, based on the terms in effect on such date under any annual incentive plans for the performance period for which the annual incentive is awarded if the performance goals established pursuant to such bonus plan were achieved at the 100% (target) level as of the end of the performance period;
Territory shall mean the countries in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries conduct the Business or in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries has made plans to conduct the Business within the following 12 months;
10. | Code Section 409A |
10.1 | In General. This Section 10 shall apply to any Participant who is subject to Section 409A of the Code, but only with respect to any payment due hereunder that is subject to Section 409A of the Code. |
10.2 | Release. Any requirement that the Participant execute and not revoke a release to receive a payment hereunder shall apply to a payment described in Section 10.1 only if the Corporation provides the release to the Participant on or before the date of the Participants Involuntary Termination. |
10.3 | Payment Following Involuntary Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any payment described in Section 10.1 that is due to be paid within a stated period following the Participants Involuntary Termination shall be paid: |
(a) | If, at the time of the Participants Involuntary Termination, the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made as of the later of (i) the date payment is due hereunder, or (ii) the earlier of the date which is six months after the Participants separation from service (as defined under Section 409A of the Code), or the date of the Participants death; or |
(b) | In any other case, on the later of (i) last day of the stated period, or if such stated period is not more than 90 days, at any time during such stated period as determined by the Corporation without any input from the Participant, or (ii) the date of the Participants separation from service (as defined under Section 409A of the Code). |
10.4 | Installment Payments. Any payment described in Section 10.1 (including the provision of benefits) that is a series of installment payments (and not a life annuity) for purposes of Section 409A of the Code is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. |
10.5 | Reimbursements Under Section 11.10. The following shall apply to any reimbursement under Section 11.10 that is a payment described in Section 10.1: (a) reimbursement shall not be made unless the expense is incurred during the period beginning on the date of the Participants Involuntary Termination and ending on the sixth anniversary of the Participants death; (b) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a Participants taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other year; and (c) the timing of all such reimbursements shall be as provided in Section 11.10, but not later than the last day of the Participants taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. |
10.6 | Amendment and Interpretation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board reserves the right to unilaterally amend the Plan with respect to any payment described in Section 10.1 to the extent the Board (in its sole discretion) determines is necessary or appropriate to avoid the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code and maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the provision(s) being amended. With respect to any payment described in Section 10.1, this Plan shall be interpreted and construed so as to avoid the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. |
11. | General Provisions |
11.1 | Assignment. Each Participants rights under the Plan shall be non-transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and except insofar as applicable law may otherwise require. Any purported assignment in violation of the preceding sentence shall be void. |
11.2 | Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the principles of conflicts of law; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the laws of the province of Ontario shall apply to any Participant who is a resident of Canada and whose primary place of employment is in Canada. |
11.3 | Successors. The Plan shall be for the benefit of and binding upon the Participants and their respective heirs, personal representatives, legal representatives, successors and, where applicable, assigns, and upon the Corporation and its successors (including, without limitation, any successor to the Corporation, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise). The Corporation shall require any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, expressly, absolutely, unconditionally to assume and agree to perform under the Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. |
11.4 | Severability. The invalidity of any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in the Plan shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining portions of the Plan or any part thereof, all of which are inserted conditionally on their being valid in law, and, in the event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in the Plan shall be declared invalid, the Plan shall be construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, or section or sections had not been inserted. |
11.5 | Section Headings and Gender. The section headings contained the Plan are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of the Plan. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require. |
11.6 | No Duty to Mitigate. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, a Participant shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by the Plan, nor shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Participant may receive from any other source. |
11.7 | Non-cumulation of Payments and Entitlements. The payments and entitlements provided under this Plan are inclusive of any termination and severance payments and entitlements, social costs or the like (Other Severance Entitlements) that such Participant may be entitled to by agreement with the Corporation (including, without limitation, pursuant to an employment agreement) or under applicable law in connection with the termination of his employment, and a Participant may not cumulate the payments and entitlements provided under the Plan with any Other Severance Entitlements. For greater clarity, to the extent that a Participant receives any Other Severance Entitlements, then the payments and benefits payable hereunder to such participant shall be reduced by a like amount. To the extent the Corporation is required to provide payments or benefits to any Participant under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (or any federal, provincial, or local or foreign law relating to severance or dismissal benefits), the benefits payable hereunder shall be first applied to satisfy such obligation. |
11.8 | No Employment Agreement. The Plan does not obligate the Corporation to continue to employ a Participant. The Participants employment is and shall, subject to the terms of any applicable written employment agreement between the Corporation and Participant, continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law. |
11.9 | No Funding of Plan. The Plan shall not be funded. No Participant shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Corporation as a result of his participation in the Plan. |
11.10 | Indemnification. If a Participant seeks, in any action, suit or arbitration, to enforce or to recover damages for breach of his rights under the Plan, the Participant shall be entitled to recover from the Corporation promptly as incurred, and shall be indemnified by the Corporation against, any and all expenses and disbursements, including attorneys fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the Participant in such action, suit or arbitration, provided that a Participant shall not be entitled to indemnification if it is finally determined that the action was brought by the Participant frivolously or in bad faith. |
11.11 | Set-Off. The Corporation may set off any amount or obligation which may be owing by the Participant to the Corporation (including, without limitation, arising in connection with this Plan or otherwise) against any amount or obligation owing by the Corporation to the Participant. |
11.12 | Supersedes Previous Termination and Severance Terms. With the exception of any payments and entitlements under any other plan that may arise upon a Participants termination due to death or disability as provided in Section 4 herein, the terms of the Plan supersedes and replaces any and all previous termination and severance entitlements that arise with or without a change of control, that are contained in any Participants employment agreement or otherwise. The Participant forfeits and waives any and all rights to any entitlements under such employment agreements or otherwise, in respect of any payments and other entitlements that may arise upon a termination of employment, including pay in lieu of reasonable notice, termination and severance pay pursuant to any contract, statute, or law. |
EXHIBIT A
RELEASE AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual promises, payments and benefits provided for in the annexed Legacy Primo Water Corporation Severance and Non-Competition Plan (the Plan), and the release from (the Employee) set forth herein, Primo Water Corporation (the Corporation) and the Employee agree to the terms of this Release Agreement. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Release Agreement (the Release) shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Plan.
1. | The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Corporation is under no obligation to offer the Employee the payments and benefits set forth in the annexed Plan, unless the Employee consents to the terms of this Release Agreement. The Employee further acknowledges that he/she is under no obligation to consent to the terms of this Release Agreement and that the Employee has entered into this agreement freely and voluntarily. |
2. | In consideration of the payment and benefits set forth in the annexed Plan and the Corporations release set forth in paragraph 5, the Employee voluntarily, knowingly and willingly releases and forever discharges the Corporation and any Affiliate, together with its and their respective officers, directors, partners, shareholders, employees and agents, and each of its and their predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively, Releasees), from any and all charges, complaints, claims, promises, agreements, controversies, causes of action and demands of any nature whatsoever that the Employee or his/her executors, administrators, successors or assigns ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against the Releasees by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising prior to the time of signing of this Release Agreement by the Employee. The release being provided by the Employee in this Release Agreement includes, but is not limited to, any rights or claims relating in any way to the Employees employment relationship with the Corporation or any Affiliate, or the termination thereof, or under any statute, including, but not limited to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Human Rights Code, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act re-employment provisions, the Occupational Health & Safety Act, the Pay Equity Act, the Labour Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Americans With Disabilities Act, or pursuant to any other applicable law or legislation governing or related to his/her employment or other engagement with the Corporation. In no event shall this Release apply to the Participants right, if any, to indemnification, under the Participants employment agreement or otherwise, that is in effect on the date of this Release and, if applicable, to the Corporations obligation to maintain in force reasonable director and officer insurance in respect of such indemnification obligations. |
3. | The Employee acknowledges and agrees that he/she shall not, directly or indirectly, seek or further be entitled to any personal recovery in any lawsuit or other claim against the Corporation or any other Releasee based on any event arising out of the matters released in paragraph 2. |
4. | Nothing herein shall be deemed to release: (i) any of the Employees rights under the Plan; or (ii) any of the vested benefits that the Employee has accrued prior to the date this Release Agreement is executed by the Employee under the employee benefit plans and arrangements of the Corporation or any Affiliate; or (iii) any claims that may arise after the date this Release Agreement is executed. |
5. | In consideration of the Employees release set forth in paragraph 2, the Corporation knowingly and willingly releases and forever discharges the Employee from any and all charges, complaints, claims, promises, agreements, controversies, causes of action and demands of any nature whatsoever that the Corporation now has or hereafter can, shall or may have against him/her by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising prior to the time of signing of this Release Agreement by the Corporation, provided, however, that nothing herein is intended to release any claim the Corporation may have against the Employee for any illegal conduct or arising out of any illegal conduct. |
6. | The Employee acknowledges that he has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions and effects of the Plan and this Release Agreement. The Employee also acknowledges that the Corporation, by this paragraph and elsewhere, has advised him/her to consult with an attorney of his/her choice prior to signing this Release Agreement. The Employee represents that, to the extent he/she desires, he/she has had the opportunity to review this Release Agreement with an attorney of his/her choice. |
7. | In the event that the Employee is governed by the law in the United States, the Employee acknowledges that he/she has been offered the opportunity to consider the terms of this Release Agreement for a period of at least forty-five (45) days, although he/she may sign it sooner should he/she desire. The Employee further shall have seven (7) additional days from the date of signing this Release Agreement to revoke his/her consent hereto by notifying, in writing, the General Counsel of the Corporation. This Release Agreement will not become effective until seven days after the date on which the Employee has signed it without revocation. |
8. | For clarity, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation confirms that nothing in this Release Agreement is intended to prevent, impede or interfere with Employees right, without notice to the Corporation, to (a) file a charge or complaint with any agency which enforces anti-discrimination, workplace safety, securities, or other laws; (b) communicate with, cooperate with or provide truthful information to any governmental agency, or participate in any government investigation; (c) testify truthfully in any court or administrative proceeding; or (d) receive and retain any monetary award from a government administered whistleblower award program for providing information directly to a government agency. However, Employee understands that by signing this Release Agreement and not revoking it, he has waived his right to recover any money from the Corporation and the other Releasees, other than as provided for in the Plan. |
Dated:
Employee
PRIMO WATER CORPORATION
Per: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Per: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.24
Execution Version
Triton Water Parent, Inc.
October 3, 2024
Robert Austin
60 Anderson Avenue
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Dear Robert:
This letter agreement (Agreement) is entered into by and between you and Triton Water Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Parent), and confirms and formalizes our agreement with respect to your employment with BlueTriton Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Parent (together with any of its subsidiaries that may employ you from time to time, as applicable (and except as otherwise set forth in Section 7), the Company). Reference is made to the transactions contemplated by that certain Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024, by and among, Parent, Triton US HoldCo, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (NewCo), Triton Merger Sub I, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, 1000922661 Ontario Inc., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of NewCo, and Primo Water Corporation, pursuant to which it is anticipated that Triton Merger Sub I will be merged with and into Parent with Parent being the surviving corporation and becoming a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of NewCo (the Transaction). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
1. Term. Effective June 17, 2024 (the Effective Date), the Company shall continue to employ you and you shall remain in the employ of the Company, in the position set forth in Section 2, and subject to the other terms and conditions herein. The term of employment under this Agreement (the Term) shall commence on the Effective Date and end upon termination by the Company or you in accordance with Section 4 below.
2. Employment. During the Term:
a. Position. You shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
b. Duties. You shall have such responsibilities, duties and authority normally associated with your position as Chief Operating Officer and as may otherwise be assigned to you by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company from time to time (including, without limitation, responsibilities, duties and authority on behalf of affiliates of the Company). You shall devote substantially all of your business time and best efforts, business judgment, skill and knowledge exclusively to the advancement of the Company (which shall include service to its affiliates). You shall not engage in any outside business activities (including serving as an employee or consultant, or on a board of directors (or committee), of any other entity) without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of Parent (the Board) (which the Board may grant or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion). You agree to observe and comply with the rules and policies of the Company as adopted by the Company from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, as set forth in writing, and as delivered or made available to you (each, a Company Policy).
c. Location. You shall perform your duties hereunder at the primary offices of the Company as may be adjusted from time to time (which are currently located in Stamford, CT), subject to any necessary or appropriate business travel to other locations in the proper conduct of your responsibilities under this Agreement.
3. Compensation and Related Matters. During the Term:
a. Annual Base Salary: You shall receive a base salary at a rate of $800,000 per annum, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company and shall be pro-rated for partial years of employment. Such annual base salary shall be subject to annual review and increase (but not decrease, unless such decrease is due to an across-the-board reduction in annual base salaries of similarly situated employees) from time to time as determined by the Board in its discretion. Your annual base salary, as it may be adjusted from time to time, is referred to herein as Annual Base Salary.
b. Annual Bonus: You will be eligible to participate in an annual cash incentive program established by the Board, pursuant to which you shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus (Annual Bonus) based upon Company and/or individual performance for each fiscal year ending during the Term, with an annual target bonus opportunity equal to 150% of Annual Base Salary. The terms and conditions of the annual cash incentive program for each year will be determined by the Board in its sole discretion. Any Annual Bonus earned will be paid at the same time annual bonuses are paid to other executives of the Company generally, subject to your continuous, active employment through the date of payment (except as set forth in Section 5(b) below).
c. NewCo Equity. Subject to the consummation of the Transaction and approval of the applicable governing body of NewCo, you will be eligible to participate in an equity or other long-term incentive plan or similar arrangement to be established by NewCo, subject to the terms of such plan or arrangement and any award agreement or other documentation thereunder (the LTIP). The amounts, timing, and terms and conditions of awards to be granted (if any) under the LTIP shall be determined from time to time by the applicable governing body of NewCo. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Transaction is not consummated, this Section 3(c) shall be of no force or effect.
d. Close Bonus. You will receive a close bonus of $800,000 (the Close Bonus) if the Transaction is consummated during the Term. In such case, the Close Bonus will be paid to you in a lump sum within 30 days of the consummation of the Transaction, subject to your continuous, active employment through the date of consummation of the Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Transaction is not consummated, this Section 3(d) shall be of no force or effect.
e. Benefits; Vacation. You shall be eligible to participate in employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements as the Company may generally from time to time offer to provide to its executives, consistent with the terms thereof and as such plans, programs and arrangements may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed, to require the Company to institute or continue any, or any particular, plan or benefit. During the Term, you shall be entitled to paid vacation per calendar year in accordance with the Company Policies; provided that, except as specified by the Chief Executive Officer in writing, all accrued, but unused vacation shall expire at the end of each calendar year during the Term and may not be used in any future year. Any vacation shall be taken at the reasonable and mutual convenience of the Company and you.
2
f. Car Allowance. You shall receive an annual car allowance of $20,000, paid in monthly installments throughout the year in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company and shall be pro-rated for partial years of employment.
g. Business Expenses; Attorneys Fees. The Company shall reimburse you for all reasonable business expenses incurred by you in the performance of your duties to the Company in accordance with the applicable Company Policy. The Company hereby agrees to reimburse you for reasonable, documented legal fees up to $25,000 associated with the review, negotiation and execution of this Agreement.
4. Termination of Employment. Subject to compliance with Sections 4 through 6, your employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company or you, as applicable, at any time without any breach of this Agreement for any or no reason. Any termination of your employment by you (other than termination due to your death) shall be communicated by a written notice (a Notice of Termination) to the Company and will be delivered no less than 30 days before the Date of Termination; provided that, in the event of your resignation, the Company may accelerate the Date of Termination in its discretion and such acceleration will in no event be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause.
5. Company Obligations Upon Termination.
a. Accrued Benefits. Upon termination of your employment for any reason, you (or your estate) shall be entitled to receive the sum of: (i) the portion of your Annual Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to you; (ii) any accrued but unpaid paid vacation owed to you pursuant to Section 3(e) above, if applicable; (iii) any expenses owed to you pursuant to Section 3(g) above; and (iv) any vested amount earned and arising from your participation in, or benefits accrued under any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (including the LTIP), which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (collectively, the Accrued Benefits). Except for the Accrued Benefits or as otherwise expressly required by law or herein, all of your rights to salary, severance, benefits, bonuses and other compensatory amounts hereunder (if any) shall cease upon the Date of Termination and, in no event shall you be eligible to participate in any severance plan or program of the Company, except as set forth in Section 5(b) below.
b. Severance. If your employment terminates due to the Companys termination without Cause (other than due to death or Disability) or by your resignation for Good Reason, subject to your execution and non-revocation of a waiver and release of claims agreement in the Companys applicable form (a Release) that becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with Section 8(c) below, and your continued compliance with Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company will continue to pay (i) your then-existing Annual Base Salary, less applicable withholdings and deductions, for the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination (the Severance Period); (ii) 1.5 times your Annual Target Bonus payable in installments over the Severance Period; (iii) a payment equal to your Annual Target Bonus, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months of employment
3
during the year of termination and the denominator of which is 12; (iv) if such termination occurs after the end of a fiscal year but before the date annual bonuses for such year are payable to senior executives, payment of the Annual Bonus, if any, earned for such year at such time as such Annual Bonus is generally paid to other senior executives of the Company, and (v) to the extent permitted by the Companys medical and dental plans and any applicable insurance policies, including stop loss insurance, as of your Date of Termination, for continued participation for you and your eligible dependents under the Companys group medical and dental plans (at the same cost you were paying as an employee) until the earlier of (A) eighteen (18) months following your Date of Termination and (B) the date that you become eligible for coverage under a subsequent employers group health plan (the Benefit Continuation Period), with the period of COBRA continuation coverage running concurrently with the Benefit Continuation Period. In the event (but only to the extent) that continued participation in any of the Companys medical and dental plans as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 5(b) is not permitted, the Company shall (instead of such participation) pay you the equivalent of the cost you incurred obtaining similar such medical and dental coverage for the remainder of the Benefit Continuation Period. The payments of Annual Base Salary and Annual Target Bonus described in (i) and (ii) above will be payable in installments over the Severance Period in accordance with the Companys normal payroll practices with the first of such installments to commence on the first regular payroll date following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable or as otherwise provided in Section 8(c) below.
6. Your Obligations Upon Termination.
a. Deemed Resignation. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, upon termination of your employment for any reason, you shall be deemed to have resigned, effective as of the Date of Termination, from all offices and directorships, if any, then held with the Company or any of its affiliates.
b. Cooperation. Following the Date of Termination, you shall reasonably cooperate with and assist the Company and its counsel at any time and in any manner reasonably requested by the Company or its counsel (with due regard for your other commitments) in connection with any litigation or other legal process affecting the Company of which you have knowledge as a result of your employment with the Company (other than any litigation with respect to this Agreement).
c. Return of Company Property. You hereby acknowledge and agree that all Company Property (as defined below) and equipment furnished to, or prepared by, you in the course of, or incident to, your employment, belongs to the Company and its affiliates and shall be promptly returned to the Company and its affiliates upon termination of your employment and/or such other date(s) requested by the Company (and will not be kept in your possession or delivered to anyone else). For purposes of this Agreement, Company Property includes, without limitation, all books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files), keys, building card keys, company credit cards, telephone calling cards, computer hardware and software, laptop computers, docking stations, cellular and portable telephone equipment, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices and all other proprietary information relating to the business of the Company or its affiliates. Following termination, you shall not retain any written or other tangible material containing any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or its affiliates.
4
7. Restrictive Covenants.
a. Confidentiality Agreement. You agree to fully comply with the covenants set forth in this Section 7 and acknowledge and agree that such covenants are reasonable and necessary to protect the Companys legitimate business interests, including its proprietary information and goodwill. Further, as a condition to the effectiveness of this Agreement, you agree to continue to abide by the terms of that certain Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement, dated August 27, 2021, previously entered into by and between you and the Company, attached hereto as Exhibit B (the Confidentiality Agreement), which are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement. You acknowledge that the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement will survive the termination of your employment and the termination of the Term for the periods set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement.
b. Non-Competition. During the term of your employment with the Company and a period of eighteen (18) months immediately following the termination of such employment for any reason (the Restricted Period), you will not, directly or indirectly, for your own benefit or for the benefit of any other individual or entity other than the Company: (A) operate, conduct, or engage in, or prepare to operate, conduct, or engage in the Business; (B) own, finance, or invest in (except as the passive investor in not more than one percent of the outstanding stock of a publicly-held company) any Business, or (C) participate in, render services to, or assist any person or entity that engages in or is preparing to engage in the Business in any capacity (whether as an employee, consultant, contractor, partner, officer, director, or otherwise), in each case (A), (B), or (C), in the Restricted Territory.
c. Non-Solicitation of Company Personnel. During the Restricted Period, you will not, directly or indirectly, for your own benefit or for the benefit of any other individual or entity: (i) employ or hire any Company Personnel in any capacity (whether as an employee, contractor, consultant or otherwise); (ii) solicit or attempt to solicit for employment or hire any Company Personnel in any capacity; (iii) entice or induce any Company Personnel to leave his or her or their employment with the Company; or (iv) otherwise negatively interfere with the Companys relationship with any Company Personnel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a general solicitation or advertisement for job opportunities that you may publish without targeting any Company Personnel shall not be considered a violation of Section 7(c).
d. Non-Solicitation of Company Business Relation. During the Restricted Period, you will not, directly or indirectly, for your own benefit or for the benefit of any other individual or entity: (i) solicit business from, or offer to provide products or services that are similar to any product or service provided or that could be provided by the Company or that are otherwise competitive with the Business to, any Company Business Relation; (ii) cause or encourage any Company Business Relation to reduce or cease doing business with the Company, or (iii) otherwise negatively interfere with the Companys relationships with any Company Business Relation.
5
e. Trading Restrictions. You shall not, and you shall cause the members of your household and immediate family and any Person acting directly or indirectly on your or their behalf to not, during your term of employment with the Company, purchase or sell any debt or equity securities (or derivatives thereof) of any Company Business Relation whose association with the Company is materially related to the Companys Business (including, without limitation, any supplier or customer of the Business). For the avoidance of doubt, purchase or sell shall include, without limitation, purchases on margin, pledges to secure loans, short sales, purchases or sales of put or call options and hedging transactions.
f. Non-Disparagement. You agree that you shall not, during or after the Term, disparage the Company or any of its respective products or practices, or any of their respective directors, officers, advisors, operating partners, employees, agents, representatives or, prior to the Transaction, equity holders, either orally or in writing, at any time.
g. Protected Disclosures. Nothing in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement shall prevent you from (i) conferring in confidence with your legal representatives; (ii) making truthful statements as required by law; (iii) communicating directly with, cooperating with, or providing information to any federal, state or local government agency, including without limitation the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the U.S. National Labor Relations Board; (iv) exercising any rights you may have under Section 7 of the U.S. National Labor Relations Act; or (v) discussing or disclosing information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination based on a protected characteristic or any other conduct that you have reason to believe is unlawful.
h. Tolling Period. Without limiting the Companys ability to seek other remedies available in law or equity, if you violate any of the provisions of Sections 7(b) through (d), the Restricted Period (as applicable for such provision(s)) shall be extended by one day for each day that you are in violation of such provisions, up to a maximum extension equal to the length of the Restricted Period, so as to give the Company the full benefit of the bargained-for length of forbearance.
i. Advance Notice. Prior to accepting other employment or any other service relationship during the Restricted Period, you shall provide a copy of this Section 7 to any recruiter or other person or entity who assists you in obtaining other employment or any other service relationship and to any employer or other person or entity with which you discuss potential employment or any other service relationship. As soon as reasonably practicable following acceptance of any other employment or service relationship following the Date of Termination (and in any event at least ten (10) business days prior to commencement of such relationship), you shall provide written notice of such relationship to the Company.
j. Interpretation. In the event the terms of this Section 7 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of its being too extensive in any other respect, it will be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable, over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable, or to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action.
6
k. Acknowledgements; Definitions. You acknowledge and agree that the covenants contained in this Section 7 (i) are necessary to protect the Companys legitimate interests, including, without limitation, trade secrets, confidential and proprietary information and goodwill, and are no greater than required to protect such interests, (ii) are not unduly harsh or oppressive and do not impose undue hardship on you, and (iii) are reasonable, including, without limitation, in duration and geographic scope, and such geographic scope reflects the territory in which you currently have (and will in the future have) contact with Company Business Relations and other material business relations of the Company. You recognize and acknowledge that a breach of the covenants contained in Section 7 will cause irreparable damage to the Company and its goodwill, the exact amount of which will be difficult or impossible to ascertain, and that the remedies at law for any such breach will be inadequate. Accordingly, you agree that in the event of a breach of any of the covenants contained in Section 7, in addition to any other remedy which may be available at law or in equity, the Company will be entitled to specific performance and injunctive relief (without requirement to post a bond or other security). As used in this Section 7 and all related definitions, the term Company shall include Parent and its parent(s) and direct or indirect subsidiaries and other affiliated or related companies; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the term Company in this Section 7 does not include One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, Metropoulos & Co. or any of their respective funds or any other portfolio companies thereof.
l. Survival. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement will survive the termination of your employment and the termination of the Term.
8. Section 409A.
a. General. The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (Section 409A) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A, no payment hereunder shall be accelerated or deferred unless such acceleration or deferral would not result in additional tax or interest pursuant to Section 409A. If the Company determines that any provision of this Agreement would cause you to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A, the Company may (but is not obligated to) take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company.
b. Separation from Service; Expense Reimbursement; Installments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A and is designated under this Agreement as payable upon your termination of employment shall be payable only upon your separation from service with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (a Separation from Service). To the extent that any reimbursements under this Agreement are subject to Section 409A, any such reimbursements payable to you shall be paid to you no later than December 31st of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; provided, that you submit your reimbursement request promptly following the date the expense is incurred, the amount of expenses
7
reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, other than medical expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code, and your right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Your right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement, including without limitation any continuation salary payments that are payable on Company payroll dates, shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment as permitted under Section 409A.
c. Six-Month Delay. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 5(b), shall be paid to you during the six-month period following your Separation from Service if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first day of the seventh month following the date of Separation from Service (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of your death), the Company shall pay you a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to you during such period.
d. Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments due under this Agreement as a result of your termination of employment are subject to your execution and delivery of a Release, (i) the Company shall deliver the Release to you within five (5) business days following your Date of Termination, and the Companys failure to deliver a Release prior to the expiration of such five (5) business day period shall constitute a waiver of any requirement to execute a Release, (ii) if you fail to execute the Release on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes your acceptance of the Release thereafter, you shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release and (iii) in any case where your Date of Termination and the eighth (8th) day following the Release Expiration Date fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to you that are conditioned on the Release and are treated as nonqualified deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes hereof, Release Expiration Date shall mean the date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to you, or, in the event that your termination of employment is in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of your termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this Section 8(d)(iii), such amounts shall, subject to Section 8(c), be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that you execute and do not revoke the Release (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to Section 8(d)(iii), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later.
9. Representations. You represent and warrant to the best of your belief after reasonable inquiry that (a) your continued employment with the Company and your performance of your duties hereunder will not violate any agreement between you and any other person, firm, organization, or other entity; (b) you are not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or
8
other person or entity to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer, service recipient, or other person or entity (or from taking other actions) that would be violated by you entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (c) your performance of your duties under this Agreement will not require you to, and you shall not, rely on in the performance of your duties or disclose to the Company or any other person or entity or induce the Company in any way to use or rely on any trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous employer or service recipient; and (d) you are not serving duties as an employee or consultant, or on a board of directors (or committee), of any other entity as of the Effective Date. You covenant and agree that, during your engagement with the Company, you will honor fully all legal or contractual obligations you have to third parties that may restrict you from soliciting or interfering with customers, employees or the like or from using or disclosing trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information. You acknowledge and agree that if (A) the Company determines in good faith that any representation or warranty in this Section 9 is false or misleading, or (B) you violate the covenant in this Section 9, such determination shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement by you.
10. Miscellaneous.
a. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Connecticut without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of the State of Connecticut or any other jurisdiction that would result in application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Connecticut, and where applicable, the laws of the United States.
b. Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or by electronic mail as follows: (i) if to the Company, to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor, New York, New York 10111, Attn: Tony Lee, Kimberly Reed and Kurt Beyer, or to tlee@onerock.com, kreed@onerock.com and kbeyer@onerock.com; (ii) if to you, to the last physical or electronic mail address that the Company has in its personnel records for you, or (iii) at any other physical or electronic address as any party hereto shall have specified by notice in writing to the other party hereto.
c. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed effective for all purposes.
d. Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by you and a duly authorized representative of the Company and approved by the Board. By an instrument in writing similarly executed and approved, you or a duly authorized representative of the Company may waive compliance by the other party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.
9
e. No Inconsistent Actions. The parties hereto shall not voluntarily undertake or fail to undertake any action or course of action inconsistent with the provisions or essential intent of this Agreement. Furthermore, it is the intent of the parties hereto to act in a fair and reasonable manner with respect to the interpretation and application of the provisions of this Agreement.
f. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, shall be settled solely and exclusively by a binding arbitration process administered by JAMS/Endispute in New York, New York. Such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-existing JAMS/Endispute Rules of Practice and Procedure, before a sole arbitrator pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules & Procedures. The arbitrator shall: (i) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (ii) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrators essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. Except to the extent of filing fees you would incur were the matter to be litigated in court, the Company shall be responsible for the JAMS/Endispute administrative fees and the arbitrators fees and costs. The arbitrator shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorneys fees and expert fees, if any. The parties agree to abide by all decisions and awards rendered in such proceedings. Such decisions and awards rendered by the arbitrator shall be final and conclusive. All such controversies, claims or disputes shall be settled in this manner in lieu of any action at law or equity; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the bringing of an action for injunctive relief or specific performance as provided in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement. This dispute resolution process and any arbitration hereunder shall be confidential and neither any Party nor the neutral arbitrator shall disclose the existence, contents or results of such process without the prior written consent of all parties, except where necessary or compelled in a court to enforce this arbitration provision or an award from such arbitration or otherwise in a legal proceeding. If JAMS/Endispute no longer exists or is otherwise unavailable, the parties agree that the American Arbitration Association (AAA) shall administer the arbitration in accordance with its then-existing rules as modified by this subsection. In such event, all references herein to JAMS/Endispute shall mean AAA. You and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any claim pursuant to this Section 10(f), they will not have the right to have any claim decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any claim decided through arbitration. You and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.
g. Validity; Enforcement. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. Subject to Section 7(j), if any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the Term, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision to the fullest extent as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.
10
h. Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges that the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.
i. Whistleblower Protections and Trade Secrets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement prohibits you from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any United States governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 706 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation (including the right to receive an award for information provided to any such government agencies). Furthermore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1833, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) you shall not be in breach of this Agreement, and shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law (A) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (ii) if you file a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, you may disclose the trade secret to your attorney, and may use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if you file any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
j. Assignment. The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its affiliates or to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company or any affiliate thereof (by merger or otherwise), including, without limitation to NewCo or any affiliate thereof and any references to the Board shall be deemed amended to reflect the applicable governing body of the assignee (or its applicable Affiliate). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, you and its and your respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees, as applicable. None of your rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by you, other than your rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive compensation hereunder following your death by giving written notice thereof to the Company.
k. At-Will Status. Except for the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company and you acknowledge that your employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law. This at-will nature of your employment shall remain unchanged during your tenure as an employee and may not be changed, except in an express writing signed by you and a duly-authorized representative of the Company. If your employment terminates for any lawful reason, you shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, award, or compensation other than as provided in this Agreement.
11
l. Clawback. You acknowledge and agree that any amounts payable under this Agreement are subject to any policy (whether in existence as of the Effective Date or later adopted) established by the Company providing for clawback or recovery of amounts that were paid to you. The Company will make any determination for clawback or recovery in its sole discretion and in accordance with any applicable law or regulation.
11. Section 280G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement to the contrary, to the extent stock of the applicable corporation (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) is readily tradeable on an established securities market, if any of the payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Company or its affiliates to you or for your benefit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise constitute parachute payments (Parachute Payments) within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, which could be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, the Excise Tax), but for the provisions of this Section 11, the amount of the Parachute Payments shall either be (a) reduced so that the total present value of the Parachute Payments is one dollar less than three times your base amount (as that term is defined for purposes of Section 280G of the Code), or (b) paid in full without any such reduction, with the choice of the reduction or payment in full being made so that you obtain the greater net after-tax benefit from the choice made after taking into account all taxes you would be required to pay with respect to the amounts paid (assuming the maximum applicable income tax rates). Any determination required under this Section 11 will be made in writing by an accounting firm or consultant selected by the Company (the 280G Advisor), whose determination will be conclusive and binding upon you and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 11, the 280G Advisor may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and you shall furnish to the 280G Advisor such information and documents as the 280G Advisor may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 11. The Company shall bear all costs the 280G Advisor may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 11. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, any reduction in payments and/or benefits required by this Section 11 shall occur in the following order: (i) first, cash payments (other than amounts subject to Section 409A) shall be reduced in reverse chronological order such that the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering such Excise Tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced; (ii) second, accelerated vesting of equity awards not subject to Treasury Regulation 1.280G-1, Q/A-24(c), if any, shall be cancelled/reduced in the reverse order of the date of grant for such awards (i.e., the vesting of the most recently granted equity award will be reduced first); (iii) third, any non-cash payments or benefits (other than (A) accelerated vesting described in subsections (ii) and (iv) and (B) amounts subject to Section 409A), if any, shall be reduced in reverse chronological order such that the non-cash payments or benefits owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering such Excise Tax will be the first non-cash payment or benefit to be reduced; (iv) fourth, accelerated vesting of equity awards subject to Treasury Regulation 1.280G-1, Q/A-24(c), if any, shall be cancelled/reduced in the order of those awards vesting later in time first (and, if any awards are vesting on the same date, in the order of those awards granted later in time first); and (v) fifth, deferred compensation amounts subject to Section 409A shall be reduced last in accordance with Section 409A.
12
12. Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, is intended by the parties hereto to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, including without limitation any prior consulting agreement, employment agreement or offer letter between you and the Company; provided that nothing in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement shall supersede, modify or otherwise affect any restrictive covenant, invention assignment or confidentiality obligations imposed under any Company Policy or any other agreement between you and the Company or any of its affiliates. The parties hereto further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.
* * * * *
13
Robert, we are excited at the prospect of you leading the Company and believe this will be a challenging and exciting opportunity providing you with both professional and personal growth. Kindly indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing below and return it to me. If you have any questions regarding this offer, please contact me at tlee@onerockcapital.com.
Sincerely yours, |
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC. |
/s/ Tony W. Lee |
Tony W. Lee Secretary & Treasurer |
Signature Page to Letter Agreement
Acknowledged and agreed by as of the first date set forth above:
/s/ Robert Austin |
Robert Austin |
Signature Page to Letter Agreement
EXHIBIT A
Certain Defined Terms
1. Business means the business of (a) developing, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and/or selling spring water, purified water, flavored water, or other bottled or packaged water, (b) developing, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and/or selling enhanced or flavored beverages that are substantially similar to or otherwise could be competitive with any enhanced or flavored beverages developed, sourced, manufactured, marketed, distributed or sold by the Company, (c) operating a home and/or office delivery services business that provides for any of the above-mentioned products and/or related products or services, and/or (d) any other products or services that may be offered from time to time by the Company or any of its affiliates for which you are employed or otherwise directly or indirectly responsible for managing or about which you acquired any confidential or proprietary information during the term of your employment with the Company or any of its affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, the Business does not include any business engaged in by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, Metropoulos & Co. or any of their respective funds or any other portfolio companies thereof unless such business otherwise falls within (a), (b), (c), or (d) above.
2. Cause shall mean any of the following:
a. your willful or grossly negligent failure to perform your material duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness);
b. your willful or grossly negligent failure to comply with any valid and legal directive of the Board;
c. engagement in dishonesty, illegal conduct or misconduct, which is, in each case, materially injurious to the Company or its affiliates;
d. your embezzlement, misappropriation or fraud, whether or not related to your employment with Company;
e. your commission of, indictment for, conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent) or a crime that constitutes a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
f. your willful or grossly negligent violation of a material Company Policy;
g. your breach of any material obligation under the Agreement.
The Board shall determine the existence of Cause in its good faith discretion and any such determination by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any action or omission described in subsections (a), (b), (f), or (g) is capable of cure and provision of a cure period would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect the business, reputation or goodwill of the Company, Cause shall not be deemed to have occurred unless such action or omission deemed to constitute Cause remains uncured at least 30 days after notice from the Board describing such action or omission is delivered to you.
3. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
4. Company Business Relation means, as of any specified date, any individual or entity who, as of such date, (a) is an existing customer, client, supplier, licensor, distributor, vendor or other business relation of the Company of whom you learned, with whom you had business contact or about whom you obtained proprietary information at any time during your employment or engagement with the Company, or (b) is a prospective customer, client, supplier, licensor, distributor, vendor or other business relation, of the Company of whom you learned, with whom you had business contact, or about whom you obtained proprietary information as part of a solicitation of business on behalf of the Company at any time during the one year period prior to such date (or, if earlier, the date of your termination of employment or engagement with the Company).
5. Company Personnel means any individual or entity who is or was at any time during the six-month period prior to your solicitation or other activity prohibited by Section 7(c), employed or engaged (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or in any other capacity) by the Company.
6. Date of Termination shall mean the date of the termination of your employment with the Company, which, if your employment is terminated as a result of your death, will be the date of your death, and otherwise shall be the date specified in a Notice of Termination (or such earlier date as determined by the Company in accordance with Section 4). For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 5(b), to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which a separation from service with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A occurs.
7. Disability shall mean a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as it may be amended from time to time.
8. Good Reason shall mean, without your consent, the relocation of the Companys principal executive office to a location more than fifty (50) miles from its then-current location and that results in a material increase to your normal daily commute, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, required travel on business for the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (a) you provide the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances that you claim constitute Good Reason within thirty (30) days following the occurrence of such facts and circumstances, (b) the Company fails to cure within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (c) you provide Notice of Termination for Good Reason to the Company no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Companys cure period.
9. Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, other business entity, or governmental body.
10. Restricted Territory means the United States and Canada and territories and sub-divisions of the United States and Canada (including each city, county, parish, district, municipality and state therein), and any other country, state province, territory, city, country, parish, district, municipality or other locality in each case, in which (a) you provided services or had a material presence or influence at any time during the last two years of your employment or engagement with the Company or (b) the Company is engaged in the Business or has taken material steps to commence engaging in the Business as of the termination of your employment or engagement with the Company.
EXHIBIT B
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[see attached]
Exhibit 10.26
Primo Brands Corporation
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy
Each member of the Board of Directors (the Board) of Primo Brands Corporation (the Company) who is not an employee of the Company or ORCP Stockholder (as such term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2024, by and among Primo Brands Corporation, Triton Water Parent Holdings, LP, and any other persons that may become party thereto, as may be amended from time to time (the Stockholders Agreement)) for so long as the Stockholders Agreement remains in effect (each such director, an Non-Employee Director) will receive the compensation described in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the Director Compensation Policy) for his or her Board service. This Policy shall become effective on the date of consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024, as amended from time to time, by and among the Company, Triton Water Parent, Inc., Triton Merger Sub 1, Inc., 1000922661 Ontario Inc. and Primo Water Corporation (the Effective Date), and shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Policy may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time in its sole discretion.
Cash Compensation
Each Non-Employee Director will receive the cash compensation set forth below for service on the Board following the Effective Date. The annual cash compensation amounts will be payable in equal quarterly installments, in arrears following the end of each quarter in which the service occurred, pro-rated for any partial quarters of service. All annual cash fees are vested upon payment.
Category | Annual Fees | |||
Annual Board retainer |
$ | 110,000 | ||
Annual fee for Lead Independent Director |
$ | 32,500 | ||
Annual fee for chairing the: |
||||
Audit Committee |
$ | 25,000 | ||
Compensation Committee |
$ | 25,000 | ||
Nominating and Governance Committee |
$ | 15,000 | ||
Sustainability Committee |
$ | 15,000 | ||
Annual fee for committee membership (for non-Chair positions) |
$ | 5,000 |
Additionally, cash compensation for ad hoc, special or other committees of the Board may be established by the Board from time to time.
Equity Compensation
Equity awards will be granted under the Companys applicable equity incentive plan as may be in effect from time to time, including the Companys Equity Incentive Plan, in each case as amended, or amended and restated from time to time (such plan, the Equity Plan).
a) | Annual Grant. At the close of business on the date of each annual meeting of the Companys shareowners (the Annual Meeting Date), each person who is then a Non-Employee Director and will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following such Annual Meeting Date will receive shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Shares), with an aggregate value of $175,000 (an Annual Grant). |
b) | Initial Grant for New Directors. Each person who is elected or appointed for the first time to be an Non-Employee Director will, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment to be an Non-Employee Director (the Commencement Date), receive Common Shares with an aggregate value of $175,000, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days between the Commencement Date and the then-scheduled next Annual Meeting Date (or, if such Annual Meeting Date has not yet been scheduled, the first anniversary of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting Date or such other date as is determined by the Board in its sole discretion), and the denominator of which is 365 (an Initial Grant). |
For the avoidance of doubt, a Non-Employee Director elected for the first time to the Board at an Annual Meeting shall receive only an Annual Grant, and shall not receive any Initial Grant on the Annual Meeting Date. Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or One Rock Capital Partners, LLC or any of their respective affiliates and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Grant, but to the extent that they are otherwise eligible, will be eligible to receive, after termination from employment, Annual Grants.
c) | Board Leadership Equity Retainer. At the close of business on the Annual Meeting Date, the continuing Non-Executive Chairman immediately following such Annual Meeting Date will receive additional Common Shares with an aggregate value of $175,000. |
With respect to cash compensation, each Non-Employee Director may elect to receive Common Shares in lieu of all or a portion of such cash compensation to which the Non-Employee Director would otherwise be entitled to, as described above. Each Non-Employee Director shall make any such election by notifying the Chief Human Resources Officer in writing during a period in which the Company is in an open trading window and the Non-Employee Director is not aware of any material non-public information. The notification must be received by December 31 of the year prior to the calendar year to which the election relates (the Election Deadline), and such election may not be modified during such calendar year. Once an election to receive Common
Shares in lieu of receiving cash compensation is effective for a calendar year, it shall remain effective for subsequent calendar years, unless a new written notice is delivered to the Chief Human Resources Officer prior to the applicable Election Deadline. For each Non-Employee Director electing to receive Common Shares in lieu of such cash compensation, the date on which the Common Shares will be granted will be the date on which the cash compensation would otherwise have been earned, which is the last business day of each fiscal quarterly period, and the number of Common Shares will be determined by dividing (i) the cash compensation that the Non-Employee Director elects to forgo in exchange for such Common Shares, by (ii) the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) of a Common Share on the date of grant.
Travel Expenses
The Company will reimburse each Non-Employee Director for ordinary, necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses in accordance with the Companys travel and expense policy, as in effect from time to time, to cover in-person attendance at and participation in Board meetings and meetings of any committee of the Board; provided, that the Non-Employee Director timely submits to the Company appropriate documentation substantiating such expenses in accordance with such policy. To the extent that any taxable reimbursements are provided to any Non-Employee Director, they will be provided in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including, but not limited to, the following provisions: (i) the amount of any such expenses eligible for reimbursement during such individuals taxable year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year; (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than the last day of such individuals taxable year that immediately follows the taxable year in which the expense was incurred; and (iii) the right to any reimbursement may not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
Director Education Expenses
Pursuant to the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Governance Committee provides an orientation and education program for new directors to familiarize them with the Company and its business. The Company will reimburse directors for reasonable expenses of attendance at such programs. Additionally, the Company encourages directors to participate in continuing education programs provided by outside sources. The Company will reimburse directors for reasonable expenses of attendance by a director at one such program annually.
Compensation Limits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Director Compensation Policy, all compensation payable hereunder will be subject to any limits on the maximum amount of Non-Employee Director compensation set forth in the Equity Plan, as in effect from time to time.
Administration
The Board will have the sole discretion and authority to administer and interpret the Policy, and the decisions of the Board will be final and binding on all persons having an interest in the Policy.
Exhibit 16.1
November [8], 2024
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Commissioners:
We have read Item 4.01(a) of Form 8-K dated November 8, 2024 of Primo Brands Corporation and are in agreement with the statements contained therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Exhibit 21.1
Subsidiaries of Primo Brands Corporation
Subsidiary |
State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization | |
Aimia Foods Limited | United Kingdom | |
Aquaterra Corporation | Canada | |
Bibo Limited | United Kingdom | |
BlueTriton Brands, Inc. | Delaware | |
BlueTriton Brands Holdings, Inc. | Delaware | |
BlueTriton Brands Services, Inc. | Delaware | |
Café Espresso Italia Ltd | Israel | |
Cott Beverages Luxembourg S.à r.l. | Luxembourg | |
Cott (Barbados) IBC Ltd. | Barbados | |
Cott Cayman | Cayman Islands | |
Cott Retail Brands Limited | United Kingdom | |
Cott Switzerland GmbH | Switzerland | |
Decantae Mineral Water Limited | United Kingdom | |
Dispensing Coffee Club (IAI-2003) Ltd | Israel | |
DS Services of America, Inc. | Delaware | |
Eden Springs Portugal S.A. | Portugal | |
Eden Springs UK Limited | United Kingdom | |
Entrepure Industries LLC | Colorado | |
Fonthill Waters Limited | United Kingdom | |
Garraways Ltd | United Kingdom | |
GW Services, LLC | California | |
Hydration Innovation, LLC | Delaware | |
Hydropure Distribution Ltd | United Kingdom | |
John Farrer & Company (Kendal) Limited | United Kingdom | |
Kafevend Group Limited | United Kingdom | |
Kafevend Holdings Limited | United Kingdom | |
Mey Eden Ltd | Israel | |
Old WCS (Bottlers) Limited | United Kingdom | |
Primo Customer Care, LLC | Delaware | |
Primo Products, LLC | North Carolina | |
Primo Refill, LLC | North Carolina | |
Primo Water Financing One LLC | Delaware | |
Primo Water Holdings Inc. | Delaware | |
Primo Water Holdings UK Limited | United Kingdom | |
Pure Choice Watercoolers Ltd | United Kingdom | |
Tea UK Limited | United Kingdom | |
The Interesting Drinks Company Limited | United Kingdom | |
The Shakespeare Coffee Company Ltd | United Kingdom | |
Triton Water Canada Holdings, Inc. | Canada | |
Triton Water Holdings, Inc. | Delaware | |
Triton Water Intermediate, Inc. | Delaware | |
TWS Bidco 1 Limited | United Kingdom | |
Wax Water Limited | United Kingdom | |
Water Coolers (Scotland) Limited | United Kingdom |
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release |
![]() |
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF MERGER OF PRIMO WATER AND BLUETRITON BRANDS
Company will trade on the NYSE under the symbol PRMB on November 11, 2024
Declares Quarterly Dividend
TAMPA, Fla. and STAMFORD, Conn., November 8, 2024 Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB) (Primo Brands or the Company) today announced the successful completion of the merger (the Transaction) of Primo Water Corporation (Primo Water) and an affiliate of BlueTriton Brands, Inc. (BlueTriton), creating Primo Brands, a leading branded beverage company in North America with a focus on healthy hydration.
I am honored to lead our combined company and our team of world-class associates, said Robbert Rietbroek, Chief Executive Officer of Primo Brands. Together, we are forming a differentiated leader in branded beverages. With a highly competitive portfolio of brands, a variety of formats and offerings across price points, a vertically integrated, coast-to-coast manufacturing and distribution network across North America, we believe Primo Brands is strategically positioned to accelerate growth, deliver superior products and services for our customers and consumers, and be a best-in-class U.S. beverage company.
Primo Brands has an iconic brand portfolio, including billion-dollar, widely recognized brands such as Poland Spring® and Pure Life®, high-growth premium brands like Saratoga® and Mountain Valley®, and other valuable brands with significant growth potential, continued Mr. Rietbroek. Our goal is to drive sustainable, long-term shareholder value creation as we capture transformative operational efficiencies, achieve our synergy goals, and deliver strong financial results. I want to thank our talented teams for their dedication and hard work in building strong momentum.
I believe Primo Brands is positioned to be a leader in the healthy hydration beverage category, thanks to the strength of its iconic, sustainably-sourced brands, robust operations and extensive North American network, and its responsible operation of numerous springs across the country, said Dean Metropoulos, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Primo Brands. We have a clear strategy to accelerate growth driven by the strong demand for branded beverages and healthy hydration that continues to expand across all high-growth channels, including retail, clubs, restaurants, hospitality, convenience stores, hospitals, schools, offices and more. Importantly, we also continue to strengthen Primo Brands commitment to
sustainability, including through our increasingly environmentally friendly delivery fleet, circular packaging efforts and water stewardship.
Press Release |
![]() |
Primo Brands has an exciting future ahead with premier, trusted brands that have a rich American heritage, six of which are more than 100 years old and four that date back to the 1800s, diverse assets and operations, a strong commitment to protecting our environment and communities, and highly engaged associates focused on execution, continued Mr. Metropoulos. Driving Primo and its differentiated advantages is a highly entrepreneurial and motivated executive team and Board of Directors that foster a positive and rewarding work environment for all of the Companys associates and operate with a highly efficient performance culture. We believe the continued consistent multi-year growth across the combined companys portfolio, together with attractive margins, will continue to drive Primo Brands value into the future.
Shares of Class A common stock of Primo Brands are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, November 11, 2024, under the ticker symbol PRMB.
MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE
As previously announced, Robbert Rietbroek will serve as Chief Executive Officer, David Hass will serve as Chief Financial Officer and Robert Austin will serve as Chief Operating Officer of Primo Brands.
Primo Brands Board of Directors is comprised of the following 14 directors: Dean Metropoulos (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board), Kurtis Barker, Britta Bomhard, Susan Cates, Michael Cramer, Eric Foss, Jerry Fowden, Tony Lee, Billy Prim, Kimberly Reed, Robbert Rietbroek, Joseph Rosenberg, Allison Spector and Steven Stanbrook.
Primo Brands will maintain dual headquarters in Tampa, FL and Stamford, CT.
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
The Board of Directors of Primo Brands today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share on the outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock of the Company. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 22, 2024, and will be paid on December 5, 2024.
Press Release |
![]() |
ABOUT PRIMO BRANDS
Primo Brands is a leading North American branded beverage company with a focus on healthy hydration, delivering sustainably and domestically sourced diversified offerings across products, formats, channels, price points and consumer occasions, distributed in every state and Canada.
Primo Brands has an extensive portfolio of highly recognizable, sustainably sourced and responsibly packaged branded beverages distributed across more than 150,000 retail outlets, including established billion-dollar brands, Poland Spring® and Pure Life®, premium brands like Saratoga® and Mountain Valley®, regional leaders such as Arrowhead®, Deer Park®, Ice Mountain® Ozarka® and Zephyrhills®, purified brands, Primo Water® and Sparkletts®, and flavored brand, Splash®. These brands are sold directly across retail channels, including mass food, convenience, natural, drug, wholesale, distributors and home improvement, as well as food service accounts in North America. The Company also has extensive direct-to-consumer offerings with its industry-leading line-up of innovative water dispensers, which create consumer connectivity through recurring water purchases across Water Direct, Water Exchange and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo Brands delivers sustainable hydration solutions direct to home and business consumers. Through its Water Exchange business, consumers can visit approximately 26,500 retail locations and purchase a pre-filled, multi-use bottle of water that can be exchanged after use for a discount on the next purchase. Through its Water Refill business, consumers have the option to refill empty multi-use bottles at approximately 23,500 self-service refill drinking water stations. Primo Brands also offers water filtration units for home and business consumers across North America.
Primo Brands is a leader in reusable packaging, helping to reduce waste through its reusable, multi-serve bottles and innovative brand packaging portfolio, which includes recycled plastic, aluminum and glass. Primo Brands sources from numerous springs and manages water resources for long-term sustainability, helping to protect more than 27,000 acres of watershed and wetlands area owned by the Company for preservation and to help assure a steady supply of clean, safe drinking water. The Company is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America, which supports strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection. We believe in fostering a respectful culture that values our associates and key stakeholders, and we are deeply invested in quality hydration, our communities, and the sustainability of our packaging and water sources for generations to come. Primo Brands will continue Primo Water and BlueTritons strong support for American communities during natural disasters, in dealing with local and regional hydration quality issues and in connection with many other local community challenges.
Press Release |
![]() |
Primo Brands employs more than 11,000 associates with dual headquarters in Tampa, FL, and Stamford, CT, and has more than 50 production facilities and more than 200 depots for efficient delivery to customers and consumers across North America.
For more information, visit www.primobrands.com.
Early Warning Reporting
As a result of the Transaction, Primo Water and Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueTriton, became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. In connection with the Transaction, the Company has filed an early warning report in respect of Primo Water under Primo Waters profile on SEDAR+. A copy of the early warning report can also be obtained by contacting Jon Kathol at investorrelations@primobrands.com. The address of the Company is 1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800 Tampa, Florida 33607 and the address of Primo Water is 1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 800 Tampa, Florida 33607.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, conveying managements expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time of such statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as may, will, would, should, could, expect, aim, anticipate, believe, estimate, intend, plan, predict, project, seek, potential, opportunities, and other similar expressions and the negatives of such expressions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the estimated or anticipated future results of the Company following the Transaction, the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, the listing and trading of Primo Brands on the NYSE, the payment of the Companys quarterly dividend, and other statements that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements are based on Primo Brands current expectations, plans and estimates. Primo Brands believes these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.
Press Release |
![]() |
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release include, among others: (i) risks relating to the integration of Primo Water and BlueTritons operations, products and employees into Primo Brands and the possibility that the estimated synergies and other benefits of the Transaction will not be realized or that they will not be realized within the expected timeframe, (ii) risks relating to the combined business of Primo Brands and the industries in which it operates following the Transaction, (iii) the risk of any litigation relating to the Transaction, (iv) the risk that the Transaction could have an adverse effect on the ability of Primo Brands to retain and hire key personnel, and (v) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the completion of the Transaction.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors section of the management information circular and proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed by Primo Water on October 7, 2024 and other documents filed by Primo Brands from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Primo Brands does not undertake to update or revise any of these statements considering new information or future events, except as expressly required by applicable law.
Website: www.primobrands.com
CONTACTS:
Jon Kathol
Vice President, Investor Relations
(813) 544-8515
investorrelations@primobrands.com
Carrie Ratner
Chief Communications Officer
communications@primobrands.com
Tanner Kaufman / Stephanie Randall
FTI Consulting
tanner.kaufman@fticonsulting.com / stephanie.randall@fticonsulting.com
Exhibit 99.2
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | ||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
3 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations |
4 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income |
5 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity |
6 | |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
8 | |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |
9 |
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in millions, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current Assets: |
||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | 176.7 | $ | 47.0 | ||||
Trade receivables, net of credit losses of $3.1 and $3.4 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively |
452.6 | 397.5 | ||||||
Inventories |
199.3 | 180.4 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
57.1 | 73.1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
885.7 | 698.0 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
1,524.4 | 1,609.2 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use-assets, net |
498.8 | 552.0 | ||||||
Goodwill |
816.6 | 817.4 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
1,402.7 | 1,420.2 | ||||||
Other non-current assets |
53.6 | 57.0 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 5,181.8 | $ | 5,153.8 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
$ | 45.3 | $ | 31.9 | ||||
Trade payables |
354.3 | 356.5 | ||||||
Accruals and other current liabilities |
379.0 | 320.6 | ||||||
Current portion of operating lease obligations |
68.3 | 73.8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
846.9 | 782.8 | ||||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
3,750.1 | 3,450.7 | ||||||
Operating lease obligations, less current portion |
449.4 | 498.2 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
353.1 | 397.0 | ||||||
Other non-current liabilities |
23.8 | 22.4 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
$ | 5,423.3 | $ | 5,151.1 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Shareholders Equity: |
||||||||
Series A preferred stock, $0.001 par value, $1,000 stated value, 250,000 shares authorized, nil at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were issued and outstanding |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,050,000 shares authorized, and 1,030,365 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were issued and outstanding |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
1,025.4 | 1,024.5 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(1,255.7 | ) | (1,014.3 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(11.2 | ) | (7.5 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total shareholders equity |
$ | (241.5 | ) | $ | 2.7 | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 5,181.8 | $ | 5,153.8 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
3
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
($ in millions, except share and per share values) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,305.1 | $ | 1,252.6 | $ | 3,755.3 | $ | 3,612.7 | ||||||||
Cost of sales |
888.9 | 874.5 | 2,563.8 | 2,574.9 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Gross profit |
416.2 | 378.1 | 1,191.5 | 1,037.8 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
239.7 | 230.8 | 714.7 | 709.3 | ||||||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
10.0 | 4.0 | 29.0 | 15.0 | ||||||||||||
Other operating expenses (income), net |
9.0 | (11.4 | ) | 6.5 | (3.9 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating income |
157.5 | 154.7 | 441.3 | 317.4 | ||||||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
85.7 | 75.8 | 251.8 | 212.7 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Income before income taxes |
71.8 | 78.9 | 189.5 | 104.7 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
18.5 | 21.4 | 48.2 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net income |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 57.5 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | ||||||||
Dividend on preferred stock |
| 7.2 | | 20.4 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net income attributable to common stockholders |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 50.3 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 60.3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share |
$ | 51.73 | $ | 48.89 | $ | 137.14 | $ | 58.61 | ||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding |
1,030,365 | 1,028,803 | 1,030,365 | 1,028,803 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
4
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
(in millions) | Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 57.5 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: |
||||||||||||||||
Net change in foreign currency translation adjustments |
1.8 | (4.2 | ) | (3.3 | ) | 1.3 | ||||||||||
Net unrealized actuarial loss in postretirement benefit plans, net of taxes |
(0.1 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (0.4 | ) | (0.8 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
1.7 | (4.5 | ) | (3.7 | ) | 0.5 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
$ | 55.0 | $ | 53.0 | $ | 137.6 | $ | 81.2 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
5
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
($ and shares in millions, except per share data)
Common stock | Additional paid-in capital |
Accumulated deficit |
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
Total shareholders equity |
||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2024 |
1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,024.5 | $ | (1,014.3 | ) | $ | (7.5 | ) | $ | 2.7 | |||||||||||
Net income |
| | | 33.5 | | 33.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
| | | | (3.6 | ) | (3.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock ($371.42 per share) |
| | | (382.7 | ) | | (382.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
March 31, 2024 |
1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,024.8 | $ | (1,363.5 | ) | $ | (11.1 | ) | $ | (349.8 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | 54.5 | | 54.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
| | | | (1.8 | ) | (1.8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
June 30, 2024 |
1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,025.1 | $ | (1,309.0 | ) | $ | (12.9 | ) | $ | (296.8 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | 53.3 | | 53.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | | | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
September 30, 2024 |
1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,025.4 | $ | (1,255.7 | ) | $ | (11.2 | ) | $ | (241.5 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
6
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
(CONTINUED)
($ and shares in millions, except per share data)
Preferred stock | Common stock | Additional paid-in capital |
Accumulated deficit |
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
Total shareholders equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2023 |
0.2 | $ | 180.5 | 1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,023.0 | $ | (1,057.2 | ) | $ | (11.7 | ) | $ | 134.6 | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | (6.1 | ) | | (6.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | | | | | 1.8 | 1.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2023 |
0.2 | $ | 180.5 | 1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,023.3 | $ | (1,063.3 | ) | $ | (9.9 | ) | $ | 130.6 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | 29.3 | | 29.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | | | | | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | | | 0.4 | | | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2023 |
0.2 | $ | 180.5 | 1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,023.7 | $ | (1,034.0 | ) | $ | (6.7 | ) | $ | 163.5 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | | 57.5 | | 57.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
| | | | | | (4.5 | ) | (4.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2023 |
0.2 | $ | 180.5 | 1.0 | $ | | $ | 1,024.0 | $ | (976.5 | ) | $ | (11.2 | ) | $ | 216.8 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
7
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(in millions) | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
227.3 | 222.6 | ||||||
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs |
12.5 | 10.1 | ||||||
Inventory obsolescence expense |
13.3 | 22.5 | ||||||
Allowance for expected credit losses |
6.6 | 10.5 | ||||||
Change in deferred taxes |
(43.6 | ) | (26.1 | ) | ||||
Commodity forwards loss (gain) |
5.8 | (5.6 | ) | |||||
Other non-cash items |
7.5 | 7.9 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Trade receivables |
(61.7 | ) | 11.7 | |||||
Inventories |
(31.4 | ) | 0.1 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets |
15.9 | 4.7 | ||||||
Trade payables |
23.3 | (180.0 | ) | |||||
Accruals and other current and non-current liabilities |
53.3 | 39.7 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 370.1 | $ | 198.8 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
$ | (96.9 | ) | $ | (162.0 | ) | ||
Purchases of intangible assets |
(36.4 | ) | (12.2 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from settlement of split-dollar life insurance contracts and other |
2.4 | 2.9 | ||||||
Other investing activities |
0.5 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
$ | (130.4 | ) | $ | (171.3 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
Proceeds from 2024 Incremental Term Loan, net of discount |
$ | 392.0 | $ | | ||||
2024 Incremental Term Loan debt issuance costs |
(5.1 | ) | | |||||
Proceeds from borrowings from Revolver |
25.0 | 85.0 | ||||||
Repayment of borrowings from Revolver |
(115.0 | ) | (85.0 | ) | ||||
Repayment of Term Loans |
(24.0 | ) | (21.0 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from borrowings of other debt |
7.4 | 1.3 | ||||||
Principal repayment of loans, other |
(2.7 | ) | | |||||
Principal repayment of finance leases |
(4.6 | ) | | |||||
Dividends paid on common stock |
(382.7 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
$ | (109.7 | ) | $ | (19.7 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
(0.3 | ) | (0.1 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
129.7 | 7.7 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period |
47.0 | 105.8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period |
$ | 176.7 | $ | 113.5 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
||||||||
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest of $4.2 and $8.7 during 2024 and 2023, respectively |
$ | 231.5 | $ | 189.6 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash paid for income taxes |
$ | 58.6 | $ | 42.3 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Purchases of property, plant, equipment and intangible assets included in trade payables |
$ | 16.1 | $ | 17.9 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
8
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Nature of the Business
Triton Water Parent, Inc., and its subsidiaries, (the Company), produces and sells national and regional spring water brands, purified national water and flavored water brands. Brands include Arrowhead®, Deer Park®, Ice Mountain®, Origin, Ozarka®, Poland Spring®, Saratoga®, Zephyrhills®, Pure Life®, Ac+ion®, Frutitas and Splash Refresher , among others, which are sold through the Companys Retail segment (direct to wholesalers, grocery stores or other retailers) and its ReadyRefresh segment (direct-to-consumer, office and retailer beverage delivery services). The Company is also a distributor for select third-party beverage brands through the ReadyRefresh segment. As of September 30, 2024, the Company operated 30 production facilities, over 50 spring sites and 76 ReadyRefresh branches.
Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger
On September 27, 2024, the Company and Primo Water Corporation (Primo), a publicly traded company, announced that most regulatory approvals have been received in connection with the definitive agreement (the Agreement), announced on June 16, 2024, to merge and create a combined company (NewCo) in an all-stock transaction (the Transaction) that was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Upon closing of the Transaction, the Companys shareholders are expected to own 57% of the fully diluted shares of NewCo and Primo shareholders and holders of Primo incentive equity are expected to own 43% of the fully diluted shares of NewCo. The Transaction is structured to allow the Companys Term Loans and Senior Notes to remain in place, if the parties desire to do so. The Transaction is subject to approval by Primos shareholders, as well as the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, including court approval of the plan of arrangement for the Transaction. The Transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, (i) Amalgamation Sub will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Primo Water in a court-approved plan of arrangement (the Plan of Arrangement) in exchange for shares of NewCo, followed immediately by an amalgamation of Primo Water and Amalgamation Sub, with Primo Water surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewCo (collectively, the Arrangement), (ii) immediately following the Arrangement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the Merger), with the Company surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewCo and (iii) immediately following the Merger, and as part of one integrated transaction with the Merger, the Company, as the surviving company in the Merger, will be merged with and into NewCo (the Subsequent Merger and, together with the Merger, the Mergers and, collectively with the Arrangement, the Transactions), with NewCo being the surviving corporation and (iv) as a result of the Transactions, the Company and Primo Water, will be wholly-owned subsidiaries of NewCo. As all regulatory approvals have been received, the Transactions are expected to close as soon as practicable following the satisfaction of all other conditions to closing. The final corporate name and branding of NewCo is expected to be announced in the future.
In connection with the Transactions, the Company recorded related costs of $7.8 million and $26.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, as a component of acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
9
NOTE 2SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which comprise the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income and shareholders equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to herein as the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared on a basis that is substantially consistent with the accounting principles applied in the Companys annual audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (2023 Audited Financial Statements). This report should be read in conjunction with the Companys 2023 Audited Financial Statements. The Company believes that these financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period or the full year. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which represent the Companys reporting currency. Unless otherwise noted, dollars are in millions.
Trade Receivables and Allowance for Credit Losses
All trade receivables are uncollected amounts owed to the Company from transactions with its customers. Trade receivables represent amounts billed to customers which are recorded at invoiced amounts, net of trade allowances and discounts. These balances do not bear interest, are not yet collected and are presented net of allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is the Companys estimate of current expected credit losses on its existing accounts receivable and is determined based on historical customer assessments, current financial conditions, and assessments of expected outcomes. Accounts receivables are written off when the Company has exhausted all collection efforts and determines the receivable will not be recovered. There can be no assurance that the Companys estimate of accounts receivable collection will be indicative of future results.
The following table summarizes changes in the consolidated allowance for credit losses (in millions):
Amount | ||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
$ | 3.4 | ||
Provision for credit losses |
6.6 | |||
Utilization of allowance |
(6.9 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Balance as of September 30, 2024 (unaudited) |
$ | 3.1 | ||
|
|
10
Estimates
The preparation of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include those related to sales incentives recorded against revenue, valuation of assets and liabilities in connection with acquisitions, collectability of trade receivables, inventory reserves, realizability of income taxes, useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, fair value of reporting units in connection with the annual goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assessments, valuation of insurance reserves and the incremental borrowing rate related to operating lease obligations.
Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no significant changes to the accounting policies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the Companys 2023 Audited Financial Statements.
Accounting Standards to be Implemented
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07). The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. While ASU 2023-07 requires additional disclosures, the Company does not anticipate a significant impact from the adoption of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact from the adoption of this new standard on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
The following table presents the components of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 174.8 | $ | 44.7 | ||||
Restricted cash |
1.9 | 2.3 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ | 176.7 | $ | 47.0 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The restricted cash balance relates to bottle deposits that are required for specific U.S. state programs.
NOTE 4INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Raw and packaging materials and semi-finished goods |
$ | 120.8 | $ | 122.8 | ||||
Finished goods |
78.4 | 57.6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total inventories |
$ | 199.3 | $ | 180.4 | ||||
|
|
|
|
11
NOTE 5PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET
The following table presents the components of property, plant and equipment, net (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Machinery and equipment |
$ | 1,271.1 | $ | 1,194.5 | ||||
Buildings |
456.2 | 449.0 | ||||||
Tools, furniture, information technology and sundry equipment |
429.8 | 410.9 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
64.7 | 124.0 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
53.2 | 48.2 | ||||||
Land |
76.5 | 76.8 | ||||||
Vehicles |
101.1 | 72.2 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(928.3 | ) | (766.4 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total property, plant and equipment, net |
$ | 1,524.4 | $ | 1,609.2 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment was $60.7 million and $55.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment was $174.8 million and $166.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
12
NOTE 6LEASES
The Companys leasing activities primarily consist of leases for land and buildings for offices and warehouse space, vehicles, and certain machinery and equipment, and tools, furniture, and other equipment.
The following table presents the components of lease expense (unaudited, in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Operating lease expense |
$ | 27.3 | $ | 29.7 | $ | 85.1 | $ | 89.7 | ||||||||
Short-term and variable lease expense |
5.6 | 2.3 | 14.9 | 6.0 | ||||||||||||
Finance lease related expense: |
||||||||||||||||
Depreciation expense |
1.9 | | 4.1 | | ||||||||||||
Interest on lease liabilities |
0.4 | | 1.2 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total lease expense |
$ | 35.2 | $ | 32.0 | $ | 105.3 | $ | 95.7 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The operating lease expense above is included in the accruals and other current and non-current liabilities line item on the cash flow statement.
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (unaudited, in millions):
13
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows (in millions, except as noted):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Operating leases: |
||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
$ | 498.8 | $ | 552.0 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current operating lease obligations |
$ | 68.3 | $ | 73.8 | ||||
Operating lease obligations, less current portion |
449.4 | 498.2 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total operating lease obligations |
$ | 517.7 | $ | 572.0 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Finance leases: |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
$ | 33.4 | $ | 10.9 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
$ | 8.6 | $ | 1.8 | ||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
24.5 | 8.2 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total financing lease obligations |
$ | 33.1 | $ | 10.0 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average remaining lease term: |
||||||||
Operating leases |
8.4 years | 8.8 years | ||||||
Financing leases |
3.5 years | 4.6 years | ||||||
Weighted average discount rate: |
||||||||
Operating leases |
5.4 | % | 5.7 | % | ||||
Financing leases |
8.1 | % | 9.6 | % |
The following table summarizes the maturities of operating lease obligations as of September 30, 2024 (unaudited, in millions):
Operating Leases | Finance Leases | |||||||
2024 (remaining 3 months) |
$ | 25.8 | $ | 2.8 | ||||
2025 |
99.6 | 10.9 | ||||||
2026 |
89.9 | 10.5 | ||||||
2027 |
74.5 | 7.4 | ||||||
2028 |
64.5 | 5.4 | ||||||
Thereafter |
302.9 | 1.6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total operating lease payments |
657.2 | 38.6 | ||||||
Less: imputed interest |
(139.5 | ) | (5.5 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total operating lease obligations |
$ | 517.7 | $ | 33.1 | ||||
|
|
|
|
NOTE 7GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows (in millions):
Retail | ReadyRefresh | Total | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
$ | 688.2 | $ | 129.2 | $ | 817.4 | ||||||
Foreign exchange rate changes |
(0.8 | ) | | (0.8 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at September 30, 2024 (unaudited) |
$ | 687.4 | $ | 129.2 | $ | 816.6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
The following table presents intangible assets, net by major class (in millions, except years):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted Average Life (in years) |
Gross Carrying Value |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Book Value |
Gross Carrying Value |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Book Value |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Definite-lived intangible assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer relationships |
10 | $ | 240.7 | $ | (65.9 | ) | $ | 174.8 | $ | 240.9 | $ | (51.7 | ) | $ | 189.2 | |||||||||||||
Water rights |
25 | 493.7 | (75.8 | ) | 417.9 | 494.5 | (59.6 | ) | 434.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
Software |
5 | 204.7 | (91.0 | ) | 113.7 | 168.3 | (70.8 | ) | 97.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other |
6 | 17.1 | (7.9 | ) | 9.2 | 17.1 | (6.2 | ) | 10.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total definite-lived intangible assets |
$ | 956.2 | $ | (240.6 | ) | $ | 715.6 | $ | 920.8 | $ | (188.3 | ) | $ | 732.5 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trademarks and trade names |
$ | 687.1 | $ | | $ | 687.1 | $ | 687.7 | $ | | $ | 687.7 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total intangible assets, net |
$ | 1,643.3 | $ | (240.6 | ) | $ | 1,402.7 | $ | 1,608.5 | $ | (188.3 | ) | $ | 1,420.2 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense of intangible assets was $17.1 million and $18.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Amortization expense of intangible assets was $52.5 million and $56.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Based on the carrying value of definite-lived intangible assets as of September 30, 2024, estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter is as follows (unaudited, in millions):
Amount | ||||
2024 (remaining 3 months) |
$ | 16.7 | ||
2025 |
65.6 | |||
2026 |
63.3 | |||
2027 |
61.6 | |||
2028 |
61.3 | |||
Thereafter |
447.1 | |||
|
|
|||
Total amortization expense |
$ | 715.6 | ||
|
|
NOTE 8DEBT
The following table summarizes long-term debt (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 | |||||||
Term Loans |
$ | 3,106.6 | $ | 2,730.6 | ||||
Senior Notes |
713.0 | 713.0 | ||||||
Revolver |
| 90.0 | ||||||
Finance lease obligations (see Note 6-Leases) |
33.1 | 10.0 | ||||||
Other |
11.8 | 6.5 | ||||||
Unamortized debt costs |
(69.1 | ) | (67.5 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total debt |
3,795.4 | 3,482.6 | ||||||
Less: Current portion of long term debt |
45.3 | 31.9 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
$ | 3,750.1 | $ | 3,450.7 | ||||
|
|
|
|
15
The following table summarizes the principal maturities of debt, excluding finance lease obligations and unamortized debt costs as of September 30, 2024 (unaudited, in millions):
Amount | ||||
2024 (remaining 3 months) |
$ | 9.2 | ||
2025 |
36.7 | |||
2026 |
36.5 | |||
2027 |
33.4 | |||
2028 |
3,002.6 | |||
Thereafter |
713.0 |
Term Loans
On March 31, 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the Term Loan Credit Agreement) with the lenders party thereto for $2.6 billion of initial term loans (Original Term Loans) as a first lien secured credit facility which matures on March 31, 2028. In connection with the issuance of the Original Term Loans, the Company incurred debt issuance and transaction costs of $80.3 million that are recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of the Original Term Loans and are being amortized using the effective interest method over the remaining term to maturity. The proceeds of such term loans were used to finance the Companys acquisition of Nestle Waters North America (NWNA).
On December 9, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to the Term Loan Agreement for an additional $250 million of term loans (2021 Incremental Term Loans). The Company recorded debt discounts of $3.6 million related to the 2021 Incremental Term Loans that are recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans and are being amortized using the effective interest method over the remaining term to maturity. The Company did not repay any of the Original Term Loans with the 2021 Incremental Term Loans and accounted for the amendment as a modification. Accordingly, transaction fees of $3.4 million related to the 2021 Incremental Term Loans were expensed as incurred.
The 2021 Incremental Term Loans mature on March 31, 2028, and bear interest at the same rate as the Original Term Loans (collectively the 2021 Term Loans). The 2021 Term Loans bear interest at a rate, which resets every one, three or six months, depending on the Companys interest period election. The applicable rate is derived from the addition of (1) a spread that ranges from 3.25% to 3.5% based on the Companys leverage plus (2) the greater of 0.5% or Term SOFR, which is defined as a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), plus a SOFR Adjustment based on the interest period as determined by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA).
On March 1, 2024, the Company entered into the third amendment to the Term Loan Credit Agreement for an incremental $400 million of term loans (2024 Incremental Term Loans). In connection with the 2024 Incremental Term Loans, the Company incurred debt issuance and transaction costs of $5.1 million and debt discounts of $8.0 million; all of which are recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of the 2024 Incremental Term Loans and are being amortized using the effective interest method over the remaining term to maturity. The 2024 Incremental Term Loans mature on March 31, 2028 and bear interest at a rate, which resets every one, three or six months, depending on the Companys interest period election. The applicable rate is derived from the addition of (1) the SOFR rate for the selected period plus a SOFR Adjustment based on the interest period as determined by CBA, plus (2) a spread of 4.0%.
The 2024 Incremental Term Loans had no impact on the terms, or amounts outstanding, under the 2021 Term Loans. The 2021 Term Loans and the 2024 Incremental Term Loans will collectively be defined as the Term Loans henceforth.
16
At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, unamortized debt issuance costs and discount related to the Term Loans were $58.1 million and $54.9 million, respectively.
On the last business day of each fiscal quarter the Company is required to make an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans, or $32.0 million annually, as presented in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The applicable weighted average interest rate for the Term Loans at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was 8.18% and 8.86%, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company made scheduled principal payments of $24.0 million and $14.0 million related to the Term Loans, respectively.
Senior Notes
On March 31, 2021, Triton Water Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $770 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 6.250% Senior Notes due 2029 (Senior Notes) that mature on April 1, 2029. The proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to finance the acquisition of NWNA.
The Company incurred $19.0 million of debt issuance costs of the Senior Notes, which were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of the Senior Notes. The debt issuance costs are being amortized using the effective interest method over a period of eight years, which represents the term to maturity of the Senior Notes. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Notes were $11.0 million and $12.6 million, respectively.
Revolver
Pursuant to its asset-based credit agreement with the lenders party thereto, the Company maintains a Revolving Credit Facility (the Revolver) which expires on March 31, 2026. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 , there were no amounts outstanding and $90.0 million outstanding, respectively. The unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Revolver were $1.9 million and $2.7 million as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and are classified as a component of other non-current assets.
The borrowing capacity is determined monthly based on a calculation taking into account certain current assets and liabilities of the Company. Amounts available for borrowing are reduced by letters of credit outstanding.
The following table summarizes amounts available for borrowing under the Revolver (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2023 |
|||||||
Revolver availability: |
||||||||
Gross availability |
$ | 350.0 | $ | 350.0 | ||||
Less: Outstanding letters of credit |
(52.0 | ) | (45.2 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net availability |
298.0 | 304.8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Borrowings |
| (90.0 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Available borrowing capacity |
$ | 298.0 | $ | 214.8 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The Company is required to pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.375%, based on the Companys average daily total utilization of the Revolver.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company was compliant with all affirmative and negative covenants in all debt agreements.
The Company estimates the fair values of its debt set forth below as of September 30, 2024, as follows (in millions):
Book Value | Fair Value | |||||||
2021 Term Loans |
$ | 2,709.6 | $ | 2,706.2 | ||||
2024 Incremental Term Loans |
$ | 397.0 | $ | 396.5 | ||||
Senior Notes |
$ | 713.0 | $ | 710.3 |
17
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using quoted market prices for similar issues. The valuation of the Companys long-term debt is categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, as defined in Note 13-Fair Value Measurements. Given the variable interest rates, the carrying value of the Revolver and other debts approximate their fair values.
NOTE 9INCOME TAXES
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $18.5 million, or an effective tax rate of 25.8%. The majority of the Companys taxable income is generated in the United States and taxed at a federal and state statutory rate of 24.9%. Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2024 effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily impacted by the negative effects of permanent book to tax differences and state non-income taxes, offset by research and development tax credits.
For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $21.4 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2023 of 27.1%. Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2023 effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily impacted by the effects of discrete items.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $48.2 million, or an effective tax rate of 25.4%. The majority of the Companys taxable income is generated in the United States and taxed at a federal and state statutory rate of 24.9%. Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2024 effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily impacted by the negative effects of permanent book to tax differences and state non-income taxes, offset by research and development tax credits.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $24.0 million. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 of 22.9%. Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2023 effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily impacted by the effects of discrete items.
NOTE 10REVENUE RECOGNITION
Disaggregation of net sales to external customers by geographic area based on customer location is as follows (unaudited, in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
United States |
$ | 1,270.3 | $ | 1,215.7 | $ | 3,655.1 | $ | 3,512.1 | ||||||||
Canada |
34.8 | 36.9 | 100.2 | 100.6 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Revenue |
$ | 1,305.1 | $ | 1,252.6 | $ | 3,755.3 | $ | 3,612.7 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract Liabilities
Contract liabilities primarily consists of payments received from customers before the Company has fulfilled its performance obligation in order to recognize revenue. These amounts are recorded as deferred revenue within accruals and other current liabilities. The deferred revenue is expected to be recognized within the next 12 months. Deferred revenues at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $2.8 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
Contract Acquisition Costs
The Company capitalizes commission expenses that are incremental costs to obtaining customer contracts. Contract acquisition costs were $4.6 million and $6.6 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Contract acquisition costs are generally recognized in the next 12 months and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
18
NOTE 11SEGMENTS
The Company produces and sells regional spring water, purified national water and flavored water brands. The Companys products are sourced and bottled in North America. The Company is also a distributor for select third-party beverage brands through the ReadyRefresh segment.
The Company identifies its operating segments according to how the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), the Chief Executive Officer, manages the business, including resource allocation and performance evaluation, and has identified two operating segments: Retail and ReadyRefresh. The Retail segment sells through traditional retail channels including club stores, mass merchandisers, supermarkets, convenience stores and foodservice locations. The Retail segment offers single-serve, case pack, occasion pack and multi-serve products through resellers. ReadyRefresh offers a subscription based direct-to-consumer and office and retailer beverage delivery service. ReadyRefreshs revenues are comprised of large format multi-serve (3 and 5 gallon bottles), the sale and rental of dispensers and other equipment, delivery and other service fees and the resale of 3rd party beverages and related products. The Company operates in two reportable segments: (i) Retail and (ii) ReadyRefresh.
The Company allocates the majority of operating expenses from the Corporate business unit to each of the reportable segments, as the resources within selling general and administrative are benefiting the operations as a whole. As part of this process, Corporate level depreciation and amortization allocations are included within the segment income reported to the CODM. However, activity within acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, other operating expenses, net and certain Corporate expenses are managed centrally at the Corporate level, and are excluded from the measure of segment performance reviewed by the CODM. Similarly, interest and financing expense, net and provision for (benefit from) income taxes are managed centrally at the Corporate level and are not reflected in segment level income.
The CODM does not manage, review, or allocate resources based on segment level total assets or capital expenditures, and therefore are not provided below.
19
Select financial information for the Companys reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (unaudited, in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
||||||||||||||||
Retail |
$ | 987.7 | $ | 947.6 | $ | 2,866.8 | $ | 2,762.2 | ||||||||
ReadyRefresh |
317.4 | 305.0 | 888.5 | 850.5 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total net sales |
$ | 1,305.1 | $ | 1,252.6 | $ | 3,755.3 | $ | 3,612.7 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||||||
Retail |
$ | 55.8 | $ | 60.6 | $ | 165.3 | $ | 170.5 | ||||||||
ReadyRefresh |
22.0 | 21.6 | 62.0 | 52.1 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total depreciation and amortization |
$ | 77.8 | $ | 82.2 | $ | 227.3 | $ | 222.6 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating income |
||||||||||||||||
Retail |
$ | 146.5 | $ | 111.6 | $ | 411.7 | $ | 265.6 | ||||||||
ReadyRefresh |
35.8 | 41.7 | 91.0 | 86.9 | ||||||||||||
Unallocated Corporate expenses |
(5.8 | ) | (6.0 | ) | (25.9 | ) | (24.0 | ) | ||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
(10.0 | ) | (4.0 | ) | (29.0 | ) | (15.0 | ) | ||||||||
Other operating (expense) income, net |
(9.0 | ) | 11.4 | (6.5 | ) | 3.9 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total operating income |
$ | 157.5 | $ | 154.7 | $ | 441.3 | $ | 317.4 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
85.7 | 75.8 | 251.8 | 212.7 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Income before income taxes |
$ | 71.8 | $ | 78.9 | $ | 189.5 | $ | 104.7 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
NOTE 12EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by giving effect to all potential shares of common stock. There are no potentially dilutive instruments, and therefore no dilutive or antidilutive share impacts for any period reported. Basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
(unaudited, $ in millions, except share and per share data) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 57.5 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | ||||||||
Dividend on preferred stock |
| 7.2 | | 20.4 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net income attributable to common stockholders |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 50.3 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 60.3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Denominator (shares): |
||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
1,030,365 | 1,028,803 | 1,030,365 | 1,028,803 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share (unaudited) |
$ | 51.73 | $ | 48.89 | $ | 137.14 | $ | 58.61 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE 13FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following table summarized the fair values of financial instruments (in millions):
September 30, 2024 (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
Financial Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market and mutual fund investments(1) |
$ | 14.5 | $ | 14.5 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Split-dollar life insurance policies |
24.7 | | 24.7 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 39.2 | $ | 14.5 | $ | 24.7 | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Financial Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Commodity forwards |
$ | 9.3 | $ | | $ | | $ | 9.3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
Financial Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market and mutual fund investments(1) |
$ | 15.4 | $ | 15.4 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Split-dollar life insurance policies |
27.5 | | 27.5 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
$ | 42.9 | $ | 15.4 | $ | 27.5 | $ | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Financial Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Commodity forwards |
$ | 3.6 | $ | | $ | | $ | 3.6 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Included within other non-current assets related to a.) rabbi trusts to fund split-dollar life insurance premiums and b.) a deferred compensation plan. |
The Companys money market and mutual fund investments are valued based on the daily market price for identical assets in active markets. The Companys split-dollar life insurance policies are valued at cash surrender value based on the fair value of underlying investment. The Company had no transfer of assets to or from Level 3 instruments for any period presented.
21
Commodity forwards and option contracts may be used from time to time to economically hedge against adverse changes in commodity prices on certain items such as diesel fuel and petroleum-based products. The Company does not use commodity derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Generally, the Company hedges a portion of its anticipated consumption for periods of up to 24 months. The fair value is derived on a net basis, based on the price that would be paid/received to settle the contracts. The gross outstanding contracts of $9.3 million as of September 30, 2024, consisted of $7.9 million recorded in accruals and other current liabilities and $1.4 million recorded in other non-current liabilities, respectively, in the Companys condensed consolidated balance sheet. The change in fair value is reflected within other operating expenses (income), net.
The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate carrying value because of the short-term maturities of these instruments.
NOTE 14COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company may be party to a variety of litigation, claims, legal or regulatory proceedings, inquiries, and investigations including but not limited to matters arising out of the ordinary course of business, including those related to advertising, marketing or commercial practices, personal injury and property damage, intellectual property rights, employment, tax and insurance, and matters relating to compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These matters are inherently uncertain and there is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in defending itself or that managements assessment of the materiality of these matters and the likely outcome or potential losses and established reserves will be consistent with the ultimate outcome of such matters. Responding to these matters, even those that are ultimately non-meritorious, may require the Company to incur significant expense and devote significant resources. While it is not possible to predict the ultimate resolution of these matters, management believes, based upon examination of currently available information, experience to date, and advice from legal counsel, that, after taking into account existing insurance coverage and amounts already provided for, the currently pending legal proceedings against the Company will not have a material adverse impact on the Companys condensed consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets or cash flows.
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. The Company believes there is no litigation pending that could have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Companys condensed consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets or cash flows.
The Company may enter into unconditional purchase obligations with third party suppliers in the ordinary course of business to secure supplies and services vital to the Companys operations and ability to serve its customers. The Company has various long-term supply and service contracts which may require that it purchase minimum quantities, for a minimum term, at fixed or variable rates.
NOTE 15RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Investors, and their associated management, in the Companys sole shareholder, Triton Water Intermediate, Inc. (Intermediate), provide various advisory services. In exchange for these services, the Company pays management fees to the related parties.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred expenses of $4.5 million and $18.6 million, respectively, which were recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Company has prepaid $3.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, which was recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company purchased $9.2 million and $24.2 million, respectively, of raw materials used in the production process from a related party. Additionally, the Company recorded a $2.0 million and $1.5 million payable related to purchases at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, to that related party.
22
NOTE 16SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On November 5, 2024 the Companys Board of Directors declared a dividend of $65.9 million to its sole shareholder, to be paid by November 8, 2024.
On November 8, 2024, Company consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 1, 2024, by and among Primo Water Corporation, a company existing under the laws of Ontario, the Company, Primo Brands Corporation (formerly known as Triton US HoldCo, Inc.), a Delaware corporation and formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Primo Brands), Triton Merger Sub 1, Inc., formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and 1000922661 Ontario Inc., formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As such, effective November 8, 2024 the Company merged with and into Primo Brands, with Primo Brands being the surviving entity in the merger.
23
Exhibit 99.3
TRITON WATER PARENT, INC.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
There may be forward-looking statements contained herein. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this presentation, including statements regarding Triton Water Parent, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries as a consolidated entity (BTB,BlueTriton, we, us, our or the Company) expressing the Companys opinions, beliefs, expectations or assumptions regarding, among other things, future results of operations and financial position, financial targets, business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations, are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current estimates of its financial results and its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs as of the date of this presentation. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for Company management to predict all risks, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements the Company may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this presentation may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this presentation speak only as of the date of those statements, and except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this report, to conform these statements to actual results or changes in the Companys expectations.
Executive Overview
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 our net sales grew to $1,305.1 million and $3,755.3 million, respectively, representing an increase of $52.5 million, or 4.2%, and $142.6 million, or 3.9%, respectively, when compared to the prior year periods. Operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $157.5 million and $441.3 million, respectively, representing improvement of $2.8 million, or 1.8%, and $123.9 million, or 39.0%, respectively, when compared to the prior year periods. Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 benefited from improved gross margins on the higher sales, led by lower storage and handling costs and freight costs as compared to the prior year periods, partially offset by higher marketing expenses and unrealized losses on commodity forwards and transaction costs in the current year quarter. Operating income for the current year to date period benefited from product manufacturing and distribution savings, led by lower water sourcing, packaging and freight costs as compared to the prior year.
1
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
The following table sets forth a summary of the Companys operations for the periods indicated (in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,305.1 | $ | 1,252.6 | $ | 52.5 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||
Cost of sales |
888.9 | 874.5 | 14.4 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Gross profit |
416.2 | 378.1 | 38.1 | 10.1 | % | |||||||||||
Gross margin % |
31.9 | % | 30.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
239.7 | 230.8 | 8.9 | 3.9 | % | |||||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
10.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 150.0 | % | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses (income), net |
9.0 | (11.4 | ) | 20.4 | (178.9 | )% | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income |
157.5 | 154.7 | 2.8 | 1.8 | % | |||||||||||
Operating margin % |
12.1 | % | 12.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
85.7 | 75.8 | 9.9 | 13.1 | % | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
71.8 | 78.9 | (7.1 | ) | (9.0 | )% | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
18.5 | 21.4 | (2.9 | ) | (13.6 | )% | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 57.5 | $ | (4.2 | ) | (7.3 | )% | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $1,305.1 million, an increase of $52.5 million, or 4.2%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by effective pricing and mix improvements and volume growth in both segments.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of manufacturing, shipping and logistics, storage and handling costs, personnel costs and allocated facilities and overhead costs associated with the products sold. Manufacturing costs consist primarily of water sourcing costs, packaging costs and labor and utilities to convert raw materials into finished products.
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, cost of sales was $888.9 million, an increase of $14.4 million, or 1.6%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by higher labor-related manufacturing and packaging costs, partially offset by favorable storage and handling costs and freight costs, when compared to the prior year period.
Gross profit and gross margin
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, gross profit was $416.2 million, an increase of $38.1 million, or 10.1%, as compared to the prior year period, and gross margin as a percentage of sales was 31.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 30% for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by higher net sales and improved costs including lower storage and handling costs and freight costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $239.7 million, an increase of $8.9 million, or 3.9%, as compared to $230.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by higher marketing, sales and promotional expenses, partially offset by lower spending on information technology.
2
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses were $10.0 million, an increase of $6.0 million, or 150.0%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to advisory and legal costs related to the proposed merger with Primo Water Corporation (Primo) announced by the Company on June 16, 2024, partially offset by lower severance charges during 2024 when compared to 2023.
Other operating expenses (income), net
Other operating expenses (income), net, includes primarily foreign exchange, unrealized mark-to-market adjustments for commodity forwards and other infrequent income or expenses.
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, other operating expenses, net were $9.0 million, compared to income of $11.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in expense was primarily due a $9.0 million unrealized loss on commodity forwards during the current period, compared to an unrealized gain of $12.0 million in the prior year.
Interest and financing expense, net
Interest and financing expense, net, includes the interest expense on outstanding debt obligations, partially offset by the amount capitalized as part of capital projects and interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash.
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, interest and financing expense, net were $85.7 million, an increase of $9.9 million, or 13.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily attributable to the incurrence of the 2024 Incremental Term Loans.
Provision for income taxes
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, provision for income taxes was $18.5 million, compared to $21.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The majority of our taxable income is generated in the United States and was taxed at an effective tax rate of 25.8% during the three months ended September 30, 2024, mainly driven by United States activity taxed at a federal and state statutory rate of 24.9%.
Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2023 effective tax rate was 27.1%, primarily impacted by discrete items in the prior year period.
Net income
Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $53.3 million, a decrease of $4.2 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, due to the factors mentioned above.
Segment Results
Retail
(in millions) | Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 987.7 | $ | 947.6 | $ | 40.1 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||
Operating income |
146.5 | 111.6 | 34.9 | 31.3 | % | |||||||||||
Operating margin % |
14.8 | % | 11.8 | % |
Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $987.7 million, an increase of $40.1 million, or 4.2%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by effective pricing and mix improvements and, to a lesser extent, by volume growth.
Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $146.5 million, an increase of $34.9 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily as a result of the aforementioned increase in volumes and the overall improved gross margins as a result of lower freight and storage costs, offsetting higher packaging costs. The operating income improvement was also partially offset by higher marketing expenses.
3
ReadyRefresh
(in millions) | Three Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 317.4 | $ | 305.0 | $ | 12.4 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||
Operating income |
35.8 | 41.7 | (5.9 | ) | (14.1 | )% | ||||||||||
Operating margin % |
11.3 | % | 13.7 | % |
Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $317.4 million, an increase of $12.4 million, or 4.1%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by a near equal impact of effective pricing and mix, and volume improvements.
Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $35.8 million, a decrease of $5.9 million, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily as a result of higher labor-related delivery costs and marketing expenses, partially offset by improved pricing and mix and lower broker commissions.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
The following table sets forth a summary of the Companys operations for the periods indicated (in millions):
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 3,755.3 | $ | 3,612.7 | $ | 142.6 | 3.9 | % | ||||||||
Cost of sales |
2,563.8 | 2,574.9 | (11.1 | ) | (0.4 | )% | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Gross profit |
1,191.5 | 1,037.8 | 153.7 | 14.8 | % | |||||||||||
Gross margin % |
31.7 | % | 28.7 | % | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
714.7 | 709.3 | 5.4 | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
29.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 93.3 | % | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses (income), net |
6.5 | (3.9 | ) | 10.4 | (266.7 | )% | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income |
441.3 | 317.4 | 123.9 | 39.0 | % | |||||||||||
Operating margin % |
11.8 | % | 8.8 | % | ||||||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
251.8 | 212.7 | 39.1 | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
189.5 | 104.7 | 84.8 | 81.0 | % | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
48.2 | 24.0 | 24.2 | 100.8 | % | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | $ | 60.6 | 75.1 | % | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $3,755.3 million, an increase of $142.6 million, or 3.9%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by volume growth in both segments, and effective pricing and mix improvements in the ReadyRefresh segment.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of manufacturing, shipping and logistics, storage and handling costs, personnel costs and allocated facilities and overhead costs associated with the products sold. Manufacturing costs consist primarily of water sourcing costs, packaging costs and labor and utilities to convert raw materials into finished products.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, cost of sales was $2,563.8 million, a decrease of $11.1 million, or 0.4%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by favorable freight, water sourcing costs and packaging costs, when compared to the prior year period, partially offset by higher labor-related and storage costs.
4
Gross profit and gross margin
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, gross profit was $1,191.5 million, an increase of $153.7 million, or 14.8%, as compared to the prior year period, and gross margin as a percentage of sales was 31.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 28.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by higher net sales and favorable freight, packaging, and water sourcing costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $714.7 million, an increase of $5.4 million, or 0.8%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by higher labor-related costs, including variable compensation, and related party management fees, partially offset by lower information technology costs.
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses were $29.0 million, an increase of $14.0 million, or 93.3%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to advisory and legal costs related to the proposed merger with Primo, partially offset by lower severance charges during 2024 when compared to 2023.
Other operating expenses (income), net
Other operating expenses (income), net, includes primarily foreign exchange, unrealized mark-to-market adjustments for commodity forwards and other infrequent income or expenses.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, other operating expense, net was $6.5 million, compared to income of $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The change was primarily due to an unrealized loss of $5.8 million on commodity forwards in the current period, compared to an unrealized gain of $5.6 million in the prior year period.
Interest and financing expense, net
Interest and financing expense, net, includes the interest expense on outstanding debt obligations, partially offset by the amount capitalized as part of capital projects and interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, interest and financing expense, net was $251.8 million, an increase of $39.1 million, or 18.4%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily attributable to the issuance of the 2024 Incremental Term Loans, the amounts drawn down on the revolving credit facility and the higher variable interest rate on the Term Loan Facility compared to the prior year period.
Provision for income taxes
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the provision for income taxes was $48.2 million, compared to $24.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The majority of our taxable income is generated in the United States and taxed at an effective tax rate of 25.4% for the current period, driven by the United States activity taxed at a federal and state statutory rate of 24.9%.
Relative to the federal and state statutory rate, the 2023 effective tax rate was 22.9%, primarily impacted by discrete items in the prior year period.
Net income
Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $141.3 million, an improvement of $60.6 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, due to the factors mentioned above.
5
Segment Results
Retail
(in millions) | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 2,866.8 | $ | 2,762.2 | $ | 104.6 | 3.8 | % | ||||||||
Operating income |
411.7 | 265.6 | 146.1 | 55.0 | % | |||||||||||
Operating margin % |
14.4 | % | 9.6 | % |
Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $2,866.8 million, an increase of $104.6 million, or 3.8%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, due to volume growth.
Operating income nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $411.7 million, an increase of $146.1 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily as a result of higher sales at higher gross margins due to lower freight and packaging costs, and further benefiting from lower information technology costs when compared to the prior year. This improvement was partially offset by higher selling expenses, primarily labor-related costs.
ReadyRefresh
(in millions) | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Variance | % Change | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 888.5 | $ | 850.5 | $ | 38.0 | 4.5 | % | ||||||||
Operating income |
91.0 | 86.9 | 4.1 | 4.7 | % | |||||||||||
Operating margin % |
10.2 | % | 10.2 | % |
Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $888.5 million, an increase of $38.0 million, or 4.5%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by effective pricing and mix improvement, and to a lesser extent volume growth during the current year period.
Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $91.0 million, an increase of $4.1 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily as a result of higher net sales and lower broker commissions and bad debt expense, partially offset by higher labor-related distribution costs and higher marketing expenses.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We present certain non-GAAP measures including Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow and measures derived therefrom, which are not required by, or presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP. We use Adjusted EBITDA as an important performance metric for the Company. In addition, Free Cash Flow is an important liquidity metric that we use to evaluate our ability to make principal payments on our indebtedness and to fund our capital expenditures and working capital requirements. We present Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow because we believe these measures are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry.
Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These are not measurements of our financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of our liquidity and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other businesses. These non-GAAP metrics do not necessarily indicate whether cash flow will be sufficient or available to meet our cash requirements and may not be indicative of our historical operating results, nor are such measures meant to be predictive of our future results. In the future, we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments noted herein to calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow. However, the magnitude of such adjustments for the periods presented herein is not necessarily indicative of the magnitude of such adjustments in future periods. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
6
Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results or cash flows as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include that:
| Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; |
| Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; |
| Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary, to service interest on our indebtedness; |
| although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and not all of these measures reflect cash requirements for such replacements; |
| non-cash compensation is a key element of our long-term executive incentive compensation package, although we exclude it as an expense when evaluating our ongoing operating performance for a particular period; |
| the fact that other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, which limits their usefulness as comparative measures; and |
| these measures do not reflect the impact of certain cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations. |
Furthermore, we compensate for the limitations described above by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow only for supplemental purposes.
Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest and financing expense, net, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, depreciation and amortization; adjusted for transaction related costs, one-time consulting fees, management fees, legal fees related to cases originating under Nestle, unrealized foreign exchange and commodity forward losses (gains), net, nonrecurring costs related to software implementation, severance costs associated with restructuring plans, write-off of long-lived assets, and other infrequent or nonrecurring adjustments, net. This is an important metric that management uses as an analytical indicator to evaluate our performance, allocate resources and measure leverage. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful metric for management, investors and analysts because it excludes certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry, and it removes the impact of items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. These differences can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies, and we believe these adjustments allow for consistent comparison of our operating results over time and relative to our peers.
We use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement U.S. GAAP measures of performance in evaluating the effectiveness of our business strategies, and to establish annual budgets and forecasts. We also use Adjusted EBITDA to establish short-term incentive compensation for management.
7
The following table reconciles net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented.
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 53.3 | $ | 57.5 | $ | 141.3 | $ | 80.7 | ||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
85.7 | 75.8 | 251.8 | 212.7 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
18.5 | 21.4 | 48.2 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
77.8 | 82.2 | 227.3 | 222.6 | ||||||||||||
Primo transaction related costs1 |
7.8 | | 26.7 | | ||||||||||||
One-time consulting fees2 |
3.0 | 2.3 | 6.4 | 9.1 | ||||||||||||
Related party management fees |
4.5 | 3.4 | 18.6 | 11.2 | ||||||||||||
Legal fees |
1.4 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 6.8 | ||||||||||||
Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign exchange and commodity forwards, net |
8.8 | (11.5 | ) | 6.1 | (3.6 | ) | ||||||||||
Software implementation costs |
| 1.1 | | 4.3 | ||||||||||||
Severance and other employee-related costs |
0.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 8.4 | ||||||||||||
Write-off of long-lived assets |
2.1 | | 3.8 | | ||||||||||||
Other |
0.9 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 2.1 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 264.1 | $ | 237.9 | $ | 739.8 | $ | 578.3 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. | Primo transaction related costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024 include $4.0 million of legal fees and $1.6 million of one-time consulting fees, respectively. Primo transaction related costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 include $15.2 million of legal fees and $9.2 million of one-time consulting fees, respectively. All related costs are a component of Acquisition, integration and restructuring. |
2. | For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded One-time consulting fees of $1.4 million and $1.6 million within Selling, general and administrative and Acquisition, integration and restructuring, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded One-time consulting fees of of $4.8 million and $1.6 million within Selling, general and administrative and Acquisition, integration and restructuring, respectively. |
Free Cash Flow
We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets not acquired in a business combination (mainly software development costs). We believe Free Cash Flow assists investors and analysts in evaluating our liquidity and cash flows, including our ability to make principal payments on our indebtedness and to fund our capital expenditures and working capital requirements.
The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to Free Cash Flow for the periods presented.
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 370.1 | $ | 198.8 | ||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(96.9 | ) | (162.0 | ) | ||||
Purchases of intangible assets |
(36.4 | ) | (12.2 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Free cash flow |
$ | 236.8 | $ | 24.6 | ||||
|
|
|
|
8
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal liquidity requirements are for working capital and general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and debt service, dividends and acquisitions. We have historically funded our operations and acquisitions primarily through debt financing and cash provided by operating activities.
We believe that a combination of cash generated from operating activities, undrawn availability under the ABL Revolving Credit Agreement, and borrowings under the Term Loan Facility will provide sufficient liquidity to support our working capital needs, planned growth and capital expenditure needs, service the ongoing principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, along with our other funding and investment requirements for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future. However, we do not expect to generate sufficient cash from operations to repay at maturity the entirety of the then-outstanding balances of our debt, including the Term Loan that is expected to mature in 2028 and the Senior Notes that are expected to mature in 2029. As a result, we will then be dependent upon our ability to access the credit markets or source additional equity investments to repay or refinance the outstanding balances of our indebtedness. Failure to raise significant amounts of funding to repay these obligations at maturity would adversely affect our financial condition. We may also require additional capital in the future to pursue attractive acquisition opportunities in our industry. In addition, our ability to service our indebtedness and to fund our other liquidity requirements will depend on our ability to generate and access cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, contractual, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors.
As of September 30, 2024, we had $177 million of cash on hand (of which $2 million is restricted) and had access to a $350 million ABL Revolving Credit Agreement (availability of $298 million, net of outstanding letters of credit of $52 million). We, or our affiliates, may from time to time seek to repurchase or retire outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers or otherwise. Any future repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity, contractual restrictions, and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
The following tables sets forth a summary of the Companys cash flows for the periods indicated (in millions):
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 370.1 | $ | 198.8 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(130.4 | ) | (171.3 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(109.7 | ) | (19.7 | ) | ||||
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
(0.3 | ) | (0.1 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
129.7 | 7.7 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period |
47.0 | 105.8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period |
$ | 176.7 | $ | 113.5 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities was $370.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $198.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Improvement for the 2024 period was primarily due a significant reduction in the use of cash from working capital and an increase in net income.
Net cash used in investing activities was $130.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $171.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower capital expenditures during the current period.
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $109.7 million, compared to $19.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increased use of cash is primarily due to the net $90.0 million repayment of our Revolver during 2024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued the 2024 Incremental Term Loans for net proceeds of $392.0 million, offset by a dividend payment of $382.7 million and principal debt repayments.
9
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our material contractual obligations as of September 30, 2024 primarily consisted of long-term debt principal and interest payments and various operating and finance leases for our facilities. Additionally, we may enter into unconditional purchase obligations with third party suppliers in the ordinary course of business, which are entered into to secure access to springs, subscriptions, utilities, services and supplies vital to our operations and ability to serve our customers. For additional discussion on our operating and finance leases and debt, see Note 6-Leases and Note 8-Debt to our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to sales incentives recorded against revenue, inventory reserves, fair value of reporting units in connection with the annual goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assessments and valuation of self-insurance reserves. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our business and financial results are affected by fluctuations in world financial markets, including interest rates, credit risk and overall inflation risks. We may utilize fixed price or volume contracts that may extend over one year and derivative financial instruments (including interest rate swap arrangements), among other methods, to hedge some of these exposures. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
10
Exhibit 99.4
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
(unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share and par value data)
Pro forma condensed combined financial information
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of SEC Regulation S-X, as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses. Release No. 33-10786 replaced the previous pro forma adjustment criteria with simplified requirements to depict the accounting for business combinations (Transaction Accounting Adjustments) and permitted the presentation of reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (Managements Adjustments). Management of Triton Water Parent, Inc. (BlueTriton) and Primo Water Corporation (Primo Water) (collectively Management) has elected not to present Managements Adjustments and only present Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The Transaction Accounting Adjustments presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information are made to provide relevant information necessary for an understanding of Primo Brands Corporation (formerly known as Triton US HoldCo, Inc.) (Primo Brands or the Company), to reflect the accounting for the Transaction and the special dividends to be paid to Primo Water and BlueTriton shareholders prior to the closing of the Transaction.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 gives pro forma effect to the Transaction, which is more particularly described and set forth elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this Form 8-K), as if it had occurred on September 30, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 give pro forma effect to the Transaction as if it had occurred on January 1, 2023, which is the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the following historical financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto, which are included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Form 8-K:
| The audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of BlueTriton as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
| The audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of Primo Water as of and for the year ended December 30, 2023; |
| The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes of BlueTriton as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024; and |
| The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes of Primo Water as of and for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2024. |
Net income from discontinued operations in the historical financial statements of Primo Water has not been included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should also be read together with other financial information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this Form 8-K.
The accounting policies used in the preparation of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information incorporate the significant accounting policies used by BlueTriton for the respective periods in the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 8-K. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and may not necessarily reflect what Primo Brands financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transaction occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of Primo Brands. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors, including, among others, the actual expenses of the Transaction and other additional information that becomes available after the date of this Form 8-K, and it is possible the differences may be material.
As of the date of this Form 8-K, BlueTriton has not completed the valuation analysis and calculations in sufficient detail necessary to arrive at the required estimates of the fair value of the Primo Water assets to be acquired or liabilities to be assumed, other than a preliminary estimate for intangible assets. Accordingly, certain Primo Water assets and liabilities are presented at their respective carrying amounts and should be treated as preliminary values. A final determination of the fair value of Primo Waters assets and liabilities will be based on Primo Waters actual assets and liabilities as of closing of the Transaction and, therefore, cannot be made prior to the consummation of the Transaction. In addition, the value of the purchase consideration upon the consummation of the Transaction will be determined based on the estimated fair value of the share consideration transferred by Primo Brands as of closing of the Transaction. Actual adjustments may differ from the amounts reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, and the differences may be material.
The pro forma adjustments represent Managements estimates based on information available as of the date of this Form 8-K and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
The Transaction will be accounted for as a business combination in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), with BlueTriton as accounting acquirer. Through a series of transactions, Primo Brands will issue common shares and other equity instruments to Primo Water shareholders and employees such that, upon closing, former BlueTriton shareholders will own 57% of the Fully Diluted Shares and former Primo Water shareholders and employees will own 43% of the Fully Diluted Shares.
As used herein, Fully Diluted Shares refers to the sum of (i) the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Class A Shares) and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Class B Shares and, together with the Class A Shares, the Shares), issued and outstanding, plus (ii) the aggregate maximum number of Class A Shares issuable in respect of any equity interests of the Company, including with respect to replacement awards and Primo Brands Conversion RSUs, in each case, that are outstanding or deemed outstanding (and assuming the vesting in full of any of the foregoing subject to vesting or similar conditions).
The fair value of the consideration for the acquisition of the common shares of Primo Water, no par value (Primo Shares), will ultimately be based on the estimated fair value of the Primo Brands equity instruments issued in connection with this Transaction immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction.
For purposes of the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the estimated fair value of the consideration transferred is based on the quoted market closing price of Primo Shares, which is more reliably measurable than the value of the Primo Brands shares and BlueTritons common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (BlueTriton Shares) as their shares are not publicly traded before the close of the Transaction. The value of Primo Shares will change based on fluctuations in the market price of Primo Shares until the closing of the Transaction. Accordingly, the final consideration could differ significantly from the current estimate. On November 6, 2024, the market closing price of the Primo Shares on the NYSE was $25.50 per share.
Summary of Pro Forma Ownership
The following table summarizes the pro forma ownership of Fully Diluted Shares following the Transaction:
% | ||||
Shares held by current BlueTriton shareholders |
57.0 | % | ||
Shares held by current Primo Water shareholders |
43.0 | |||
Pro Forma Shares |
100.0 | % | ||
|
|
|||
Additional Shares that could be issued in the future and that are considered in the above ownership percentages: | ||||
Exercisable currently or immediately following the closing of the Transaction |
||||
Primo Brands Replacement Options |
1,194,877 | |||
Exercisable upon vesting |
||||
Primo Brands Conversion RSUs |
2,494,926 | |||
Primo Brands Replacement RSUs |
793,040 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
September 30, 2024
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except share and par value data)
BlueTriton | Primo Water |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments |
Notes | Pro Forma Primo Brands |
||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Note 3 | (a) | Note 3 | (b) | |||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
176.7 | 667.3 | (76.9 | ) | 3 | (g) | 634.1 | |||||||||||||
(133.0 | ) | 3 | (h) | |||||||||||||||||
Trade receivables, net of credit loss |
452.6 | 185.8 | 638.4 | |||||||||||||||||
Inventories |
199.3 | 48.6 | 247.9 | |||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
57.1 | 18.8 | (0.6 | ) | 3 | (e) | 75.3 | |||||||||||||
Current assets of discontinued operations |
| 77.8 | 77.8 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
885.7 | 998.3 | (210.5 | ) | 1,673.5 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
1,524.4 | 544.1 | (26.1 | ) | 3 | (c) | 2,042.4 | |||||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
498.8 | 143.1 | 641.9 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
816.6 | 1,009.4 | 2,127.7 | 3 | (e) | 3,953.7 | ||||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
1,402.7 | 709.3 | 947.8 | 3 | (e) | 3,059.8 | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets |
53.6 | 20.6 | (3.6 | ) | 3 | (e) | 70.6 | |||||||||||||
Long-term assets of discontinued operations |
| 138.3 | 138.3 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
5,181.8 | 3,563.1 | 2,835.3 | 11,580.2 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
45.3 | 14.9 | 60.2 | |||||||||||||||||
Trade payables |
354.3 | | 91.5 | 3 | (d) | 445.8 | ||||||||||||||
Accruals and other current liabilities |
379.0 | | 202.6 | 3 | (d) | 714.3 | ||||||||||||||
132.7 | 3 | (f) | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
| 294.1 | (294.1 | ) | 3 | (d) | | |||||||||||||
Current portion of operating lease obligations |
68.3 | 26.2 | 94.5 | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities of discontinued operations |
| 90.9 | 90.9 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
846.9 | 426.1 | 132.7 | 1,405.7 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
3,750.1 | 1,268.8 | 5,018.9 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations, less current portion |
449.4 | 129.4 | 578.8 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
353.1 | 142.0 | 238.7 | 3 | (e) | 733.8 | ||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities |
23.8 | 79.4 | 103.2 | |||||||||||||||||
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations |
| 34.5 | 34.5 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
5,423.3 | 2,080.2 | 371.4 | 7,874.9 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
||||||||||||||||||||
BlueTriton common shares, $0.01 par value |
| | | 3 | (i) | | ||||||||||||||
Primo Water common shares, no par value |
| 1,311.1 | (1,311.1 | ) | 3 | (e) | | |||||||||||||
Primo Brands Corporation Class A common stock, $0.01 par value |
| | 1.6 | 3 | (e) | 3.2 | ||||||||||||||
1.6 | 3 | (i) | ||||||||||||||||||
Primo Brands Corporation Class B common stock, $0.01 par value |
| | 0.6 | 3 | (i) | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
1,025.4 | 91.2 | (91.2 | ) | 3 | (e) | 5,178.0 | |||||||||||||
4,088.5 | 3 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||
66.3 | 3 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||
(2.2 | ) | 3 | (i) | |||||||||||||||||
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings |
(1,255.7 | ) | 194.5 | (35.4 | ) | 3 | (e) | (1,465.3 | ) | |||||||||||
(26.1 | ) | 3 | (c) | |||||||||||||||||
(132.7 | ) | 3 | (f) | |||||||||||||||||
(76.9 | ) | 3 | (g) | |||||||||||||||||
(133.0 | ) | 3 | (h) | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(11.2 | ) | (113.9 | ) | 113.9 | 3 | (e) | (11.2 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity |
(241.5 | ) | 1,482.9 | 2,463.9 | 3,705.3 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
5,181.8 | 3,563.1 | 2,835.3 | 11,580.2 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share and par value data)
BlueTriton | Primo Water | Transaction Accounting Adjustments |
Notes | Pro Forma Primo Brands |
||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Note 4 | (a) | Note 4 | (b) | |||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
3,755.3 | 1,448.4 | 5,203.7 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
2,563.8 | 508.3 | (6.2 | ) | 4 | (d) | 3,469.3 | |||||||||||||
376.9 | 4 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||
26.5 | 4 | (f) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Gross profit |
1,191.5 | 940.1 | (397.2 | ) | 1,734.4 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
714.7 | 776.1 | 1.2 | 4 | (c) | 1,118.1 | ||||||||||||||
(376.9 | ) | 4 | (e) | |||||||||||||||||
(22.4 | ) | 4 | (f) | |||||||||||||||||
25.4 | 4 | (g) | ||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
29.0 | 26.6 | 55.6 | |||||||||||||||||
Other operating income, net |
6.5 | | 0.7 | 4 | (f) | 7.2 | ||||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net |
| 4.1 | (4.1 | ) | 4 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
Gain on sale of property |
| (0.5 | ) | 0.5 | 4 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Operating income |
441.3 | 133.8 | (21.6 | ) | 553.5 | |||||||||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
251.8 | 25.0 | 276.8 | |||||||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
| 1.2 | (1.2 | ) | 4 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income tax |
189.5 | 107.6 | (20.4 | ) | 276.7 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
48.2 | 37.4 | (5.3 | ) | 4 | (h) | 80.3 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations |
141.3 | 70.2 | (15.1 | ) | 196.4 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share of Class A and Class B common stock: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
137.14 | 0.44 | 6 | 0.52 | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
137.14 | 0.43 | 6 | 0.52 | ||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding (in thousands): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
1,030 | 160,016 | 6 | 379,014 | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
1,030 | 161,577 | 6 | 380,575 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2023
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share and par value data)
BlueTriton | Primo Water | Transaction Accounting Adjustments |
Notes | Pro Forma Primo Brands |
||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Note 5 | (a) | Note 5 | (b) | |||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
4,698.7 | 1,771.8 | 6,470.5 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales |
3,346.7 | 634.8 | (3.0 | ) | 5 | (d) | 4,470.4 | |||||||||||||
456.5 | 5 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||
35.4 | 5 | (f) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Gross profit |
1,352.0 | 1,137.0 | (488.9 | ) | 2,000.1 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
924.2 | 976.0 | 1.9 | 5 | (c) | 1,452.3 | ||||||||||||||
(456.5 | ) | 5 | (e) | |||||||||||||||||
(26.3 | ) | 5 | (f) | |||||||||||||||||
33.0 | 5 | (h) | ||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses |
16.9 | 9.5 | 132.7 | 5 | (g) | 159.1 | ||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses (income), net |
4.9 | | (19.8 | ) | 5 | (f) | (14.9 | ) | ||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net |
| 9.1 | (9.1 | ) | 5 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
Gain on sale of property |
| (21.0 | ) | 21.0 | 5 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Operating income |
406.0 | 163.4 | (165.8 | ) | 403.6 | |||||||||||||||
Interest and financing expense, net |
288.1 | 71.4 | 359.5 | |||||||||||||||||
Other expense, net |
| 1.2 | (1.2 | ) | 5 | (f) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax |
117.9 | 90.8 | (164.6 | ) | 44.1 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
25.1 | 27.0 | (32.2 | ) | 5 | (i) | 19.9 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
92.8 | 63.8 | (132.4 | ) | 24.2 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for Class A and Class B common stock: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
62.10 | 0.40 | 6 | (0.01 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding (in thousands): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
1,029 | 159,452 | 6 | 379,014 | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
1,029 | 160,619 | 6 | 379,014 |
Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except share, per share and par value data)
1. | Description of the Transaction |
On November 8, 2024, Primo Brands consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2024, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 1, 2024 (as amended, the Arrangement Agreement) by and among Primo Water, BlueTriton, Primo Brands, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueTriton, Merger Sub, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Primo Brands, and Amalgamation Sub, formerly a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Primo Brands. Through a series of transactions, Primo Brands became the surviving corporation, and Primo Water and Triton Water Intermediate, Inc., previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueTriton, became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Primo Brands. The Arrangement Agreement is more particularly described and set forth in the Form 8-K accompanying the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
2. | Basis of presentation |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2024 has been prepared by Management for the purposes of presenting the impact of the Transaction as if it had occurred on September 30, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 have been prepared by Management for the purposes of presenting the impact of the Transaction as if it had occurred on January 1, 2023, which is the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not include any anticipated operating efficiencies or cost savings and, accordingly, only includes Transaction Accounting Adjustments. The Transaction Accounting Adjustments presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information are made to provide relevant information necessary for an understanding of Primo Brands and to reflect the accounting for the Transaction.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, including the notes thereto, should be read in conjunction with the BlueTriton and Primo Water historical financial statements, and their respective Managements Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Form 8-K. The historical financial information of BlueTriton and Primo Water are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on assumptions and adjustments that are described in the accompanying notes. The pro forma adjustments presented herein are preliminary and are based on available financial information and certain estimates and assumptions. Management believes that such assumptions provide a reasonable basis for presenting all the significant effects of the contemplated transactions, and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The actual adjustments to the consolidated financial statements of Primo Brands will likely differ from the pro forma adjustments herein.
BlueTriton and Primo Water have not had any material historical relationship prior to the Transaction. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
3. | Adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance sheet |
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
Pro Forma Notes
(a) | Derived from the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Triton Water Parent, Inc. as of September 30, 2024. |
(b) | Derived from the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Primo Water Corporation as of September 28, 2024. |
Pro forma Transaction Accounting Adjustments
(c) | BlueTriton expenses costs for returnable bottles as incurred. As Primo Water capitalizes these costs in property, plant and equipment, this adjustment reflects the net change in the amount of property, plant, and equipment to conform to BlueTriton. |
(d) | To reflect reclassifications to provide a consistent classification and presentation to BlueTritons financial statement presentation. |
(e) | To reflect the purchase price allocation adjustments to record Primo Waters assets and liabilities at estimated fair value based on the consideration transferred. |
Under the acquisition method of accounting, the purchase price is allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values, with any excess purchase price allocated to goodwill.
As of the date of this Form 8-K, BlueTriton has not completed the valuation analysis and calculations in sufficient detail necessary to arrive at the required estimates of the fair value of the Primo Water assets to be acquired or liabilities to be assumed, other than a preliminary estimate for intangible assets. Accordingly, certain Primo Water assets and liabilities are presented at their respective carrying amounts and should be treated as preliminary values. The actual determination of the fair value of the Primo Water assets and liabilities will be based on the actual net assets and liabilities of Primo Water that exist as of the closing of the Transaction and, therefore, cannot be made prior to the completion of the Transaction. The value of the consideration transferred will be based on the quoted market price of Primo Shares immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction. The pro forma adjustments included herein may be adjusted as additional information becomes available and as additional analyses are performed. The final purchase price allocation may be different than that reflected in the preliminary pro forma purchase price allocation presented herein, and this difference may be material.
The following table reflects the effect of Primo Waters preliminary purchase price allocation:
(in millions, except per share $) |
Fair value | |||
Purchase price |
||||
Estimated fair value of equity instruments: |
||||
Class A common stock issued to Primo Water shareholders(1) |
4,090.1 | |||
Replacement share-based payment awards: |
||||
Stock options(2) |
14.9 | |||
Performance-based RSUs converted into time-based RSUs(2) |
37.6 | |||
Time-based RSUs(2) |
13.8 | |||
|
|
|||
4,156.4 | ||||
|
|
(1) | The number of Class A common stock issued to Primo Water shareholders assumes no shareholder validly exercised dissent rights pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), which, when duly exercised, entitle the shareholder to be paid the fair value of shares owned. The estimated fair value of the 160,395,812 Class A common stock issued to Primo Water shareholders of $25.50 per share was based on the quoted market price of Primo Shares as of November 6, 2024. For illustrative purposes, a 10% increase (decrease) of the market price of Primo Shares would have the potential effect to increase (decrease) the consideration transferred by $409.0 with a corresponding increase (decrease) to goodwill. |
The estimated fair value of the share consideration transferred of $4,090.1 has been allocated as follows: $1.6 is included in Class A common stock (par value) and the remaining amount of $4,088.5 is included in additional paid-in capital.
(2) | In accordance with the terms of the Plan of Arrangement, share-based payment awards held by employees of Primo Water will be exchanged into Primo Brands awards, and are deemed to be replacement awards issued. Each stock option and time-based RSU, including Robbert Rietbroeks inducement award of 232,558 time-based RSUs granted on January 2, 2024, will have substantially the same terms and conditions as immediately prior to the Transaction including the stock option exercise price and number of options and units (assuming no changes to the Exchange Ratio). Each performance-based RSU will be converted into a time-based RSU to acquire Class A common stock (Primo Brands Conversion RSU) on substantially the same terms and conditions as immediately prior to the Transaction, except that the number of Class A common stock subject to the Primo Brands Conversion RSU shall equal the number of Primo Shares underlying such performance-based RSU, as determined by the Primo Brands board of directors prior to the Transaction based on the expected performance of Primo Water for the performance period (assuming no changes to the Exchange Ratio), and the Primo Brands Conversion RSU will have a time-based vesting period equal to the remaining performance period of such performance-based RSU. The performance-based RSUs above assume a payout at target of 1.83x resulting in the issuance of 2,494,926 Class A common stock. |
The estimated value of the replacement awards at the pro forma balance sheet date is $98.8. The consideration for the business combination includes $14.9 for stock options, $37.6 for performance-based RSUs and $13.8 for time-based RSUs transferred to employees of Primo Water when the acquirees awards were substituted by the replacement awards, which relates to past service, for an aggregate amount of $66.3 included in additional paid-in capital. The balance of $32.5 is attributed to post-acquisition compensation cost.
The estimated fair value was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model for the 1,194,877 stock options, considering the terms and conditions upon which the stock options were granted, using the following assumptions:
Stock options | ||||
Expected dividend yield |
1.4 | % | ||
Weighted average expected volatility |
27.6 | % | ||
Weighted average risk-free rate |
4.14 | % | ||
Weighted average expected life (years) |
3.90 | |||
Share price |
$ | 25.50 | ||
Weighted average exercise price |
$ | 14.30 | ||
Weighted average fair value |
$ | 12.45 |
The expected volatility of these stock options was determined using historical volatility rates of Primo Water, the dividend yield was determined using Primo Waters expected dividends and the expected life was determined using the weighted average life of Primo Waters past options issued. Primo Water assumptions and history are used as a proxy for Primo Brands for purposes of the pro forma adjustment. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect with a term equal to expected term used in the Black-Scholes model.
The estimated fair value of the 793,040 time-based RSUs and 1,365,976 performance-based RSUs converted into 2,494,926 time-based RSUs was based on the quoted market price of Primo Shares as of November 6, 2024.
(3) | The identifiable intangible assets consist of indefinite life trade names and customer relationships, which are assumed to be amortized over 15 years for the purpose of these pro forma condensed combined financial information. |
(4) | Deferred taxes associated with the incremental differences in book and tax basis created from the preliminary purchase price allocation were calculated using an estimated tax rate of 25.9%. |
The historical balances of Primo Shares, additional paid-in capital and accumulated other comprehensive loss of $1,311.1, $91.2 and ($113.9), respectively, were derecognized, as well as its retained earnings, comprising the historical retained earnings of $194.5, and the impact to retained earnings of pro forma adjustments related to the $26.1 returnable bottles and recognition of $133.0 one-time special dividend (see adjustments 3(c) and 3(h), respectively).
The final determination of the purchase price allocation of the business acquisition will be based on Primo Waters net assets acquired as of the acquisition date. The purchase price allocation may change materially based on the receipt of more detailed information. Therefore, the actual allocations may differ from the pro forma adjustments presented.
(f) | To reflect the payment of $132.7 of estimated non-recurring incremental transaction costs of BlueTriton, including advisory, printing, legal and accounting services that are not recorded as of September 30, 2024, as an increase to accumulated deficit. This estimate may change as additional information becomes known. The Transaction is not expected to have a recurring impact. Costs of $22.3 have been accrued in the historical financial statements of BlueTriton. |
(g) | To reflect a one-time special dividend to holders of BlueTriton Shares immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction in an aggregate amount not to exceed $76.9. |
(h) | To reflect a one-time special dividend to holders of Primo Shares immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction in an aggregate amount not to exceed $133.0. |
(i) | To reflect the conversion of all BlueTriton Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Transaction into 154,105,789 Class A common stock and 64,512,579 Class B common stock, with a corresponding entry in accumulated paid-in capital. |
4. | Adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 |
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
Pro Forma Notes
(a) | Derived from the condensed consolidated statement of operations of Triton Water Parent, Inc. for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. |
(b) | Derived from the condensed consolidated statement of operations (from continuing operations) of Primo Water Corporation for the nine months ended September 28, 2024. |
Pro Forma Transaction Accounting Adjustments
(c) | BlueTriton capitalizes commission expenses that are incremental costs to obtaining customer contracts. Contract acquisition costs are generally recognized over a period of 12 months. As Primo Water expenses these costs over 4 years, this adjustment reflects the net change in the amount of deferred costs amortized during the period to conform to BlueTriton. |
(d) | BlueTriton expenses costs for returnable bottles as incurred. As Primo Water capitalizes these costs in property, plant and equipment, this adjustment reflects the net change in the amount of cost of sales during the period to conform to BlueTriton. |
(e) | BlueTriton records storage and handling expenses in cost of sales. As Primo Water has an accounting policy to record certain shipping and handling costs incurred to deliver products to the end-user consumer in selling, general and administrative expenses, this adjustment reflects the reclassification from selling, general and administrative expenses to cost of sales to conform Primo Waters accounting policy to that of BlueTriton. |
(f) | To reflect reclassifications to provide a consistent classification and presentation to BlueTritons financial statement presentation. |
(g) | To reflect the incremental amortization of identifiable intangible assets acquired in the Transaction (see note 3(e)). |
(h) | To reflect income tax related to the pro forma adjustments using a blended statutory rate inclusive of U.S. federal and state taxes. |
5. | Adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 |
The pro forma notes and adjustments, based on preliminary estimates that could change materially as additional information is obtained, are as follows:
Pro Forma Notes
(a) | Derived from the consolidated statement of operations of Triton Water Parent, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023. |
(b) | Derived from the consolidated statement of operations (from continuing operations) of Primo Water Corporation for the year ended December 30, 2023. |
Pro Forma Transaction Accounting Adjustments
(c) | BlueTriton capitalizes commission expenses that are incremental costs to obtaining customer contracts. Contract acquisition costs are generally expensed over a period of 12 months. As Primo Water expenses these costs over 4 years, this adjustment reflects the net change in the amount of deferred costs amortized during the period to conform to BlueTriton. |
(d) | BlueTriton expenses costs for returnable bottles as incurred. As Primo Water capitalizes these costs in property, plant and equipment, this adjustment reflects the net change in the amount of cost of sales during the period to conform to BlueTriton. |
(e) | BlueTriton records storage and handling expenses in cost of sales. As Primo Water has an accounting policy to record certain shipping and handling costs incurred to deliver products to the end-user consumer in selling, general and administrative expenses, this adjustment reflects the reclassification from selling, general and administrative expenses to cost of sales to conform Primo Waters accounting policy to that of BlueTriton. |
(f) | To reflect reclassifications to provide a consistent classification and presentation to BlueTritons financial statement presentation. |
(g) | To reflect BlueTritons estimated incremental advisory, legal, accounting, and other professional fees of $132.7 related to the Transaction. This estimate may change as additional information becomes known. Primo Waters incremental advisory, legal, accounting, and other professional fees not included in the Transaction Accounting Adjustments are estimated at $68.0. |
(h) | To reflect the incremental amortization of identifiable intangible assets acquired in the Transaction (see note 3(e)). |
(i) | To reflect income tax related to the pro forma adjustments using a blended statutory rate inclusive of U.S. federal and state taxes. |
6. | Pro forma earnings (loss) per share |
For purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the pro forma earnings per share figures have been calculated using the pro forma weighted average number of Class A common stock and Class B common stock which would have been outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, assuming the completion of the Transaction on January 1, 2023.
Pro forma basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing pro forma net income (loss) by the pro forma weighted-average number of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding during the periods presented. Pro forma diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing pro forma net income (loss) by the pro forma weighted-average number of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding adjusted to include the effect, if dilutive, of the exercise of in-the-money stock options, performance-based RSUs, and time-based RSUs during the periods presented. The components of pro forma basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are as follows:
(in millions, except share and per share amounts) | Nine months ended September 30, 2024 |
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
||||||
$ | $ | |||||||
Pro forma net income (loss) |
196.4 | 24.2 | ||||||
Dividend on preferred stock |
| 25.8 | ||||||
Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred stock |
| 3.1 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Class A and Class B common stock |
196.4 | (4.7 | ) | |||||
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Class A common stock based on the weighted-average number of participating securities outstanding during the period |
163.0 | (3.9 | ) | |||||
Pro forma basic earnings per Class A common stock (share amounts in thousands): |
||||||||
Class A common stock owned by BlueTriton shareholders |
154,106 | 154,106 |
Class A common stock owned by Primo Water shareholders |
160,396 | 160,396 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma weighted average number of Class A common stock outstanding Basic |
314,502 | 314,502 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma basic earnings (loss) per Class A common stock |
0.52 | (0.01 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma diluted earnings per Class A common stock (share amounts in thousands): |
||||||||
Pro forma weighted average number of Class A common stock outstanding Basic |
314,502 | 314,502 | ||||||
Dilutive effect of stock options |
450 | | ||||||
Dilutive effect of Performance-based RSUs converted into time-based RSUs |
629 | | ||||||
Dilutive effect of Time-based RSUs |
482 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma weighted average number of Class A common stock outstanding Diluted |
316,063 | 314,502 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma diluted earnings (loss) per Class A common stock |
0.52 | (0.01 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
(in millions, except share and per share amounts) | Nine months ended September 30, 2024 |
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
||||||
$ | $ | |||||||
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Class B common stock based on the weighted-average number of participating securities outstanding during the period |
33.4 | (0.8 | ) | |||||
Pro forma earnings per Class B common stock Basic and diluted (share amounts in thousands): |
||||||||
Class B common stock owned by BlueTriton shareholders |
64,512 | 64,512 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma weighted average number of Class B common stock outstanding Basic and diluted |
64,512 | 64,512 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma basic earnings (loss) per Class B common stock Basic and diluted |
0.52 | (0.01 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 97
Primo Brands Corporation
Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy
1. | ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION. This policy shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the Committee) of Primo Brands Corporation (the Company). This policy applies to all current and former executive officers, as such term is defined in accordance with Section 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing standards. Subject to and in accordance with the terms of this policy, upon a Recoupment Event, each Covered Associate shall be obligated to return to the Company, reasonably promptly, the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation that was received by such Covered Associate during the Lookback Period. |
2. | RECOUPMENT EVENT. As set forth in more detail below, this policy requires the Company to recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation from Covered Associates in the event of a required Accounting Restatement of a financial statement of the Company (whether or not it is based on misconduct). |
3. | AMOUNT OF RECOVERY. In the event of a Recoupment Event, the Committee will promptly determine the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation for each Covered Associate, and the Company will provide each such Covered Associate with a written notice of such amount and a demand for repayment or return. Upon receipt of such notice, each affected Covered Associate shall promptly repay or return such Erroneously Awarded Compensation to the Company. |
4. | TEMPORAL AND OTHER LIMITS ON RECOVERY. The right to recovery shall be limited to Incentive-Based Compensation received by the Covered Associate during the Lookback Period. Erroneously Awarded Compensation will be recovered in accordance with this policy unless the Committee determines that recovery would be impracticable and one of the following conditions is met: |
| the direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this policy would exceed the amount to be recovered, provided the Company has (i) made reasonable attempts to recover the Erroneously Awarded Compensation, (ii) documented such attempts, and (iii) provided such documentation to the relevant listing exchange or association; |
| to the extent permitted by the Applicable Rules, the recovery would violate the Companys home country laws pursuant to an opinion of home country counsel; provided that the Company has (i) obtained an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to the relevant listing exchange or association, that recovery would result in such violation, and (ii) provided such opinion to the relevant listing exchange or association; or |
| the recovery would likely cause a U.S. tax-qualified retirement plan to fail to meet the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a)(13) and 411(a) and the regulations thereunder. |
If any of the above exemptions are relied upon, the Company will further comply with applicable listing standards, including without limitation, documenting the reason for the impracticability and providing required documentation to NYSE.
5. | MEANS OF COLLECTING RECOVERY. If the repayment or return of Erroneously Awarded Compensation is not made by a Covered Associate within a reasonable time after receipt of written notice as provided by Section 3, the Company shall recover such amounts in a reasonable and prompt manner using any lawful method, which may include, without limitation: |
| reducing future Incentive-Based Compensation or by seeking repayment or return of prior Incentive-Based Compensation paid or distributed to the Covered Associate; |
| requiring reimbursement of cash previously paid, as well as any Erroneously Awarded Compensation that is deferred and not yet payable, including any interest or earnings accrued; |
| seeking recovery of any shares of Company stock that are Erroneously Awarded Compensation; |
| seeking recovery of any gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer, or other disposition of any equity-based awards; |
| offsetting such amount from any compensation the Company otherwise owes to the Covered Associate; |
| cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards; |
| causing the forfeiture of any unpaid, vested or unvested, compensation; and |
| taking any other remedial and recovery action permitted by law; |
provided that the recovery of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation shall be made in compliance with applicable law and the Company shall use reasonable efforts to recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation in a manner that does not violate Section 409A. The applicable Covered Associate shall also be required to reimburse the Company for any and all expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Company in recovering such Erroneously Awarded Compensation in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.
6. | AWARDS SUBJECT TO POLICY. This policy shall apply to all Incentive-Based Compensation received by a Covered Associate (i) on or after the adoption date of this policy (even if such Incentive-Based Compensation was approved, awarded, or granted prior to the adoption date), (ii) after the individual began service as a Covered Associate, (iii) if the individual served as a Covered Associate at any time during the performance period for such Incentive-Based Compensation, and (iv) while the Company has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or association. |
For purposes of this policy, the date on Incentive-Based Compensation is received shall be determined under the Applicable Rules, which generally provide that Incentive-Based Compensation is received in the Companys fiscal period during which the relevant Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained or satisfied, without regard to whether the grant, vesting, or payment of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period.
7. | NOTICE. The Company shall take all appropriate steps to inform Covered Associates of this policy, so that such policy shall be enforceable to the fullest extent legally permissible. These steps may include, but not be limited to providing that this policy shall be acknowledged by Covered Associates and incorporating the terms of this policy into the terms of any incentive plan or incentive award agreement applicable to Covered Associates. In addition, the Company shall take all appropriate steps to disclose this policy in accordance with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act) and any regulations promulgated with respect thereto. |
8. | COORDINATION WITH LAW. This policy is designed, and shall be interpreted, to comply with the Applicable Rules, and in the event that any provision of this policy is inconsistent with any requirement of the Applicable Rules, the Committee shall administer this policy to comply with the Applicable Rules. In addition, the Committee shall have the authority to amend this policy at any time as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, as the Committee determines in its sole discretion, to comply with the requirements of the Applicable Rules. |
9. | DEFINITIONS. |
| Accounting Restatement means an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements (commonly referred to as a Big R restatement), or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (commonly referred to as a little r restatement). |
| Applicable Rules means Section 10D of the Exchange Act, Rule 10D-1 promulgated thereunder, the listing rules of the national securities exchange or association on which the Companys securities are listed, and any applicable rules, standards or other guidance adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or association on which the Companys securities are listed, in each case, as amended from time to time. |
| Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
| Covered Associate means each of the Companys current and former executive officers, as defined in Rule 10D-1(d) under the Exchange Act. |
| Erroneously Awarded Compensation means, with respect to each Covered Associate in connection with an Accounting Restatement, the excess of the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation received by the Covered Associate during the Lookback Period over the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts, computed without regard to any taxes paid, as determined in accordance with the Applicable Rules. For Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an Accounting Restatement: (a) the amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was received; and (b) the Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to NYSE. |
| Financial Reporting Measures are any measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Companys financial statements, and any measures derived wholly or in part from such measures, including GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, as well as stock or share price and total shareholder return. A Financial Reporting Measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC. |
| GAAP means United States generally accepted accounting principles. |
| Incentive-Based Compensation is any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure. |
| Lookback Period means, with respect to an Accounting Restatement, the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Required Restatement Date and any transition period (that results from a change in the Companys fiscal year) of less than nine months within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years. |
| A Recoupment Event occurs when the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement. |
| Required Restatement Date means the earlier to occur of: (a) the date the Board, a committee of the Board, or the officer(s) of the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement, or (b) the date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting Restatement. |
| Section 409A means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder. |
10. | NO INSURANCE OR INDEMNIFICATION. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries may indemnify any Covered Associate against the loss of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation (or related expenses incurred by the Covered Associate) pursuant to a recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation under this policy, nor will it pay or reimburse a Covered Associate for any insurance premiums on any insurance policy obtained by the Covered Associate to protect against the forfeiture or recovery of any compensation pursuant to this policy. No member of the Committee or the Board shall have any personal liability to any person as a result of actions taken under this policy and each member of the Committee and the Board will be fully indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent available under applicable law and the Companys governing documents with respect to any actions taken under this policy. The foregoing sentence will not limit any other rights to indemnification of the members of the Board under applicable law and the Companys governing documents. |
11. | OTHER RECOUPMENT RIGHTS. The Committee intends that this policy will be applied to the fullest extent of the law. Any Incentive-Based Compensation provided for in an employment agreement or any other compensatory plan or agreement shall, as a condition to the grant of any benefit thereunder, be subject to the terms of this policy. Any right of recoupment under this policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recoupment that may be available to the Company pursuant to the terms of any similar policy in any employment agreement or other compensation plan or agreement and any other legal remedies available to the Company. This policy is in addition to any other clawback or compensation recovery, recoupment or forfeiture policy in effect or that may be adopted by the Company from time to time, or any laws, rules or listing standards applicable to the Company, including without limitation, the Companys right to recoup any bonus or other compensation subject to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2022. To the extent that application of this policy would provide for recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation that the Company recovers pursuant to another policy or provision, the amount that is recovered will be credited to the required recovery under this policy. |
12. | SEVERABILITY. The invalidity of any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in this policy shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining portions of this policy or any part thereof, all of which are inserted conditionally on their being valid in law, and, in the event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections contained in this policy shall be declared invalid, this policy shall be construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, or section or sections had not been inserted. |
13. | AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board or the Committee may amend, modify or terminate this policy in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion. This policy will terminate automatically when the Company does not have a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or association and will be limited the extent that any provision of the Applicable Rules is no longer in effect or applicable to the Company. |
14. | SUCCESSORS. This policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Covered Associate and their beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives. |
Adopted November 8, 2024
ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO
PRIMO BRANDS CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION RECOUPMENT POLICY
By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges and confirms that the undersigned has received and reviewed a copy of the Primo Brands Corporation (the Company) Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy (as it may be amended and in effect from time to time, the Policy). By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned is and will continue to be subject to the Policy and that the Policy will apply both during and after the undersigneds employment with, and provision of services to, the Company.
In the event of any inconsistency between the Policy and the terms of any employment or other agreement to which the undersigned is a party, or the terms of any compensation plan, program or agreement under which any compensation has been granted, awarded, earned or paid, the terms of the Policy shall govern.
Further, by signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that the Company will not indemnify the undersigned against the loss of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation (as defined in the Policy) and agrees to abide by the terms of the Policy, including, without limitation, by forfeiting, returning and/or reimbursing any Erroneously Awarded Compensation to the Company to the extent required by, and in a manner consistent with, the Policy.
Signature |
Printed Name |
Date |